Eamonn Harrison, who is wanted in connection with the discovery of 39 bodies in a refrigerated container in Essex, can be extradited from Ireland to the UK, a Dublin judge has ruled.
A court has previously hear the 23-year-old from Mayobridge in Newry, Co Down, is sought in respect of 41 offences, 39 counts of manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, one count of a human trafficking offence and one count of assisting unlawful immigration.
He is alleged to have driven the container, which held the 39 people, to a port in Zeebrugge in Belgium, and later signed the shipping notice for the container.
Eight women and 31 men, all Vietnamese nationals, were found in the refrigerated trailer in an industrial park in Gray, Essex, in the early hours of October 23.
Mr Justice Donald Binchy said that after receiving comprehensive arguments from both sides, he decided to approve the extradition.
Justice Binchy said he has not published his judgment in full to the court and will not make it available until Monday.
He said it would not be helpful for him to try and summarise his decision to the court.
Defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy said he will read the judgment next week and decide whether to lodge an appeal.
Harrison was remanded into custody and will appear in court again on Tuesday February 4.
