The Generalitat will pay €617,473 to the families of two rural agents killed in Aspa in 2017. The decision follows a legal battle over state responsibility for workplace safety. The compensation covers the outstanding amount set by the court.
The Generalitat de Catalunya has confirmed it will pay €617,473 in compensation to the families of Xavier Ribes and David Iglesias, two rural agents murdered in Aspa (Lleida) in 2017. The payment comes after years of legal proceedings and addresses the unresolved portion of damages awarded by the Audiencia de Lleida. The agents were shot by Ismael Rodríguez Clemente, a hunter without a license, during a routine inspection in a hunting reserve. The case has highlighted ongoing concerns about the safety measures provided to public employees in high-risk roles.
The compensation follows a decree law obliging the Generalitat to cover damages suffered by rural agents in the line of duty. According to the families’ lawyer, Pau Simarro, the regional government’s decision was based on the principle of indemnity, acknowledging the lack of adequate protection for the agents at the time of the incident. The Audiencia de Lleida had previously set the total civil liability at €1,077,473. Of this, €300,000 was initially paid by the convicted shooter’s insurer, which later declared insolvency. The remaining €777,473 was claimed from the Generalitat, with €160,000 already paid, leaving €617,473 outstanding.
The fatal shooting occurred on January 21, 2017, when Ribes and Iglesias approached Rodríguez Clemente for a standard check. The hunter opened fire, killing both agents before they could defend themselves. A unanimous jury verdict found Rodríguez Clemente guilty, and he was sentenced to 45 years in prison—22 years for each murder with aggravating circumstances and one year for illegal possession of firearms. The families argued that the deaths resulted from insufficient safety protocols and a failure by the Department of Interior and Public Security to address occupational risks.
After the criminal trial concluded, the families pursued a civil claim against the Generalitat, citing omissions in workplace safety. The government’s recent resolution closes a lengthy chapter for the victims’ relatives, who maintained that the tragedy could have been prevented with better protective measures. The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of state responsibility for the safety of public employees, especially those working in isolated or potentially dangerous environments.
In Spain, compensation for victims of violent crime or workplace incidents is often a complex process, involving both criminal and civil proceedings. The Aspa case is one of several high-profile incidents in recent years that have prompted calls for stronger protections for public sector workers. For context, the Spanish legal system allows for civil liability to be shared between perpetrators and public authorities if negligence or insufficient safeguards are proven. This approach is not unique to Catalonia and reflects a broader European trend toward reinforcing state accountability. In related news, Spanish authorities have also taken action in other high-profile cases involving violent crime and public safety, such as the recent arrest of a Colombian murder suspect in Madrid, which you can read about in this report on a major extradition case.
