Lawyers for a Monaghan haulier suspected of being “the ringleader” behind a trafficking ring that brought 39 migrants who died in a lorry container in Essex last year have argued that his alleged offences did not occur in the UK.
British authorities want the extradition of Ronan Hughes (40), Letrim, Silverstream, Tyholland, Co Monaghan to face 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.
The bodies of eight women and 31 men were found in Grays, Essex on October 23rd, 2019, shortly after they had arrived on a ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium. The youngest victims were two boys aged 15.
Counsel for the Minister for Justice on Friday told the High Court extradition hearing for Hughes that the legal submission of “extraterritoriality” was “a complete red herring” and “fanciful debate”.
Mr Hughes, who owns a haulage firm, was arrested at his Monaghan home following the endorsement of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by the police in Essex. He is fighting his proposed extradition.
Brother
Mr Hughes and his younger brother Christopher (34) have been wanted in connection with the deaths for months. Last November, Essex Constabulary issued a public appeal to the two to hand themselves in.
Ronan Hughes appeared by video-link from Cloverhill Prison for the hearing. He is the second man from Northern Ireland to be arrested here on a EAW as part of the Essex police investigation.
Counsel for the Minister for Justice, Ronan Kennedy SC, told Mr Justice Paul Burns that the manslaughter charges carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and the conspiracy charges can bring sentences of 14 years.
Opposing his extradition, Hughes’ counsel, Remy Farrell SC said that much of what is being alleged against his client had happened outside of the UK.
In reply, Mr Kennedy said that Mr Farrell’s legal submissions were “fundamentally misconceived” as they were built on the entirely incorrect premise that the UK was seeking to assert extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Instead, it is abundantly clear from the EAW that the offences had occurred within the UK; Mr Kennedy explained that he said this in respect of both the manslaughter and conspiracy offences.
The UK authorities maintained, Mr Kennedy said, that the victims died after the trailer entered its territory and it was “nonsensical” to suggest that it had occurred elsewhere.
“The fact multiple places are referred to in the warrant does not mean the offence is extraterritorial and the fact the acts occurred in other jurisdictions does not make the offence extraterritorial,” he argued.
The lawyer argued that it was alleged that Mr Hughes had organised and controlled the drivers and had travelled to the UK to commit other acts, as well as meet with his co-conspirators.