Essex lorry deaths: Police appeal to Ronan and Christopher Hughes
Police have appealed to two brothers wanted in connection with the deaths of 39 people found in a lorry container in Essex to hand themselves in.
Ronan and Christopher Hughes are wanted on suspicion of manslaughter and people trafficking.
Speaking in Belfast, Essex Police said they had spoken to Ronan by phone.
"Ronan and Christopher, hand yourselves in," said Det Ch Insp Daniel Stoten, who is leading the investigation.
Read more: Essex lorry deaths police appeal to brothers
This article was based on public announcements and appeals made by Essex Police at the relevant time. Christopher Hughes denies any involvement in these offences and Essex Police has since confirmed no further action will be taken against him. Since the publication of this article, his older brother, Ronan Hughes, 41, and Maurice Robinson, 26, both of County Armagh, have pleaded guilty to manslaughter. On 21 December 2020, the Crown Court, sitting at the Old Bailey, found Eamonn Harrison, 24 of Newry, County Down, and Gheorghe Nica, 43 of Basildon, Essex, guilty of manslaughter and Christopher Kennedy, 24, of County Armagh, and Valentin Calota 38, of Birmingham, guilty of conspiring to assist illegal immigration. Alexandru-Ovidiu Hanga, 28, of Tilbury, Essex, and Gazmir Nuzi, 43, of Tottenham, north London, admitted assisting unlawful immigration. All defendants were sentenced in January 2021.
