Irish haulier pleads guilty over Vietnamese truck deaths in UK

LONDON: A 40-year-old Irish haulier pleaded guilty on Friday (Aug 28) to the manslaughter of 39 Vietnamese men, women and boys found dead in the back of a refrigerated truck near London last year.

Ronan Hughes became the second man to plead guilty over a case that shocked Britain and Vietnam and shone a light on the illicit human smuggling trade. The other is Maurice Robinson, from the British province of Northern Ireland, who was driving the truck when the bodies were found.

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Appearing at a full Old Bailey courtroom in London, Hughes stood in the dock facing the judge as the names of the 31 men and boys and eight women were read out. He admitted each charge in a process that took more than 10 minutes.

Hughes also admitted conspiring to assist unlawful immigration.

READ: Two more arrested over Vietnamese truck deaths, UK police say

READ: UK police formally identify 39 bodies found in truck, victims confirmed to be Vietnamese

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