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Haulier Ronan Hughes admits manslaughter of 39 migrants found suffocated in lorry container

He entered pleas at the Old Bailey on Friday

Armagh man Ronan Hughes has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of migrants found inside a lorry in October last year.

The 40-year-old, with an address in the city, entered a guilty plea at the Old Bailey on Friday.

He admitted 39 counts of manslaughter after the grim discovery of the Vietnamese nationals in the back of a lorry.

The 39 men, women and children who were found dead in a lorry container died of suffocation and overheating, an inquest has earlier heard.

Ten teenagers were among the migrants found dead in a vehicle parked on the Waterglade industrial park in Grays in the early hours of October 23.

In June, Hughes made a brief appearance at Southend Magistrates’ Court where no pleas were heard.

Today he admitted the charges against him.

In November last year, 25-year-old Maurice Robinson from Laurelvale, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey in London to 39 counts of manslaughter.

Manslaughter charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison and the conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration carries a maximum term of 14 years.

 

 

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