Mo Robinson's lorry to be sold for scrap

THE distinctive lorry by Mo Robinson which was at the centre of the Essex tragedy in which 39 Vietnamese Migrants died, is to be sold at auction.

The money raised will be divided between the families of the victims

The horrific tragedy came to light at Purfleet in England in October 2019 with the bodies of 39 people, aged between 15 and 44, found in the trailer of the lorry.

They had died from suffocation.

Lorry driver Maurice Robinson, from Laurelvale, was jailed for 13 years and four months after pleading guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter and assisting unlawful immigration, as well as money laundering.

Robinson was ordered to sell a 4x4 vehicle and a watch, totaling £21,262 to pay to the victims families.

Ronan Hughes, of Armagh (Robinson’s boss) had admitted plotting to smuggle people and 39 counts of manslaughter and was sentenced to 20 years.

Gheorghe Nica, of Basildon, Essex, and Eamonn Harrison, from Newry, who had collected the victims on the continent, were found guilty of the offences.

Christopher Kennedy, of Keady, Co Armagh, was jailed for seven years for conspiring to facilitate unlawful immigration.

Others from the UK and Belgium have also been jailed for their role in the smuggling service.

Wilsons Auctions Ltd, said, “The vehicle will be sold to the highest bidder in a closed auction where only vetted Authorised Treatment Facilities – who are registered with the Environment Agency – can bid.

“It will be broken into parts for recycling and it will not return to the road.

“All money generated from the auction will be sent to the 39 Vietnamese victims’ families.”

Essex Police Chief Superintendent Stuart Hooper, said: “We have tried to manage the disposal of the lorry cab in an appropriate way, whilst recognising the independence and authority of the courts, their decisions and processes.

“It was a complex case which gained national and international media attention, but throughout the investigation and court trials, our priority has been, and remains, treating the victims with respect and sensitively offering their families support, to ensure they do not suffer further.”