Eamon Harrison loses latest challenge to extradition

The Irish Court of Appeal has upheld the decision of the High Court to order Eamon Harrison’s extradition to the UK. Mr Harrison is sought to stand trial on 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, following the deaths of 39 Vietnamese nationals found in a trailer in Essex on 23 October 2019.

Mr Harrison is alleged to have delivered the trailer containing the eight women and 31 men to  the Belgian port of Zeebrugge before it was transported to the UK. The victims died from lack of oxygen and are believed to have been in UK waters when they died.

Delivering the judgment of the Court remotely in the appeal, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly said the European Arrest Warrant (’EAW’), when taken as a whole, gave sufficient information about the circumstances of the offence and the High Court has been correct to conclude that all of the requirements for surrender to the issuing state had been met.

Earlier in the day the High Court ordered the extradition of Ronan Hughes, of County Monaghan, to the UK in connection with the 39 migrant deaths. Mr Hughes is alleged to have been the “ringleader” in the people-trafficking operation. Mr Hughes is also facing charges of manslaughter and assisting unlawful immigration.