Essex lorry deaths: Cab being auctioned for families

The bodies of the 39 Vietnamese nationals were discovered in a refrigerated trailer in October 2019

A lorry cab driven by a Northern Ireland man and used to transport a trailer in which 39 Vietnamese migrants were found dead in Essex is to be sold at auction.

The men, women and children suffocated en route from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet in October 2019.

Maurice Robinson from County Armagh was sentenced to 13 years and four months.

He collected the trailer and opened it in an industrial estate to find the migrants dead.

Robinson was one of four people jailed for the manslaughter of the 39 Vietnamese migrants.

Maurice Robinson admitted manslaughter of the 39 Vietnamese migrants

They included another County Armagh man, Ronan Hughes, who was sentenced to 20 years.

• The supposed 'VIP' journey that killed 39 people

• Irish smuggling connection to Essex lorry deaths

• Man ordered to pay £180k to lorry death families

In a joint statement, Wilson Auctions Ltd and Ch Supt Stuart Hooper of Essex police said the money raised from the sale of the lorry cab would be divided among the families of the victims.

Mark Woods, of Wilsons Auctions Ltd, said the vehicle would 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 will not return to the road," he added.

"All money generated from the auction will be sent to the 39 Vietnamese victims' families."

Ronan Hughes admitted manslaughter in 2020

Ch Supt Hooper said Essex Police had "dealt with the investigation into the deaths of the 39 Vietnamese victims who tragically lost their lives in a highly professional manner, showing dignity and respect to both the victims and their families". 

"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."