Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Give them air... but don’t let them out
Driver was ordered ‘Give them air, don’t let them out’ Court is told victim texted ‘Maybe going to die in container’
what the victims were going through, recovered from their mobile telephones.
“They had no signal inside the container as it came across the English Channel so they could not call for help or alert the outside world to their plight.”
The people-smuggling “team” are said to have carried out two other operations in the fortnight leading up to the deaths.
On October 8 and 11, more men and women were said to have been successfully smuggled into the country.
On these occasions the migrants were allegedly driven away. Mr Jones said they were taken to “safe locations”,
He added: “Not least because this is a payment-on-delivery business. The criminals need to make sure the money is paid up before the immigrants can be allowed to disappear.”
Four alleged members of the peoplesmuggling gang are currently on trial.
Harrison, from Co Down, denies 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.
Prosecutors say GPS data from his lorry proves his involvement in the gang.
Gheorghe Nica, 43, of Basildon, Essex, is accused of being responsible for organi sing onward transp or t f or migrants after their arrival in the UK.
He denies 39 counts of manslaughter but admits conspiring to assist unlawful immigration.
Lorry driver Kennedy, of Northern Ireland, and Valentin Calota, 37, of Birmingham, both deny participating in the conspiracy between May 2018 to October last year.
The jury heard Robinson, from Co Armagh, already admitted 39 counts of manslaughter and the conspiracy charge.
He and Harrison were allegedly working for Ronan Hughes, 41, who ran a haulage company in Co Monaghan.
Hughes also admits to 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist in unlawful immigration. Two other men have also admitted their part in the wider people-smuggling operation.
Mr Jones said the victims came to the UK “looking for a better life”.
He added: “The risks involved, and the costs involved, not just financial but personal, can be enormous.
“They are prepared to take extraordinary risks in exchange for the chance of a brighter future. They do it because they are desperate.”
The trial, in front of Judge Mr Justice Sweeney, continues and is expected to last for five weeks.