Essex lorry deaths ringleader’s home confiscated as he is made to pay £182,000 to families of 39 victims

Essex: So, you remember that tragic incident back in 2019, right? A people smuggler named Ronan Hughes was behind the deaths of 39 Vietnamese folks. Well, his home just got confiscated, and he’s been ordered to cough up £182,000 to the victims’ families.

This all went down at the Old Bailey, where a judge decided that Hughes’ property in Ireland was fair game for confiscation. He thought he could keep it, but the judge had other ideas. Now, a total of £283,802.58 is set to be shared among the grieving families.

It’s heartbreaking to think about how those 39 people were found in that lorry, suffocated and trapped. Hughes, who was 45 at the time, took off to Ireland right after the bodies were discovered. He thought he could hide out there, but the law caught up with him eventually.

After a European Arrest Warrant was issued, he was brought back to Essex and ended up pleading guilty to manslaughter and other charges. He got a hefty 20-year sentence for his role in this horrific crime.

Other guys involved in this smuggling ring also got jail time, and their assets were seized too. The driver of the lorry, Maurice Robinson, got over 13 years for his part in the tragedy.

Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, who led the investigation, said they were determined to go after Hughes for his profits from this awful operation. She mentioned that while the money won’t bring back the lost loved ones, it might help the families start to heal.

Darren Fox from the Crown Prosecution Service added that Hughes and his gang treated this smuggling operation like a business, and now they’re paying the price. Over £450 million has been recovered from criminals in similar cases, with a good chunk going back to victims.

It’s a tough situation, but at least there’s some accountability now. The families deserve every bit of support they can get.