Tyrone man arrested over death of person found in shipping container

Source: Essex Police

A DUNGANNON MAN has been arrested after a man was found dead in a container at Tilbury Docks in Essex in the UK.

He is the third man to be arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and facilitating illegal entry into the United Kingdom in connection with the Essex Police investigation.

They are investigating the death of the man, Meet Singh Kapoor (40), who was found in a container at Tilbury Docks on Saturday August 16.

The man arrested today is aged 47, and from Dungannon, in Northern Ireland. He was arrested by Merseyside Police at Liverpool Ferry Port.

He is due to be transferred into the custody of Essex Police later this evening.

Source: Essex Police

On 16 August, Essex Police launched an investigation after the discovery of a container of people at Tilbury Docks.

The container was on a P&O container ferry from Zeebrugge which docked at the port at 6.37am.

The other 50 containers on the vessel were searched and no one was found on board any of them.

The 35 people on board the container were from Afghanistan and of the Sikh faith, and one man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Essex Police, Border Force and the National Crime Agency are all investigating the incident, and officers are liaising with Belgian police and Interpol.

Source: Essex Police

Supt Trevor Roe of Essex Police said:

Tragically, one man died on the voyage and the investigation into his death is now being led by us. These people were found in an awful situation and our main priority is to look after them and ensure they are now safe following what would have been a horrendous ordeal.

One man was arrested on Tuesday 19 August, followed by a second man one day later.

Stephen McLaughlin, 34, of Rose Park, Limavady, Londonderry and Timothy Murphy, 33 of Elmgrove, Londonderry, were both charged with conspiring to facilitate illegal entry into the UK.

They are both lorry drivers and will appear before court again on 17 November.

Read: Two Derry lorry drivers remanded in custody in connection with container death at Essex dock>