OLIVE PRESS
The
GIBRALTAR
FIRE: devastated the sierra
Protect it! HUNDREDS of protesters have demanded urgent protection for one of southern Spain’s most endangered areas. They were joined by nearly 50 protest groups and charities to insist the Sierra Bermeja mountain range is given ‘national park’ status, following a horrific fire this summer. The six-day fire, which was started deliberately on September 8, claimed the life of a firefighter and ravaged close to 10,000 hectares of forest. The worst ecological damage saw the death of over 3,000 rare Pinsapo pine trees which grow in only three areas of Spain and one in Morocco.
Protection
Campaigners want the area to be given the maximum environmental protection and resources for forest management, in the hope that this would reduce the risk of wildfires. Joaquin Araujo of Ecologistas en Accion explained that the mountains and nearby Genal Valley had been exploited for their water for decades. “They have been drained to supply insatiable golf courses which are entirely unsuitable in our climate, for swimming pools and lush private gardens in super luxury estates designed for the discreet enjoyment of billionaires,” he said. But he said it was time to recognise the unique character of the range which is home to 37 species endemic to the area. A petition to demand action has already got more than 75,000 signatures. The nearby Sierra de las Nieves was awarded National Park status earlier this year.
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Why is the Spanish church ignoring child abuse victims? See page 6
Secret valley A converted cinema restaurant , 500 years of history and the best leafy hike... it's time you visited this Serrania village
SNARED See page 14
Man detained over death of Michael Montegriffo in 2018 after fresh appeal POLICE have arrested a 33-year-old man in connection with the murder of Michael Montegriffo in 2018. The 58-year-old was found lying on the ground outside his home at Gavino’s Dwellings on Prince Edward’s Road at 11am on Saturday July 7, 2018 and despite the best efforts by paramedics he died a few hours later at St Bernard’s Hospital. Two post-mortems found that the injuries Montegriffo suffered were not consistent with having fallen from a height or being struck by a passing vehicle and a murder probe was launched. Detectives believed that Montegriffo, a musician, who had lived in France and England for many years, was hit over the head four times by someone he probably knew well.
Snow business 952 147 834
The arrest of a local man in Gibraltar comes a month after police launched a fresh public appeal for information in the hope of solving the three-year-old case. Detectives released previously unseen CCTV footage in October capturing passers-by in the wider vicinity and asked anyone who identified themselves to come forward as a potential witness. “In the past, police officers have concentrated on speaking to people who were in the immediate vicinity of Gavino’s Dwellings. It has now been decided to throw the net more widely and to interview anyone who might have been within several hunContinues on Page 4
THE wintry slopes of the Sierra Nevada are finally open again. It comes after a healthy amount of snowfall over the last few weeks with most pistes open. A total of 77 new snow cannons have been installed bringing the total number across the resort to 210 and guaranteeing decent snow until April. The resort boasts the most southerly skiing in Europe occupying the northern slopes of Veleta, the third highest peak in Spain.
VICTIM: Montegriffo was killed in 2018
Tel: 952 147 834
See page 16
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