Courts / Down / Report

Driver alleged to have delivered Essex Migrant death trailer fails in bid to stop extradition

Date
2020-06-12

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Mayobridge

County
Down

Summary

Eamon Ronald Harrison, 23, of Mayobridge, Co Down, was sought by Essex police for 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration after a trailer containing 39 Vietnamese migrants was found dead in an industrial park in Grays, Essex. The trailer, allegedly delivered by Harrison to a Belgian port before its onward journey to Britain, was recorded as "biscuits." The migrants died from lack of oxygen between 8pm and 10pm, with temperatures inside the unit rising to 38.5°C. Harrison's appeal to stop his extradition to the United Kingdom was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which upheld the High Court's decision. The court found the European Arrest Warrant provided sufficient detail of the alleged acts and that all conditions for surrender were met. Harrison was ordered to be extradited to the UK. The appeal was dismissed, and the order will take effect after 10 days from the judgment.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Driver alleged to have delivered Essex Migrant death trailer fails in bid to stop extradition. Charges or matters: 39 counts of manslaughter; one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

October 23 Other
2020-06-12 Publication

Why: The lawyer explained that what was being alleged against Mr Harrison was quite clear, namely that he was part of a conspiracy and had driven the trailer to a port, where it was loaded onto a ferry. CNI source report