Extradition sought over lorry deaths

 

Alison O’Riordan

 

A Monaghan man alleged to have recruited the lorry driver who killed 39 migrants by trafficking them from Europe to Essex has appeared before the High Court in Dublin this morning (Tuesday).

 

Ronan Hughes (40), of Leitrim Silverstream, Tyholland, Co Monaghan is wanted by authorities in the United Kingdom to face 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Mr Hughes and his younger brother Christopher (34) have been wanted in connection with the deaths since the beginning of the investigation, with Essex Police making an extraordinary live appeal last November for the siblings to hand themselves in. Their trucking firm is based in Tyholland, about 7km from the Armagh border.

The eight women and 31 men had arrived in England last October on a ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium. The youngest of the victims were two boys aged 15.

Ronan Hughes, who is the owner of a haulage firm, was arrested yesterday evening in Co Monaghan following the endorsement of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by the police in Essex and appeared before Mr Justice Paul Burns in the High Court this morning.

Mr Hughes is the second man from Northern Ireland to be arrested here on a EAW as part of the Essex police investigation.

The haulier appeared in court today wearing a face mask, a navy t-shirt and a pair of jeans.

Detective Sergeant Jim Kirwan of the Garda Extradition Unit told Ronan Kennedy SC, for the State, that he arrested Mr Hughes as part of a planned operation at 5.15pm yesterday evening at Leitrim Silverstream, Tyholland, Co Monaghan on foot of the warrant and cautioned him.

Det Sgt Kirwan said that Mr Hughes agreed that his name was Ronan Hughes and his place of birth was Co Monaghan. The detective said he showed Mr Hughes a photograph which he agreed was him.

Det Sgt Kirwan said he also showed Mr Hughes a copy of the original EAW and informed him of his rights.

Outlining the offences facing Mr Hughes, Det Sgt Kirwan said the man faces 39 counts of manslaughter and one charge of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

When asked if he had anything to say anything about the summary of the offences contained within the warrant, Mr Hughes said that he did not want to say anything about it, said Det Sgt Kirwan. He was then conveyed to Monaghan Garda Station.

Det Sgt Kirwan said he was satisfied that the person named on the warrant was the person he arrested. He told Mr Kennedy that there was an objection to bail.

After Det Sgt Kirwan gave evidence of Mr Hughes' arrest, Mr Justice Burns said he was satisfied the person before him was the person to whom the warrant related.

The judge informed Mr Hughes of his rights and told him that he is entitled to voluntarily surrender himself to the UK authorities between now and the hearing date.

Mr Justice Burns fixed May 1 as the date for the full hearing of the extradition case. He told Mr Kennedy that there was a number of matters that he sought additional clarification about including the alleged role of Mr Hughes in the alleged offences.

Conan Fegan BL, who appeared on behalf of the respondent, asked the court if a bail application could be made next week. Mr Justice Burns said that Mr Hughes had to give four days notice of a bail application and provisionally fixed April 29 for the hearing. Mr Hughes was remanded in custody until that date.

Eamonn Harrison (22), of Mayobridge, has already appeared in court here and has been granted leave to appeal his pending extradition to the UK in May under the terms of the EAW. He is wanted to face 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and conspiracy to commit human trafficking under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act.

It is alleged that Mr Harrison delivered the trailer, in which the bodies of eight females and 31 males were found in an industrial park in Grays, Esssex on October 23 last, to a Belgian port before its onward journey to Britain. The cargo was recorded as “biscuits”.

 

On January 24th, Mr Justice Donald Binchy said he found there was nothing to preclude him from ordering the surrender of Mr Harrison and he later delivered a written judgement explaining his decision.

The judgement also outlined further details of the allegations against Mr Harrison and others involved.

The judgement states: “When paramedics arrived at the scene [in Essex], they found 39 bodies in the back of the trailer and all were dead. Mr [Maurice] Robinson was arrested on suspicion of murder. After Mr Robinson’s arrest, on the same day, a Mr Ronan Hughes made a number of phone calls to the respondent [Eamon Harrison]. It is stated in the additional information that Mr Hughes recruited Mr Robinson and the respondent [Eamon Harrison] in his haulage business.

Mr Justice Binchy added: “It is stated that on 9th May, 2018, the respondent [Mr Harrison] was stopped at Coquelles, France, driving a trailer unit in which 18 Vietnamese migrants were discovered. Ronan Hughes was named as the haulier.  Mr Robinson has admitted, at interview, to smuggling migrants into the UK on several occasions and having been paid, by Ronan Hughes, £1,500 per person smuggled."

Earlier this month Maurice Robinson (25), of Craigavon, Co Armagh, admitted 39 counts of manslaughter at the Old Bailey. He had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property. He denied a further charge of transferring criminal property. He will be sentenced at a later date.

The High Court in Dublin has heard that the sealed refrigeration unit was not turned on and that the people inside died from oxygen starvation. Temperatures inside the unit rose to 38.5 degrees before it “steadily reduced”, and police discovered “bloody hand prints” inside.

Four other men will stand trial at the Old Bailey in connection with the investigation on October 5.