Co Armagh man Ronan Hughes charged over Essex lorry deaths

A man has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the deaths of 39 migrants found in a refrigerated lorry container in Essex.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Apr 2020, 20:31 BST
Police forensics officers at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry in October last yearPolice forensics officers at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry in October last year
Police forensics officers at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry in October last year

Ronan Hughes, of Co Armagh in Northern Ireland, is due to appear at Dublin’s High Court on Tuesday charged with 39 counts of manslaughter, as well as immigration offences, Essex Police said.

The 40-year-old was detained on Monday following the execution of a European arrest warrant in Ireland.

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The 39 Vietnamese nationals were found in a lorry container parked on an industrial estate in Grays on October 23 last year.

Ten teenagers, including two 15-year-old boys, were among those found dead.

In February, Eamonn Harrison, of Mayobridge, Northern Ireland, was granted permission to appeal against his extradition to the UK under the terms of a European arrest warrant issued by Essex Police.

The 22-year-old is facing 39 manslaughter charges, one of human trafficking and one of assisting unlawful immigration.

A further hearing will be held in Dublin on Thursday May 7, Essex Police said.