Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MIGRANT HORROR COPS PROBE DEATH THREATS Man and member of his family warned they are in ‘serious’ danger
» Man and his innocent relatives in serious danger » Appeal for 2 brothers to hand themselves in MIGRANTS TRAGEDY: COPS PROBE DEATH THREATS
DEATH threats have been handed down to several individuals in the border area after the bodies of 39 migrants were found in a lorry 10 days ago.
The PSNI and gardai are investigating the sinister messages, which have been made against one person of interest and his family. The man, who is at the centre of the Irish cross border smuggling probe, was given a formal warning on Wednesday his life is in “serious” danger. It comes just days after Maurice “Mo” Robinson, left, was charged with 39 counts of manslaughter, people trafficking and money laundering.
GARDAI and the PSNI are investigating death threats against a number of people in the border area after 39 migrants were found dead in a refrigerated lorry container.
One person of interest at the centre of the Irish smuggling probe was given a formal Garda warning on Wednesday that his life is in danger.
Innocent members of the man’s family are also affected in the wake of “serious” threats.
It is understood they were approached by members of the PSNI and told to be vigilant about their safety on foot of reliable intelligence.
A source told the Sunday Mirror: “We are talking about serious death threats.
“This has been going on since the story broke over a week ago and it has now escalated since the first arrests were made.
“We are talking about a multi-million euro people-smuggling ring so officers are taking these threats very seriously.
“Police are determined to smash this trafficking ring and the crime bosses behind it are desperate to keep what is a very lucrative industry for them going.”
The bodies of eight women and 31 men were found in a trailer attached to a lorry in an industrial park in Grays, Essex, in the early hours of October 23.
On Friday police started extradition proceedings to bring Eamonn Harrison from Ireland to the UK.
The 22-year-old, from Mayobridge in Co Down, appeared before Mr Justice Donald Binchy at Dublin’s High Court on foot of a European Arrest Warrant.
He is suspected of delivering the trailer, in which 39 migrants died, to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge.
The warrant lists 41 charges – 39 of manslaughter, conspiracy to commit human trafficking and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.
Maurice “Mo” Robinson, 25, from Portadown in Co Armagh, has been charged with 39 counts of manslaughter, people trafficking and money laundering.
Meanwhile, a cross-border manhunt for two brothers said to have links with the road haulage and shipping industries continues.
Detectives have urged Ronan Hughes, 40, and 34-year-old Christopher Hughes to hand themselves in.
The Armagh pair are wanted on suspicion of manslaughter and human trafficking.
It is understood Ronan spoke to police shortly after driver Robinson was arrested following the discovery.
Earlier this week Det Chief Insp Daniel Stoten said: “Although we have already spoken to Ronan Hughes recently by telephone, we need to have a conversation with him and his brother in person. Talking to Ronan and Christopher is crucial to our investigation and the sooner we can make this happen the sooner we can continue with our investigation.”
Three other people arrested in connection with the incident – two men aged 38 and 46 and a 38-year-old woman – have been released on bail.
Police hunting the Vietnamese mastermind behind the Essex lorry horror are believed to have identified the kingpin.
A special taskforce is searching for a man known as Mr Truong who, it is claimed, has made millions from desperate families. Officers in Ha Tinh province and neighbouring Nghe An, where at least 24 of the dead are believed to have come from, suspect him of being the regional head of the “global ring”.
A source said: “As much as these gangs like to hide in the shadows, their names are being whispered in the community.
“While they now threaten the families who were smuggled with violence to keep them silent, each day the police are building up a picture on the operation.”
Essex Police announced late on Friday they believed they knew the nationality of all the victims.
Many of the 39 people who died in the container are believed to have come from central Vietnam.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Smith said: “We are in direct contact with a number of families in Vietnam and the UK. We believe we have identified families for some of the victims whose journey ended in tragedy on our shores.”
The police chief revealed they were awaiting confirmatory evidence to present the case to the coroner, adding: “This evidence is being gathered across a number of jurisdictions worldwide.
“As a result, we cannot at this time announce the identity of any of the victims.”
Brokers arrange trips to Europe, often via Russia, for migrants hoping to find their fortune overseas.
On Friday, two people were arrested for human trafficking in central Ha Tinh province, where Government officials have said they “strongly condemn” the
smuggling. Le Thi Thu Hang, a spokeswoman for Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said yesterday: “This is a serious humanitarian tragedy.
“We are deeply saddened by the incident and wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families.
“We wish they may soon overcome those tremendous pain and losses.
“Vietnam strongly condemns human trafficking and considers it a serious crime subject to strict penalties.
“Vietnam calls upon countries in the region and around the world to step up co-operation in combating human trafficking in order to prevent the recurrence of such tragedy.”
The investigation was prompted when 10 families from Nghen Town, Thien Loc, Vinh Loc and Thanh Loc contacted authorities to say they had lost contact with their relatives.
It is still not known how the victims, who police initially believed were Chinese nationals, entered the lorry trailer before it travelled from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet in Essex.