Smugglers of stowaways 'should be charged with murder'

The human smugglers whose actions resulted in the deaths of eight Turkish stowaways should face murder charges, a coroner's court was told yesterday. Mr Jimmy Murphy, county coroner, was speaking after an inquest into the deaths of four of those on the freight container which arrived in Wexford last Saturday.

The inquests into the other four deaths are delayed because their bodies have not yet been adequately identified. The inquests are likely to take place tomorrow.

The first inquest was into the death of Mr Mustafa Demir (23), a trainee hotel manager. His brother, Mr Zuhtu Demir (28), travelled from Frankfurt on Tuesday to identify the body. Mr Demir said they last met briefly at a food market in Frankfurt on December 3rd. At Wexford General Hospital he identified his brother.

The State Pathologist, Prof John Harbison, said Mr Demir died as a result of anoxia, due to oxygen depletion in a sealed container. As a contributory cause, there was also evidence of an acute respiratory infection which had not progressed to pneumonia.

Mr Iman Iyiguven (43) gave evidence on the deaths of his sister-in-law and her two young children. Mr Iyiguven, originally from south-east Turkey, travelled from his home in London to identify the bodies last Monday. The bodies were of Ms Saniye Guler (28), from the same region in Turkey, and her sons Iman (9) and Bekan (3). Ms Guler was married to his wife's brother.

Prof Harbison said all three had died as a result of anoxia. In Ms Guler's case there was evidence of an accumulation of fluid in her lungs caused by anoxia.

He said in almost all of the eight cases there was also a contributory cause of acute respiratory infection. He said the survivors of the ordeal had also symptoms of the respiratory infection which would have spread easily in the confined space.

"In all of the eight", Prof Harbison added, "there was no sign of decomposition", and some still had muscle rigidity, indicating they had probably died "within two or three days" before being examined by him.

A translator, on behalf of the relatives, expressed their "greatest gratitude to the Irish people for their kindness", especially to Dr Paddy McKiernan of Wexford General Hospital, the hospital staff and the garda∅. The coroner agreed to adjourn the inquests "because criminal proceedings are being contemplated".

He said legislation "must be enacted immediately so that all containers be searched by at least two people and sniffer dogs on leaving and entering a country regardless of the inconvenience it causes". Politicians' "lip-service" was not enough.

A bank account to support the victims of last weekend's tragedy has been opened by the chaplain's office at Wexford General Hospital. Father Billy Flynn, the hospital chaplain, said "All we can do now is continue to support the five people who survived the tragedy and their families, and the families of those who have died." Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so through the TSB Bank in Wexford, account number 990639-71978767, or through the chaplain's office at Wexford General Hospital.