Ronan Hughes’ Home Seized to Compensate Families of Essex Lorry Victims
Ronan Hughes faces home confiscation to pay over £180,000 in compensation to families affected by the tragic Essex lorry incident
Ronan Hughes, Essex, Vietnamese Victims, Human Trafficking, Compensation
Grays: A judge has ordered the home of Ronan Hughes to be seized to pay back over £180,000 he made from human trafficking.
This decision came after Hughes’ appeal against the compensation order was turned down. The money will go to the families of the victims.
Hughes, who is 45, charged migrants around £14,000 each for a dangerous journey from Zeebrugge, Belgium, to Purfleet in Essex, raking in a hefty profit.
The tragedy unfolded on October 23, 2019, when truck driver Maurice Robinson discovered the bodies of 39 Vietnamese nationals in a refrigerated trailer.
It was a heartbreaking scene, with some victims trying to escape while others sent final messages to their loved ones.
Hughes admitted to 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of assisting unlawful immigration, playing a key role in this horrific operation.
Last January, a judge ordered him to pay £182,078.90 to the families affected by this tragedy, emphasizing the need for full payment within three months.
The house in question was built on his parents’ land, where his wife and kids currently live. It’s valued at around €175,000 (£150,000).
Hughes tried to argue that his mother wouldn’t give up any rights to the land, but the court found no evidence that he owned it.
The case was sent back to the Old Bailey for a new hearing after the original order was quashed.
Other members of the smuggling ring have also been sentenced, with some receiving lengthy prison terms for their roles in this tragedy.
Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, who led the investigation, stated that the money will be shared among the Vietnamese families still grieving their losses.
She expressed hope that this compensation, while not a solution to their pain, might help them start to heal.
Darren Fox from the Crown Prosecution Service highlighted Hughes as the leader of a gang that profited from this horrific crime.
He noted that over £280,000 has been ordered to be paid to the victims’ families, reflecting the ongoing efforts to ensure criminals don’t benefit from their actions.