This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jan/24/essex-lorry-deaths-eamonn-harrison-can-be-extradited-to-uk-irish-judge-rules

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Essex lorry deaths: man can be extradited to UK, Irish judge rules Essex lorry deaths: man can be extradited to UK, Irish judge rules
(about 2 hours later)
Eamonn Harrison, from County Down, is wanted in connection with 39 container deaths Lorry driver Eamonn Harrison faces 39 manslaughter charges over bodies found in container
A man who is wanted in connection with the discovery of 39 bodies in a refrigerated container in Essex can be extradited from Ireland to the UK, a judge in Dublin has ruled. A Northern Ireland lorry driver wanted over the deaths of 39 people found in a refrigerated container in Essex last October can be extradited from the Irish Republic to the UK, a Dublin court ruled on Friday.
British authorities are seeking Eamonn Harrison, 23, from Mayobridge in Newry, County Down, on charges of human trafficking and immigration offences, as well as 39 offences of manslaughter, in relation to the discovery of the bodies in October last year. The high court in the Irish Republic confirmed that Eamonn Harrison from Mayobridge across the border in County Down could be handed over to Essex police.
He is wanted for his alleged role in transporting the trailer in which the bodies of eight women and 31 men, all Vietnamese nationals, were found on an industrial park in Grays, Essex, in the early hours of 23 October. Harrison faces 39 manslaughter charges and two charges of conspiracy in connection with the discovery of the bodies of eight women and 31 men – all Vietnamese migrant workers – at an industrial park in Grays in the early hours of 23 October.
The court heard previously that Harrison is accused of 41 offences – 39 counts of manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, one human trafficking offence, and one count of assisting unlawful immigration. But lawyers for Harrison indicated they may appeal against the extradition order after they have seen the full details of Mr Justice Donald Binchy’s ruling.
He is alleged to have driven the container to the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, and later signed the shipping notice for it. The judge agreed to delay the extradition handover until 4 February.
Mr Justice Donald Binchy said on Friday that, after hearing comprehensive arguments from both sides, he had decided to approve Harrison’s extradition. He said he had not published his judgment in full to the court and would not make it available until Monday. He will publish his full judgment on Monday when it will be available to Harrison’s defence. The lorry driver’s legal team told the court their client would be contesting the charges.
He added that it would not be helpful for him to try to summarise his decision to the court. His conspiracy charges are connected to alleged human trafficking and assisting unlawful immigration. The 39 manslaughter charges against him carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy said he would read the judgment next week and decide whether to appeal. Harrison was remanded in custody and will appear in court again on 4 February. Harrison was arrested at Dublin port after returning from France and Belgium in October 2019.
A previous court hearing was told that Harrison had driven the lorry container in which the 39 people were found to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge before it was transported to England.
Defence lawyers opposed the extradition arguing that there was no evidence the 39 victims had died in the UK.
They told Dublin high court that at a previous hearing the UK’s extradition warrant was too rushed. Harrison’s legal team also said their client was wrongly described in the earlier court appearance as a British rather than Irish citizen.
Lawyers seeking Harrison’s extradition told the court that he drove the lorry used to deliver a container to the port of Zeebrugge and was identified as doing so in Belgium by CCTV footage.
They also told the court that Harrison had signed the shipping notice for the container which was found later with the 39 bodies inside.
But Harrison’s legal team raised the question as to why if his alleged offences took place in Belgium the UK was seeking his extradition.
Defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy said he would read the judgment next week before deciding whether to appeal.
Harrison was remanded into custody and will appear again in court on Tuesday 4 February.