Two Derry truck drivers arrested in connection with container death

Two men from the North have been charged in connection with the death of a man found in a container at Tilbury Docks.

Stephen McLaughlin, 34, of Limavady, Derry, and Timothy Murphy, 33 of Elmgrove, Derry, are both charged with conspiring to facilitate illegal entry into the UK.

The men, who are both lorry drivers, are to appear in custody at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court today.

Meet Singh Kapoor, 40, from Afghanistan, was found dead inside the container at the Essex port on August 16.

Mr Kapoor was among a group of 35 immigrants, including 13 children, the rest of whom survived the ordeal.

The group is believed to have fled Afghanistan after suffering persecution.

They are in the process of claiming asylum in the UK after travelling to Europe in a lorry before reportedly spending 18 hours in the cargo container en route to the UK.

The ages of those in the container ranged from one to 72.

Essex Police said a post-mortem examination on Mr Kapoor had failed to establish the cause of his death and inquiries are continuing.