One Wexford refugee still not identified

Gardaí investigating the deaths of eight refugees found in a container in Co Wexford last weekend are still trying to identify one of the bodies.

This has delayed the holding of an inquest into this person's death.

Inquests into the deaths of Mr Mustafa Demir (23), Ms Saniye Guler (28) and her sons, Iman (9) and Bekan (3), found that they died as a result of anoxia, due to oxygen depletion in a sealed container. They were all from Turkey.

A lorry driver has been charged in Belgium in connection with the case. He is believed to be facing charges of co-operating with human traffickers.

The driver is expected to appear in court in Bruges tomorrow. Belgian detectives are expected to arrive in Wexford to interview survivors of the container ordeal.

The man is suspected of having driven the lorry that took the container to the port of Zeebrugge a week ago, ahead of its departure to Ireland.

It has been established that the refugees should have been put on a ship bound for an English port rather than Waterford, which is where they arrived. The British trip would have taken a few hours rather than the two days in gale force conditions the refugees were forced to endure.

A special bank account to aid survivors has been set up at Wexford General Hospital, where they are being treated.

Additional reporting PA