Cases2019-08-08T18:39:10+01:00

In this section we provide details of cases of sex workers convicted of brothel keeping in Ireland.  Through media analysis we have identified 82 cases (involving 165 individuals) of sex workers convicted of brothel keeping from 2009 to 2018.  This should not be considered a representative sample of all persons convicted of brothel keeping.  This research does however show that sex workers are frequently criminalised under brothel keeping laws and it also provides considerable insight into the circumstances of these prosecutions.  See Analysis for a summary of the key findings.

Monica C.

Monica C. (34), a Romanian national, was accused of operating a brothel, alongside Ioan B., at an address in Galway on 12 February 2012 and remanded in custody upon Garda request. Monica C. pleaded guilty. At a later court date [...]

Raul A.

Raul A. (40), a Venezuelan native with a Spanish passport, was accused of brothel keeping at an address in Cork on 12 August 2011. The court heard Raul A. was a transwoman and saving for surgery. Gardaí said she was [...]

Raymonda L. M. and Yaxi D. P. V.

Raymonda L. M. and Yaxi D. P. V., both Spanish nationals, were convicted of brothel keeping at their home address in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim on 19 October 2013. After leaving Ireland both received the Probation of Offenders Act. €150 and [...]

Saray B. M.

Saray B. M. (28), a Spanish national, was charged with brothel keeping after her apartment in Westport, Co. Mayo was raided by Gardaí on 27 January 2009 and they found her with a semi-naked male who said he'd paid her [...]

Sefania M. and Sirin A.

Sefania M. (21) and Sirin A. (23), both Romanian nationals, appeared in court charged with brothel keeping at an apartment in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal on January 19 2017. The court heard €600 in cash had been found along with Western [...]

Silvia S. and Simona B.

Simona B. (30) and Silvia S. (31), both Slovakian nationals, pleaded guilty to brothel-keeping in a self-catering cottage adjoining a Killarney hotel on a date in May 2011. The court heard the women were "self employed", there was no question [...]

Terezinha. A. D. J.

Terezinha. A. D. J. (73), a Brazilian national, pleaded guilty to allowing a premises in Naas, Co. Kildare to be used as a brothel on 9 November 2017. The case was adjourned on multiple occasions. In an article in the [...]

Three Romanian Women

As part of a major Garda operation with a "pro-arrest" policy during the Galway Races in July 2011 three Romanian women were arrested for brothel keeping at an address in Rahoon and held overnight for the next available court sitting, [...]

Two Brazilian Women

As part of a major Garda operation with a "pro-arrest" policy during the Galway Races in July 2011 two Brazilian women were arrested for brothel keeping at their city centre apartment and appeared before the District Court. They were fined [...]

Two Hungarian Women

As part of a major Garda operation with a "pro-arrest" policy during the Galway Races in July 2011 two Hungarian women in their mid to late twenties were arrested at an apartment in Salthill and subsequently convicted of brothel keeping [...]

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