Suspected gangster's wife Nicola Morrissey banned from selling five million euro Costa del Sol mansion

Organised crime

Spanish tax authorities place six-figure liens on the luxury property as money laundering investigation into alleged Kinahan ally expands

Gerard Couzens

Costa del Sol

Nicola Morrissey, wife of a suspected gangster linked to the Irish Kinahan gang, has been banned from selling her five million-euros home on the Costa del Sol following her arrest for suspected money laundering.

And the glamorous Scot and her alleged Kinahan ally husband Johnny have landed themselves in hot water with the Spanish taxman by raking up huge debts which have led to six-figure embargoes on the mansion.

Papers show Spanish tax authorities have already placed two liens totalling more than 130,000 euros on the luxury property where Glasgow-born Nicola boasted about her future plans for their drinks firm Nero Drinks, which police have described as a front for her husband’s alleged criminal activities.

Other central and regional government agencies owed money have also registered a charge against the house in a residential street a 20-minute drive from Marbella where the couple lived shortly before their September 2022 arrests.

A court order laid bare in official documents prevents Nicola, the registered sole owner of the property on paper although as former Rochdale doorman Johnny’s wife she has a 50 per cent share in practice, from selling or transferring it.

And well-placed sources said last night the debts the likes of the Spanish taxman are trying to recover by filing their claim against the house could lead to its eventual forced sale if they continue to mount up.

One said: “The liens that are already recorded against the property are quite likely going to be the tip of the iceberg.

“There may well be other debts for higher amounts that are still working their way through the system and will eventually also become a matter of public record.

“The fact Spanish tax authorities are pursuing debts is obviously going to be linked to non-payment of taxes.”

Another insider, referencing a four-figure lien registered against the property by Malaga’s Provincial Taxation Board, added: “That points towards a failure to pay the UK equivalent of Council Tax to the local town hall.”

Morrissey and his wife, who are still under official investigation on suspicion of money laundering and membership of a criminal gang despite being on bail, opened up the doors of the mansion for an interview with Marbella-based business and lifestyle magazine Exclusive Life shortly before their arrests.

Mum-of-two Nicola, 49, spoke about their plans to open a wellness centre near La Cala de Mijas a 20-minute drive east towards Malaga at another property she and Johnny lived at years ago.

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  • Daniel Kinahan was held earlier this month on an international arrest warrant issued by Ireland.

    Andalucia’s High Court of Justice said last week of the ongoing Morrissey probe: “The case is still in preliminary proceedings. It is a very complex money laundering case due to all the international connections that were being investigated.

    "Initially three people were arrested. All three are free with conditions attached to their provisional release after posting bail.

    "But the investigation has progressed and now around 20 suspects have been identified, ten of whom have been located.”

    Spanish police sources have also confirmed the operation that led to Morrissey’s arrest was key to the takedown of the ruthless Lyons gang late last month.

    Alleged gang leader Steven Lyons, 45, faces extradition to Spain after being held in Amsterdam on a European Arrest Warrant following his flight from Dubai and deportation from Bali.

    Lyons’ wife Amanda was held in Dubai. Seven other suspects including Amanda’s sister Rebecca Hayes, 32, were arrested in Spain on suspicion of money laundering and membership of a criminal organisation.