A man has appeared in court on foot of an arrest warrant issued by police in the UK investigating the discovery of 39 bodies in Essex last October.
Ronan Hughes, of Leitrim Silverstream, Tyholland, Co. Monaghan, is wanted in England to face multiple manslaughter charges and a conspiracy offence.
On October 23rd last, the bodies of 39 Vietnamese nationals were found in the back of a lorry in an industrial estate in Essex.
Yesterday, the High Court in Dublin endorsed a European Arrest Warrant issued by UK authorities for the arrest of 40-year-old Ronan Hughes.
That paved the way for DS James Kirwan to go to his address in Monaghan with local Gardaí and officers from the National Immigration Bureau.
He told the court today that Mr. Hughes identified himself in a photo shown to him when he knocked on his door just after 5 pm yesterday.
Mr. Hughes is wanted in the UK to face 39 manslaughter charges and a charge of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.
Mr. J Paul Burns told him today he had the right to consent to his surrender if he so wished.
A full extradition hearing has been set for May 1st and a bail application will be made next week.
Sergeant Kirwan told the court it will be objected to.
Mr. Hughes, who wore a face mask into court this morning, was then remanded in custody.
*Reporting by Frank Greaney
