Courts / Monaghan / Report

Monaghan man alleged to be 'chief organiser' behind Essex migrant deaths

Date
2020-04-29

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Monaghan

Summary

A Monaghan man, Ronan Hughes, is alleged to be the 'ringleader' and 'chief organiser' of an organised criminal group involved in the trafficking of 39 Vietnamese migrants found dead in a lorry container in Essex in October 2019. The High Court heard that Hughes is alleged to have organised, paid for the travel, and controlled the drivers who collected the migrants. Evidence presented during the bail hearing included the freezing of €200,000 in 33 bank accounts linked to Hughes and his family, as well as the seizure of a 2019 BMW X5 valued at €108,000. Mr Justice Paul Burns will deliver a decision tomorrow on whether Hughes will be granted bail ahead of his extradition hearing. Hughes, who is wanted by UK authorities on 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, was arrested in Co Monaghan following the endorsement of a European Arrest Warrant. Maurice Robinson, Hughes' younger brother, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property. The case is currently at the appeal stage, with no finalisation of the matter yet.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Monaghan man alleged to be 'chief organiser' behind Essex migrant deaths. Charges or matters: conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

April 20 Incident
October 22 Other
May 1, 2018 Other
October 24, 2019 Incident
October 15 2019 Other
October 16, 2019 Other
October 17 2019 Other
October 22 2019 Other
October 17 Other
22 October 2019 Other
May 7 Hearing Or Sentence
October 23 Hearing Or Sentence
2020-04-29 Publication

Why: There was no legitimate reason for him to have travelled to France. CNI source report

Case subjects

Maurice Robinson

Convicted Person

Charges: conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Ronan Hughes

Accused

Charges: conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Det Sgt Kirwan said Mr Hughes faces a life sentence in prison if convicted of the offences and he has the means and ability to flee at the appropriate time. He said Mr Hughes was sentenced to 30 months in prison for evading almost €1 million worth of excise duty for smuggling five million cigarettes into the UK.