Timothy Murphy: remanded in custody.
A Derry man has been remanded in custody after appearing in court following the death of an Afghan migrant found in a container at Tilbury docks in Essex, England.
Timothy Murphy (33), of Elmgrove in the Buncrana Road area of the city, was charged with conspiring to facilitate illegal entry into the UK when he appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court.
A second lorry driver, Stephen McLaughlin (34), originally from Carndonagh in Inishowen in Co Donegal, who lives at Rose Park in Limavady, is due to appear at the same court later today on a similar charge.
Murphy was charged with between 1 and 17 August last, having conspired with McLaughlin “and together with other persons unknown to do an act, namely clandestinely convey 35 Afghan nationals by sea in to an English port, which facilitated the commission of a breach of immigration law.
He spoke only to confirm his name and personal details.
He was remanded in custody for a plea and case management hearing at Basildon Crown Court on a date to be set during the week beginning 17 November.
McLaughlin was arrested on the A1 in Banbridge, Co Tyrone on Tuesday while Murphy was detained after voluntarily attending a police station in Essex the following day.
The dead man, Meet Singh Kapoor (40), was one of 35 people from Afghanistan, including 15 children, discovered after dock workers heard banging and screaming coming from one of the containers which had been shipped in from Belgium.
Those found inside were taken to hospital, with many suffering from the effects of severe dehydration and hypothermia.
The migrants were said by police to be victims of people trafficking.
Those found inside were taken to hospital, with many suffering from the effects of severe dehydration and hypothermia.
The 34 survivors include 10 men, nine women and 15 children, with their ages ranging from one to 72.
They are all in the care of the British Home Office after being discharged from hospital and questioned by police.
They are seeking asylum in the UK.
It is believed they were in the container for about 18 hours.
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