Four guilty of involvement in Essex lorry deaths
39 Vietnamese men, women and children were found dead in a container last year
Last updated 21st Dec 2020
A jury has found four men guilty of their involvement in a people smuggling ring which resulted in the death of 39 Vietnamese people.
The victims, aged as young as 15, were found unresponsive in the trailer of a lorry in Eastern Avenue in Grays in the early hours of 23rd October 2019.
Following a 10 week trial at the Old Bailey, the jury returned their verdicts today, 21st December.
24-year-old Eamonn Harrison, who's a lorry driver from Mayobridge in Northern Ireland, was found guilty of 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.
Gheorghe Nica, aged 43 and of Mimosa Close in Langdon Hills, was found guilty of the same charges.
24-year-old Christopher Kennedy, of Corkley Road in Darkley, County Armagh, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law.
Valentin Calota, 38, of Cossingham Road in Birmingham, was found guilty of the same charge.
All four will be sentenced at a later date alongside those who have already entered guilty pleas, including lorry driver Maurice Robinson, transport fixer Ronan Hughes, and drivers Alexandru-Ovidiu Hanga and Gazmir Nuzi.
The investigation also found that Hughes and Nica had overseen two other journeys earlier that month, on 11th and 18th October 2019, where people had been brought into the country.
They were assisted by lorry drivers Harrison and Kennedy and a number of other drivers who picked up people in Thurrock and transported them across London.
Speaking following the result, Essex Police Chief Constable. Ben Julian Harrington, said: "The men who were found guilty today made their money from misery. They knew what they were doing was wrong, but they didn’t care.
"They tried to hide what they were doing. They attempted to evade detection. They thought they could cover up their crimes.
“Today, they have been proved wrong on every count.
"Whilst I feel immense pride for the Essex Police teams, and our partners, for this diligent investigation, none of us will stop thinking of the victims and their families.
"Those family members are, in most cases, halfway across the world, and their lives will never be the same again.
"We will never forget those 39 victims – men, women, and children – who were sold the lie of safe passage to our country.
"The force made their loved ones a promise in the Book of Condolence shortly after the incident: that we would do everything in our power to bring those responsible for that horrific journey, which ended on our shores, to justice.
"Essex Police has worked hard to deliver on our promise, and I hope that is of some small comfort."
Home Secretary Priti Patel added: "This was a truly tragic incident. While I’m pleased justice has been served, I know it will come as little comfort to the families of those who died. My thoughts remain with those affected by this tragedy.
"Today’s convictions only strengthen my resolve to do all I can to go after the people smugglers who prey on the vulnerable and trade in human misery. I’m determined to bring callous people smugglers to justice and keep our communities safe from the actions of horrendous organised crime groups.
"I want to thank all the agencies involved in this investigation, specifically Essex Police, the NCA, the Crown Prosecution Service and operational teams in the Home Office for their exemplary professionalism in pursuing convictions.
"We are fortunate to be served by such outstanding, committed officers, who help keep us safe and support those most in need."