Haulier facing extradition to UK next week over death of 39 lorry migrants

Hughes wanted by British authorities

THE alleged “ringleader” of a gang who is wanted to face manslaughter charges over the deaths of 39 migrants last year will be extradited to the UK next week.

At Dublin’s High Court yesterday, Mr Justice Paul Burns heard Ronan Hughes, 40, wants to be surrendered to British authorities “as soon as possible”.

The judge ruled the order will take effect on Monday.

Hughes, from Leitrim, Silverstream, Tyholland, Co Monaghan, is suspected of being “the ringleader” of an organised crime group who allegedly trafficked the Vietnamese nationals. He is wanted in the UK to face 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

The bodies of eight women and 31 men were found in an industrial park in Grays, Essex, on October 23, 2019.

The migrants had arrived in England last October on a ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium. The youngest of the victims were two boys aged 15.

The haulier was present in court yesterday for the hearing.

He was detained on April 20 at his home in Co Monaghan following the endorsement of a European Arrest Warrant issued by the police in Essex and had fought his proposed extradition to the UK through the High Court. Mr Justice Burns yesterday rejected Hughes’ points of objection and made an order to surrender him to the UK authorities.

Hughes and his younger brother Christopher, 34, have been wanted in connection with the deaths since the beginning of the investigation.

In May, Eamon Ronald Harrison, 23, of Mayobridge, Co Down, who is alleged to have delivered the trailer in which the 39 migrants were found dead, appealed his pending extradition to the UK on the basis the warrant seeking his arrest and surrender was “wholly unsatisfactory”.

He is wanted to face 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in the case.

It is alleged Harrison delivered the trailer in which the bodies of the migrants were found to a Belgian port before its onward journey to Britain.

Maurice Robinson, 25, of Craigavon, Co Armagh, has admitted 39 counts of manslaughter at the Old Bailey.

He denied a further charge of transferring criminal property. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Four other men will stand trial at the Old Bailey in connection with the investigation on October 5.

ORDER Ronan Hughes, 40, and the lorry in which 39 bodies were found in Essex last year