Courts / Down / Report

NI man wanted over Essex tragedy alleged to have previously transported migrants

Date
2020-02-04

Stage
Charge Or Pretrial

Primary locality
Mayobridge

County
Down

Summary

A High Court judgement in the UK found that Eamon Ronald Harrison, a 23‑year‑old from Mayobridge, Co Down, is wanted on 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and conspiracy to commit human trafficking under the Modern Slavery Act. The case concerns the death of 39 Vietnamese migrants found in a sealed refrigeration unit in a lorry in Essex in October 2019. The unit was not powered on, and the temperature rose to 38.5°C before falling, with bloody hand prints discovered inside. Harrison is alleged to have driven the trailer to Zeebrugge on 22 October 2019, and to have transported migrants from Zeebrugge to Purfleet on 10‑11 and 17‑18 October 2019, using the same trailer. He was also stopped in France in May 2018 with 18 Vietnamese migrants in a trailer. The court remanded him in custody for a hearing on 10 am next Wednesday. The proceedings are ongoing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: NI man wanted over Essex tragedy alleged to have previously transported migrants. Charges or matters: 39 counts of manslaughter; conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration; conspiracy to commit human trafficking. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

January 24th Hearing Or Sentence
December 4th Adjournment
November 21st Incident
October 22nd, 2019 Incident
Tuesday 22nd October Other
11th October Other
18th October Other
23rd October Incident
9th May Incident
2020-02-04 Publication

Why: Ronan Kennedy SC, for the Minister for Justice, argued that no public interest matter arises and no point of law of exceptional importance arises in order to allow for an appeal. CNI source report