Migrant deaths: Lorry driver charged
A lorry driver has been charged in Belgium following the discovery of the bodies of eight refugees in a freight container in Wexford last weekend.
The driver is expected to appear in court in Bruges tomorrow after he was arrested earlier this week.
The man is thought to have driven the lorry that took the container to the port of Zeebrugge a week ago, ahead of its departure to Ireland.
He is believed to be facing charges of cooperating with smugglers of humans.
The bodies, together with five seriously ill and unconscious survivors, were found when the container was opened at a business park in the town of Wexford on Saturday morning, after being driven from Waterford.
Post mortem examinations showed the illegal migrants suffocated in the vehicle, which also contained a consignment of Italian-made office furniture.
It has also been established that the refugees, thought to have been locked in the container by a gang dealing in human-trafficking in return for cash payments, should have been put on a ship bound for a southern English port rather than Ireland.
The British trip would have taken a few hours rather that the two days in gale-force sea conditions that the refugees were instead forced to endure.
The lorry driver being held in Belgium has faced an intense period of questioning by police.
Belgian detectives are expected to arrive in Wexford to interview survivors of the container ordeal.
Inquests into four of the eight dead have been opened, with the remainder going ahead tomorrow after final confirmation of identities.
All of the proceedings will be adjourned in view of the possibility of criminal proceedings over the case.
A special bank account to aid survivors has been established at Wexford General Hospital, where they are being treated.
Hospital chaplain Father Billy Flynn said: ‘‘All we can do now is continue to support those who survived and their families, and the families of those who have died.’’
The Government has made it clear that the survivors will be permitted to stay in Ireland if they want to.
