Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Investigation details systematic movement of prostitutes around Ireland's towns

The RTE Investigations Unit estimates that there are up to 20 gangs involved in organised prostitution here today.

pros1 Alexandra, a 19-year-old woman from Romania, who was forced into the sex trade in Sligo RTE Investigations Unit RTE Investigations Unit

A NEW INVESTIGATION by the RTE Investigations Unit into the business behind prostitution in Ireland has found that up to 20 gangs are systematically transporting sex workers around Ireland’s towns.

The programme, entitled Sex for Sale and broadcast this evening, found that every week women are swapped between cars on North King Street in Dublin and driven off to new brothels.

The brothels themselves are to be found countrywide, in the likes of Tallaght, Navan, Drogheda, Ardee, and Cavan town.

The investigation found that the prices being charged in the sex trade in Ireland have fallen significantly in recent times. Almost one third of women advertising across Ireland charge as little as €50 for 30 minutes.

There has also been an increase in high risk practices during the sale of sex, with one in five clients asking a profile set up by the investigations unit to have sex without a condom.

domin RTE Investigations Unit RTE Investigations Unit

There are roughly 700 escort profiles advertised in Ireland at any one time. Over 98% of those workers are foreign nationals.

A sex trafficking victim, Alexandra from Romania (19), spoke of how she was duped into travelling to Dublin for a job. She was taken from Dublin Airport to a hotel in Sligo where she was held against her will and told that she would have to work as a prostitute to pay off the cost of her travel.

The programme named Letterkenny, Donegal as being a place where prostitution is in high demand.

In 2014 gardaí carried out a number of raids at apartment blocks in the town which saw five women charged for working in a brothel. The women were deported to Romania.

In 2015, at least two of the five women were back working in Letterkenny.

One of the women was to be found working just doors away from the site of her initial arrest the year before.

A 24-hour surveillance of a specific brothel on Dominic Street in Dublin found that 14 different men visited the building for sex during that period.

In September, an alliance representing sex workers in Ireland criticised the imminent criminalisation of paying for sex in Ireland, claiming that the new law will do the opposite of protecting women.

Read: First man arrested under new prostitution laws in the North

Read: Sex workers hit out at new bill criminalising prostitution clients

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
83 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Murphy
    Favourite Paul Murphy
    Report
    Jan 26th 2021, 9:34 PM

    Water water everywhere and not a drop to drink. All these vaccines and still front line workers go unprotected

    188
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute DERRY1973
    Favourite DERRY1973
    Report
    Jan 26th 2021, 9:57 PM

    @Paul Murphy: patience is a virtue. Incase you don’t know the Irish haven’t a Devine right to a endless amount of vaccine at the moment.

    200
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Furey
    Favourite Paul Furey
    Report
    Jan 26th 2021, 10:18 PM

    @Paul Murphy: not all these vaccines have been approved yet

    85
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fandandi
    Favourite Fandandi
    Report
    Jan 26th 2021, 11:00 PM

    They lost my trust as a company when it was discovered they had cancer causing chemicals in some of their products but hey, beggers can’t be choosers. Hurry up and get those bad boys to us ASAP.

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JusticeForJoe
    Favourite JusticeForJoe
    Report
    Jan 27th 2021, 12:12 AM

    @Fandandi: Can I ask who discovered this?

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JustMeHere
    Favourite JustMeHere
    Report
    Jan 27th 2021, 12:44 AM

    @JusticeForJoe: This was big news relating to Johnson and Johnson talcum powder. They’ve paid out billions in damages.

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute J
    Favourite J
    Report
    Jan 26th 2021, 10:41 PM

    “In terms of supply we’re very confident and on track to meet all of our commitments,” – until we’re not on track.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sidney Cooper
    Favourite Sidney Cooper
    Report
    Jan 26th 2021, 9:24 PM

    Dont be selling to higger bidders now

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kate Reddin
    Favourite Kate Reddin
    Report
    Jan 27th 2021, 10:07 AM

    @Sidney Cooper: 500 million going to third world countries at cost price

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eddie Michael
    Favourite Eddie Michael
    Report
    Jan 27th 2021, 6:57 AM

    No thanks, not with their history of dodgy ingredients

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute William Lyones
    Favourite William Lyones
    Report
    Jan 27th 2021, 1:23 AM

    Brilliant

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ro-your-nan
    Favourite Ro-your-nan
    Report
    Jan 26th 2021, 10:50 PM

    Johnson should get the Johnson & Johnson

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rory J Leonard
    Favourite Rory J Leonard
    Report
    Jan 27th 2021, 3:18 AM

    @Ro-your-nan:

    “The J&J shot delivers genetic instructions…”

    Here’s hoping he opts for a strong dose to help steer him back along the path of economic righteousness for his Country.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Teresa O'Halloran
    Favourite Teresa O'Halloran
    Report
    Jan 27th 2021, 7:22 AM

    @Ro-your-nan: I’m sure he already got his AstraZeneca jab. They have plenty ingredients to look after the UK.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Raul
    Favourite Raul
    Report
    Jan 27th 2021, 8:14 AM

    I’d preffer this one to Modena or others, is Johnson & Johnson, may not save me from Covid but at least it may rejuvenate my skin

    12
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds