Man faces extradition over lorry deaths of migrants

A MAN is facing extradition from Ireland over the deaths of 39 migrants found in the back of a lorry in Essex.

Eamonn Harrison, 22, appeared at Dublin High Court yesterday after he was arrested on a European arrest warrant.

He is charged with 39 counts of manslaughter, along with human trafficking and immigration offences, Essex Police said.

The force said extradition proceedings have been started to bring Harrison, of Newry in Co Down, Northern Ireland, to the UK.

He was remanded in custody in Cloverhill Prison, Dublin, until November 11, a court spokesman said.

It comes as local media reported that police in Vietnam’s Ha Tinh province had arrested two people over the deaths after launching an investigation into suspected human trafficking.

Meanwhile, it is understood that wanted suspect Ronan Hughes, 40, has twice spoken to police by telephone.

Detectives have urged him and his brother Christopher, 34, who are both from Armagh in Northern Ireland, to hand themselves in.The pair are wanted on suspicion of manslaughter and human trafficking after the bodies of eight women and 31 men were found in a refrigerated trailer attached to a lorry in an industrial park in Grays in the early hours of October 23.

Ronan Hughes is understood to have identified himself to a custody officer after calling Essex Police shortly after lorry driver Mo Robinson, 25, was arrested following the discovery.

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.

The discovery has sparked a huge international investigation to try to identify the victims. Essex Police initially believed the 39 were all Chinese nationals but it is now thought Vietnamese men and women are among the dead.