Ireland’s High Court approved the handover to Britain of Ronan Hughes, 40, on charges of manslaughter and immigration offenses on Friday.

A separate court dismissed an appeal against extradition by Eamonn Harrison, 23, who also faces human trafficking charges.

Police are seen at the scene where bodies were discovered in a truck container, in Grays, Essex, Britain October 23, 2019.

The discovery of the bodies in the back of a refrigerated truck highlighted how poor citizens of Asia, Africa and the Middle East pay large sums to middlemen to make perilous, illicit journeys to the West.

Northern Irish truck driver Maurice Robinson pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter related to the deaths in March.

The victims, 31 men and boys and eight women whose ages ranged from 15 to 44, were discovered in October in a container at the back of a truck driven by Robinson to an industrial estate in Grays in Essex, about 30 km east of London.

Ireland’s High Court heard that U.K. authorities allege that Hughes organized the drivers and travel. They also alleged in a separate case last year that Harrison delivered the trailer in which the people were found to a Belgian port before its onward journey to Britain.

Irish broadcaster RTE reported that Hughes asked to be handed over to the U.K. authorities as soon as possible.

Neither Harrison nor Hughes have yet to enter a plea in relation to the substance of the allegations as their hearings have only concerned extradition.

Deputy FM works in UK over lorry deaths

Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung on November 4 held working sessions with representatives from the UK Home Office, signed funeral book and laid a wreath for the 39 victims found dead in Essex, northeast of London.

VN’s officials likely to send first report on lorry deaths back today

Two separate groups of public security and foreign affairs officials departed for the United Kingdom at the weekend, following news that all victims in the Essex lorry tragedy were believed to be Vietnamese.

39 truck deaths in UK: Vietnamese Embassy will take citizen protection measures

The Vietnamese Embassy in the UK has said it is ready to take citizen protection measures if any of the 39 people found dead in a container at Waterglade industrial park in Essex on October 23 are confirmed to be from Vietnam.

Ngo Van Soai saves 4 people with organ donation after death

(BGO)- “A lot of people criticized me when I decided to donate my husband’s organs, but I think it should be done to save many others after he passes away”.

Foreign leaders extend condolences to Vietnam over former President’s death

Leaders of China, Laos, Cambodia and Cuba have sent messages and letters of condolences over the death of former President Le Duc Anh to leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), the State, Government, National Assembly and people of Vietnam, and the family of the deceased. 

Source: VnExpress