The trailer in which 39 people were found dead in Essex on Wednesday was leased from one Irish firm to another, the Irish Times has reported.

GTR Europe based in Monaghan confirmed it owned the refrigerated trailer, the article said. It is thought the company leased the trailer to a second entity based in the border region but was the first leasing deal between the two.

The Irish Times reports although GTR Europe confirmed it owned the trailer they were unaware of how it was being used.

A spokesman said: “The company has been in contact with police in Essex from the 23rd of October, immediately upon becoming aware that a trailer on lease from this company had been involved in this incident. Full details of the lessee have been given to the police.”

Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills from Essex police said in a televised statement they believe the lorry came into the UK through Holyhead from Bulgaria on 19 October.

The trailer was fitted with a tracking device which showed it left GTR’s yard in Carrickmacross in County Monaghan in Ireland on 15 October, crossed into Northern Ireland and then returned to the Republic of Ireland, as reported by the BBC.

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Data shows early stages of the lorries route and that  it travelled to Dublin and crossed over to Wales during the night on October 16 before going to Europe on the Dover to Calais that evening.