Ireland

Cars and cash seized in Co Monaghan anti-smuggling raids

A lorry seized by the Republic's Criminal Assets Bureau at Dublin port on Tuesday in connection with a smuggling probe
A lorry seized by the Republic's Criminal Assets Bureau at Dublin port on Tuesday in connection with a smuggling probe A lorry seized by the Republic's Criminal Assets Bureau at Dublin port on Tuesday in connection with a smuggling probe

CARS and cash have been seized from homes and business premises in Co Monaghan as part of a probe into international smuggling.

The Republic's Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) said the searches are not directly connected to the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants found in a lorry container in Essex last week.

However, it is understood that some of the properties are linked to two Co Armagh brothers wanted in connection with the 39 deaths.

The CAB investigation, which is investigating the finances of haulage companies along the border, began more than a year ago.

The two brothers, Christopher Hughes (34) and convicted cigarette smuggler Ronan Hughes (40), are wanted on suspicion of manslaughter and human trafficking over the deaths of 31 men and eight women, all from Vietnam, found in a refrigerated lorry container in Essex on October 23.

The brothers, who are linked to addresses in Co Monaghan and Co Armagh, are still being sought by Essex Police a week after a senior officer made a public appeal for them to come forward.

A total of seven homes and three yards or industrial sheds were searched in Co Monaghan early yesterday.

Among the items seized were four high-performance cars, documents, electronic devices and cash sums of euro, sterling and dollars worth €1,400, £600 and $900 respectively.

No one was arrested.

As part of the same investigation, a lorry tractor registered in the north, a lorry trailer registered in Bulgaria and a trailer were seized at Dublin port on Tuesday.

A CAB spokesman said: "For over a year, the Criminal Assets Bureau has, in accordance with its statutory remit, been investigating a group suspected of being involved in various international smuggling activities.

"That investigation has intensified over the past two weeks."

Meanwhile, all 39 victims who died in Essex have been formally identified.

Essex Police worked with Vietnamese police officers, who travelled to England earlier this week, to present cases to a coroner.

The victims' families have all been notified.

Senior coroner, Caroline Beasley-Murray said: "May I take this opportunity to offer my deepest condolences to the victims' families."

The senior officer in charge of the enquiry, Essex Police Assistant Chief Constable Tim Smith said the identification of the victims was "an important step in the investigation".

"It is only right that we provide an opportunity for family members to take in the news confirming the death of their loved ones before releasing any further information," he said.

Two men from Northern Ireland have already appeared in court in connection with the deaths.

Mo Robinson (25), of Laurelvale, Co Armagh, appeared before an English court last week, charged with 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to traffic people, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and money laundering.

Essex Police have also started extradition proceedings to bring 22-year-old Eamonn Harrison, from Mayobridge in Co Down, to the UK.

Mr Harrison appeared in the High Court in Dublin on Friday of last week. He is facing charges including 39 counts of manslaughter.

Three other people arrested in connection with the investigation - a 38-year-old man, a 38-year-old woman, and a 46 year-old man - have all been released on bail until later this month.

Meanwhile, a separate case against Eamonn Harrison ended in a Dublin court yesterday.

The 22-year-old was charged with assault and causing criminal damage in Dublin in 2018.

The case was heard at Cloverhill District Court where he paid €500 in compensation to the victim.

:: Update: Since publication of this article, Essex Police has said no further action will be taken against Christopher Hughes, who denies any connection to the offences. A spokesman said he was "raised as a suspect early in the investigation, based on evidence and information that we had", and was "later subject of a voluntary interview within the Republic of Ireland, and that was intentionally because of legal difficulties in speaking to him elsewhere. No further action will be taken against him." His brother Ronan Hughes (41) was jailed in January 2021 for the manslaughter of the 39 Vitnamese migrants along with Gheorghe Nica (43) of Basildon, Essex, Eamon Harrison (24) of Newry, Co Down and Maurice Robinson (26) of Craigavon, Co Armagh.