Longford Gardaí investigating criminal network orchestrating illicit brothel deals

A growing number of ringleaders in the sex workers industry and landlords are negotiating deals on a Longford town WhatsApp group chat to use rental properties as brothels.

As the social problem intensifies, the Longford Leader has learned that there are currently at least four brothels in town centre locations with nine women and two transgender women, listed on the Escort Ireland website offering sexual services.

It is understood Gardaí are monitoring several suspected ringleaders and one brothel is located within a one minute walk of a local school in a highly visible location.

A senior Garda source said there is a WhatsApp group involving people working as independent escorts and people willing to rent out properties to them.

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The source explained the landlords are facilitating the properties for the sex workers.

At least 12 sex workers are operating out of the multitude of premises on a weekly basis and clients are able to make bookings from the early afternoon in highly visible locations.

The sex workers listed on the Escort Ireland website are changed frequently with only three of the same individuals who advertised their 'services' on Friday still being featured on Monday.

Ten of the individuals offer the '69' position, while an expert masseuse offers a happy ending with prices ranging from €80 for 30 minutes up to €200 per hour.

Selling sex is not a crime following the 2017 Sexual Offences Act, however, it is against the law to advertise such services.

The 2017 Sexual Offences Act was introduced with a focus on moving the burden of criminality away from those selling sexual services and onto the individuals purchasing them.

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Natalie O’Reilly, a Domestic Violence Service Co-Ordinator at Longford Women’s Link, said there is more thought and planning now put into selling sex and it is 'getting worse'.

She said the sex workers, who are often coerced and manipulated, are 'hiding in plain sight'.

LWL offer a confidential service and they offer individual women domestic violence support, counselling, and they offer support for migrant women.

"We are talking about the most vulnerable people in society that are being exploited beyond belief," Natalie said. "In many cases they do not speak English, they do not know where they are and they don't know who to look for to get support."

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The sexual 'services' are publicly advertised on an Escort Ireland website domain that was set-up outside Ireland and Gardaí have received complaints that it is easily accessible to minors who only have to click a button to claim they are aged 18.

Gardaí believe many sex workers are being moved in and out of Longford town every week and there is a criminal network orchestrating the illicit business.

According to national figures obtained by Justice Minister Helen McEntee over half of people prosecuted for purchasing sex managed to escape a conviction and just 31 people were prosecuted last year.

Danielle McLaughlin of Ruhama, a charity that assists those affected by prostitution and sex trafficking said escorts and women involved in prostitution are being advertised in every county and town in Ireland.

"The majority of the women coming into us are migrants and represent 51 nationalities," she added.

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Ms McLaughlin stated they made a submission to the Dept of Justice for a review of the 2017 Sexual Offences Act and they are expecting a response over the coming weeks.

"It takes time for legislation to bed in, to work and for cases to come forward. But at the same time we have been advocating for more resources for the guards to actually investigate, arrest and prosecute as those numbers are still low."

Ms McLaughlin stated there is a list on the Escort Ireland website every day but it is very hard to identify them.

"What we are aware of and what victims of trafficking have told us is that there are photographs that are put up that they may not have been told about and when the person (buyer) arrives it could be a different person," she added.