Armagh man, 40, detained this week after European arrest warrant executed in Ireland

This article is more than 4 months old

This article is more than 4 months old

A man has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the deaths of 39 migrants found in a refrigerated lorry container in Essex.

Ronan Hughes, of County 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.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ronan Hughes: due to appear in a Dublin court on Tuesday.

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

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

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

On 8 April, Maurice Robinson, 25, of Craigavon in Northern Ireland, pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter at the Old Bailey in London.

He previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property at the same court on 25 November last year. He is due to be sentenced at a later date.

In February, Eamonn Harrison, of Newry in County Down, Northern Ireland, was granted permission to appeal against his extradition from the Republic of Ireland 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 7 May, Essex police said.