‘Gentle giant’ lorry driver passed out when he found dead bodies, witness says

THE lorry driver arrested over the death of 39 migrants “passed out” when he discovered his human cargo, it has been claimed.

Mo Robinson, who was in charge of the lorry as it entered an industrial park in Essex, is being held by police on suspicion of murder.

But friends of the 25-year-old say he is a “gentle giant” who called an ambulance when he realised what was in the back of his trailer.

Yesterday, Essex police were granted a warrant for the driver to be held and questioned for another 24 hours, while officers in Northern Ireland searched his home and that of his parents.

But Francie Donnelly, who has known Mr Robinson for years, said: “This man is my best friend and hasn’t got one bad bone in his body.”

Another friend, Tami Morrison, posted on Facebook: “After watching the news, I still cannot get over all of this … He actually rang the ambulance in the first place.”

Cathal Leonard, a fellow lorry driver, said: “Big Mo is a gentleman. He is well regarded in the trucking circle and this shows with the level of support he is receiving.

“After running the roads with him for years I can confirm he is a gentle giant and a down to earth man who lives and breathes trucking and tarmac.”

The Evening Standard reported a witness saying that Mr Robinson passed out after opening the refrigerator unit and finding the bodies, although that suggestion remained unverified.

Responding to the social media comments, Mr Robinson’s uncle Keith said: “Cheers for everyone’s genuine support, means a lot. Mo is a top lad and the truth will out soon enough.

“He hasn’t one bad bone in his body and I’ve no doubt whatsoever of his innocence. His family and friends will

‘Mo is from the nicest family. I’m telling you now, he wouldn’t have known those people were in the back’

see him through this. Thanks for your kind words.”

Another friend, who asked not to be named, told Mailonline: “Mo is from the nicest family you could meet. I’m telling you now, he wouldn’t have known those people were in the back.

“Apparently he’d parked up at the industrial estate in Essex and had gone to fetch the paperwork from a pocket on the inside of the lorry door.

“When he opened the container up and saw all the dead bodies, he was absolutely horrified – as anyone would be – and called the ambulance service, who in turn alerted the police.

On Instagram, Mr Robinson said he was “living the dream”, posting: “Choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”

A proud Rangers football fan, Mr Robinson travelled widely, making regular trips across the Irish Sea and English Channel, visiting Sweden, Denmark and Germany in his job.

Yesterday, there was no reply at the house of his parents or that of his girlfriend, as police revealed that the 39 victims were all Chinese nationals.

The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgium said the container arrived in Zeebrugge on Tuesday afternoon and left for mainland Britain on the same day.

Having left the Belgian coast, it travelled to Purfleet in Essex, docking in the Thurrock area at 12.30am on Wednesday morning.

The cabin, which police say originated in Northern Ireland, arrived from Dublin.

The driver then travelled to Essex and police believe the cabin and the container left the docking area shortly after 1.05am.

At 1.40am, Essex Police were called to the discovery of the bodies. Thirtyone men and eight women were pronounced dead at the scene.