Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Man released after 15 found in trailer
AN Irishman arrested after 15 people were found in the back of a truck in England was last night released without charge.
The male, in his 50s, was detained following the discovery in a Cork-based lorry near Chippenham in Wiltshire on Wednesday night.
A member of the public alerted officers to “suspicious activity” involving the vehicle.
One of the people in the back of the HGV had to be taken to hospital, although they are not believed to be badly hurt.
The Neil
Prendeville Show on Cork’s REDFM 104-106 reported the truck involved was owned by Delaney Transport international in Glanmire, Co Cork.
A statement from Mike Delaney, issued to the radio station, read: “We can confirm the truck involved in last night’s incident in Chippenham was one of our ‘Delaney Transport Trucks’.
“Our driver was on the way from Calais to Dover. The driver heard knocking and thought it was a flat tyre.
“He came off the motorway and pulled in to a lay-by. He then heard knocking from the trailer when the truck stopped.
Another lorry driver, who had pulled in to the area, came over to see if everything was OK.
“That lorry driver then heard knocking on the trailer as well.
“The Delaney transport driver then immediately called the police who arrived to find 15 people in the back of the trailer.
“The driver was taken to the nearest police station and has been questioned. Mike Delaney has been co-operating with the police all morning and will continue to do so.
“His driver is also co-operating with police.
“Delaney Transport have been operating out of Cork for 55 years and for 45 years on the continent.”
A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said yesterday: “We were called by a member of the public shortly before 8.30pm this evening following a report of suspicious activity involving a lorry on the A350 near Chippenham.
“Officers attended the scene and located 15 people in the rear of the vehicle.
“At this early stage of our investigation we believe they are all over the age of 16.
“One man has been arrested on suspicion of assisting with illegal entry and taken for further questioning.”