An Irishman has been given permission by the High Court to appeal his extradition to the UK where he is wanted on multiple manslaughter charges.

Eamon Harrison from Mayobridge, County Down is wanted in relation to the deaths of 39 people found in the back of a lorry in Essex last year.

Police in the UK suspect Mr Harrison to be the man who delivered the trailer the bodies were found in to a port in Belgium, from where it was transported to England.

The man who collected the trailer on the other side was arrested at the scene where the bodies were discovered and has since pleaded guilty to assisting illegal immigration.

Mr Harrison's extradition was approved by the High Court last month, but he sought permission to appeal that decision and after giving it some thought Mr Justice Donald Binchy today granted him leave to do so.

A date for his appeal has yet to be set.

Reporting from Frank Greaney