UK - 39 bodies found in lorry container, Essex, 23 Oct 2019 *Guilty* #3

[Silverlink]

I agree. RH’s sentence was reduced from 20 to 30 as a result of his guilty plea. But he used his Irish residence to evade questioning for months, appealed his extradition and obviously only pled guilty once it was clear that conviction was inevitable, and to reduce his sentence. Hardly assisting justice. And I wonder what he knows about the likely whereabouts or contact details for the missing senior organiser??
He also blackmailed EH, which in no way exonerates EH but IMHO was a terrible thing to do.
I would have put RH away for 30 years.

Agreed. Hughes refused to come forward when Essex Police made their appeal to speak to him and forced them to apply a European Arrest Warrant to finally get to him.

Would Mo be jailed in England or could he go back to Northern Ireland?

I found this about prisoner allocation.

Where will they be taken?

 

[Silverlink]

The full sentencing remarks document has been released.

https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Ronan-Hughes-and-Others-Sentencing-Remarks.pdf

 

[Silverlink]

Hopefully we'll see some developments soon regarding Caolan Gormley, who I'd guess is one of the three other individuals the authorities are considering charging. If Christopher Kennedy's crimes are worthy of 7 years, surely his boss should be facing time too, especially considering what was said about him during the trial.

 

[CaptainNancy]

The full sentencing remarks document has been released.

https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Ronan-Hughes-and-Others-Sentencing-Remarks.pdf

RH bears so much more responsibility for this than any of the drivers. He was organising them all, and all the trips, they weren’t all involved in all the trips (except maybe EH). He had a previous serious criminal record. He and GN are the only ones who would definitely have had knowledge of the numbers of migrants (they would have to have had, to manage the onward transport capacity and the money).

RH ran his whole business in a way designed to facilitate smuggling (undercutting legitimate hauliers rates to get jobs to act as a cover etc).
Whereas EH just sounds like an inadequate individual more easily led astray. He made reference in the trial to not understanding guilt in relation to manslaughter. Obviously he is guilty, and did lie, but I am surprised that his sentence is so close to RH’s. The effect of RH’s guilty plea.

But RH was astute enough to know when to plead guilty. Thereby also avoiding having his testimony interrogated and made public in court. Thus potentially protecting more powerful links in the chain.

 

[CaptainNancy]

Hopefully we'll see some developments soon regarding Caolan Gormley, who I'd guess is one of the three other individuals the authorities are considering charging. If Christopher Kennedy's crimes are worthy of 7 years, surely his boss should be facing time too, especially considering what was said about him during the trial.

Yes, watching with interest.
And to see if Draghici and ‘Fong’ can be caught.

I wonder what activity will be seen on either side of the border as the authorities begin the confiscation process.

 

[Silverlink]

New developments in regard of Ngo Sy Tai aka Hung Sy Truong's extradition hearing.

Vietnamese teen accused over lorry migrants’ deaths wanted in Belgium

 

[Silverlink]

Ngo Sy Tai, 18, is wanted in Belgium for his involvement in a people smuggling operation which saw 39 Vietnamese migrants dead in the back of a lorry in Essex in 2019. A decision on extradition will be made on 8 April.

https://twitter.com/CHerranzCarr/status/1370406045244403715

 

[Silverlink]

They've finally got Caolan Gormley, who was Christopher Kennedy's boss. Charged with conspiracy to assist illegal immigration with a plea hearing due to take place at the Old Bailey on 14 April.

Essex lorry deaths case: Haulier Caolan Gormley in court

 

[CaptainNancy]

Thanks for that update, I had been keeping a look out for Mr Gormley in the news but missed this.

 

[CaptainNancy]

Forthcoming documentary:
'The Essex Lorry Deaths' documentary coming to BBC Two

 

[Silverlink]

Judge orders Vietnamese teenager to be extradited over Essex migrant deaths

A Vietnamese teenager accused of being a key “organiser” in the fatal people smuggling operation which saw 39 migrants suffocate in the back of a container on its way to Essex has lost his appeal against extradition.

Ngo Sy Tai, also known as Hung Sy Truong, is wanted in Belgium over allegations he ran a so-called “safe house” for his fellow Vietnamese nationals in Anderlecht, Brussels

 

[Silverlink]

Video of the arrest:
https://twitter.com/NCA_UK/status/1380205970861723657

 

[CSIDreamer]

Judge orders Vietnamese teenager to be extradited over Essex migrant deaths

A Vietnamese teenager accused of being a key “organiser” in the fatal people smuggling operation which saw 39 migrants suffocate in the back of a container on its way to Essex has lost his appeal against extradition.

Ngo Sy Tai, also known as Hung Sy Truong, is wanted in Belgium over allegations he ran a so-called “safe house” for his fellow Vietnamese nationals in Anderlecht, Brussels

I wonder how teen he is. I don’t see his actual age. JMO

 

[Silverlink]

I wonder how teen he is. I don’t see his actual age. JMO

There have been multiple different accounts of his age. He is 'said to be 18' but I recall suggestions in one of the previous hearings that he could be lying about his age and may be in his late 20s.

 

[Silverlink]

Caolan Gormley's plea and trial preparation begins tomorrow at 2pm. I'm expecting a guilty plea, he'd be silly not to when you look at the differences in sentences for those who pleaded guilty vs not guilty, including his own employee.

What’s on at the Old Bailey on April 14

 

[Silverlink]

Caolan Gormley has surprisingly pleaded not guilty and will stand trial next year. Will be interesting to see what his defence is, I struggle to see how he has a leg to stand on here.

Essex lorry deaths: Haulier denies role in Vietnamese migrant deaths

 

[Marysmith]

Caolan Gormley has surprisingly pleaded not guilty and will stand trial next year. Will be interesting to see what his defence is, I struggle to see how he has a leg to stand on here.

Essex lorry deaths: Haulier denies role in Vietnamese migrant deaths

Thank you so much Silverlink for all the updates! Maybe he’s just biding time?!

 

[CaptainNancy]

Extraordinary.

I can’t see the CPS agreeing to trial at the Old Bailey unless they have strong evidence.

Are the prosecution allowed to use the statements or witness cross examination of the ones already convicted?

Is he on remand, or bailed?

 

[Silverlink]

Extraordinary.

I can’t see the CPS agreeing to trial at the Old Bailey unless they have strong evidence.

Are the prosecution allowed to use the statements or witness cross examination of the ones already convicted?

Is he on remand, or bailed?

He was granted unconditional bail after his first hearing. I'm not a legal expert by any means so I'm not sure what they're allowed to use, but considering that this charge must relate to Kennedy's actions which led to his conviction I'd assume they'd use evidence from that case and trial.

It'll be interesting to know why they've left it so late to charge him and why he wasn't in court with the others. Very odd to charge the driver but not the boss who owned the lorry he committed the offence in and directed him.

 

[Silverlink]

The messages that Thomas Maher sent to arrange an attack on Ronan Hughes have been revealed.

Texts of gangland fixer show plot to have killer 'hurt' in jail

Encrochat messages recovered by the National Crime Agency (NCA) revealed that Maher, who used the handle Satirical, had a particular interest in Hughes.

A text from Maher to an associate of Hughes read: "Seen that m8 that's the fella that bought the wagon."

[Redacted1]: "Yea just came up as breaking news over here."

[Redacted1]: "I'll take it you're mans xxxxxx."

[Redacted2]: "That one them brothers been charged mate"

Maher "Yes m8 that's the fella."

[Redacted2]: "Has he anything on u mate?"

Maher: "Only hear say m8 .I'll know if they lift me again over the next few weeks ha ha I'll shower every night put on clean jocks before bed in case they do ha ha be a few days with out a shower but nothing to keep me for lol."

[Redacted2]: U be good they been getting info out him last few months... Just need to carful we both do... Going away even them xxxxx from UK they follow u to the end off the earth.

The following day Maher sent another message to contacts which read: "Have you anyone in ( name of prison.) "

One of the contacts replied: "I'll ask what's up?"

Maher replied: "I want to get a fella seen .."

He was asked "Seen hurt you mean."

Maher replied: "Yes."

The messages continued and Maher was asked if he wanted Hughes to know where the attack came from.

He replied : "Yeah, dragging me into this mess."

When the NCA realised there was a credible plot to harm Hughes they intervened to protect him.