Gardaí launch investigation into container deaths

Members of the Garda guard a shipping container found containing eight dead refugees, including two children, in Wexford this morning. Gardaí said the container appeared to have originated in Italy and the grim discovery immediatly drew comparison to the death of 58 Chinese refugees who suffocated in a lorry in Dover, England in June 2000. REUTERS/Paul McErlane

A major international investigation has been launched by Gardaí into the deaths of six refugees discovered in a container in County Wexford this morning. Three children are among the dead, two boys and a girl aged between four and eleven years. Five survivors - four men and one woman, were found when a lorry driver opened the container shortly after 10 am.

Five surviving refugees were taken to hospital after the discovery in the Drinagh Business Park outside Wexford town. It is understood the container arrived last Thursday in Waterford from the Dutch port of Zeebruge and was transported by road to Drinagh Business Park near Rosslare this morning where the discovery took place.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern has described the incident as an ‘atrocity’. He condemned the people behind the smuggling. Relaying his sympathy to the families of the dead and to the injured, he said: "Those involved in the cruel trade of trafficking in human beings have perpetrated yet another atrocity on the victims of their greed."

Those involved in the cruel trade of trafficking in human beings have perpetrated yet another atrocity on the victims of their greed The Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern

Mr Ahern pledged that no effort would be spared on the part of the authorities to bring those responsible to justice.

The victims, four male and one female are in hospital in Wexford. While the extent of their injuries remains unknown, three are understood to be in intensive care and another is being treated in the cardiac unit.

The driver of the truck also had to receive treatment for shock.

The refugees were found when the driver of a truck a carrying cargo of furniture heard noises from the rear of his lorry. He opened the container and found the dead and injured inside.

Speaking at a Garda press conference this evening, Superintendent John Farley said the Gardaí were in contact with their colleagues in Germany and Belgium via Interpol. He said there were indications the refugees had assistance and that Gardaí will do all in their power to bring the traffickers to justice.

It is understood that one of the injured has spoken to Gardaí in hospital. The 17-year-old male, spoke through an interpreter and indications are that he is of Turkish origin.

The nationalities of the other refugees are unknown as of yet but it is thought they may have included a family.

Superintendent Farley indicated that those found in the container seemed to have had assistance as a seal on the container had been tampered with and had come apart when the doors were opened this morning.

The state pathologist Professor John Harbison performed a preliminary examination at the scene to try and determine cause of death.

It is believed the container was driven to the Drinagh Business Park, two miles outside Wexford, before the gruesome discovery was made.

The scene was sealed off and officers from the garda's National Immigration Bureau were called in.

Gardaí later said the container where the bodies were found had been carrying a cargo of office furniture that originated in Italy.

It was taken by rail to Belgium and left the port of Zeebrugge on November 30th, arriving in Ireland on Thursday.

When the container was opened this morning, all 13 people inside were unconscious.