Haulage boss pleads guilty to deaths of 39 migrants
After driver admitted manslaughter over tragedy of Vietnamese...
A HAULAGE boss has admitted the manslaughter of 39 migrants found dead in the back of a lorry.
Ronan hughes, 40, admitted his role in an alleged international people trafficking ring at the Old Bailey yesterday.
The bodies of the Vietnamese nationals were discovered on an industrial estate in Grays, Essex, shortly after the lorry arrived on a ferry in the early hours of October 23 last year.
among the dead were ten teenagers. Pham Thi Tra My, 26, sent a series of harrowing texts to her mother as she died. One read: ‘i can’t breathe. Mum, i’m very sorry.’
hughes, from co Monaghan in the Republic of ireland, admitted 39 counts of manslaughter, plus a charge of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. it was alleged the father of two played a leading role in the operation, with his trailers and drivers used to transport migrants.
Maurice Robinson, who discovered the bodies after transporting the container from the port at Purfleet, pleaded guilty in april to 39 charges of manslaughter.
Eamonn harrison, of co down in Northern ireland, allegedly drove the lorry trailer to Zeebrugge before it sailed to Purfleet. The 23-year-old denied manslaughter yesterday. he and hughes were extradited from the Republic of ireland in July.
Robinson, 25, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration of non-EU citizens and acquiring criminal property. he denied a further charge of transferring criminal property. alexandru-
‘Harrowing texts to her mother’
Ovidiu hanga, 28, of Tilbury, Essex, admitted one count of conspiring to assist unlawful immigration.
during yesterday’s hearing another defendant Gazmir Nuzi, 42, of Tottenham, north London, appeared by video link and pleaded guilty to a single charge of assisting unlawful immigration.
harrison now faces an Old Bailey trial on October 5 with three other defendants. Remanding them into custody, Mr Justice sweeney said the trial would last around five weeks. a further preliminary hearing was fixed for september 21.
Gheorghe Nica, 43, of Basildon, Essex, who is alleged to have been a key player, has previously denied manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.