Driver for human trafficking gang linked to Essex lorry deaths released from prison
Christopher Kennedy, 29, was at the heart of a human trafficking operation which for years illegally brought Vietnamese people into the UK.
He was jailed at the Old Bailey for seven years in 2021 for being part of the wider people smuggling operation.
Then 24, from County Armagh in Northern Ireland, was sentenced for conspiracy to facilitate unlawful immigration and a confiscation hearing later heard he had benefited from his crime to the value of £67,050.65p.
Mugshot - Christopher Kennedy (Image: Essex Police)
Kennedy was a key member and had picked up containers with people inside in Essex, delivering them to a remote location in Orsett, but not the ones which tragically held the 39 victims, aged between 15 and 44, who suffocated in Purfleet in October 2019.
His trial was told he was "in the loop" after the tragedy unfolded and received several phone calls from haulier boss Ronan Hughes, the ringleader of the people-smuggling gang, soon after the bodies were discovered in one of Hughes' trailers by driver Maurice Robinson, then aged 26.
The jury heard within 46 seconds of Hughes' phone call with Robinson ending, during which he was informed of the discovery, Hughes rang Kennedy, who was transporting a load of wine to the UK.
Caught - Kennedy on CCTV during one of the trips (Image: Essex Police)
Twice Kennedy had picked up containers of Vietnamese national in the two weeks before the tragedy on October 23, 2019, which is why he was tried with the other drivers involved but not charged with manslaughter.
He had denied his charge of conspiracy to assist in unlawful immigration but was found guilty following the Old Bailey trial in 2021.
Now, the Prison Service has confirmed Kennedy was released at the start of this year after serving half his sentence, in line with sentencing guidelines.
A spokesman told MailOnline: "Offenders released on licence are subject to strict conditions and we do not hesitate to send them back to prison if they break the rules."
Robinson was sentenced to 13 years in prison after admitting manslaughter and being part of a lucrative, people-smuggling operation while Hughes is serving a 20-year sentence for manslaughter.
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