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AN INVESTIGATION IS underway into a number of “targeted attacks” on sex workers, primarily in the Dublin area.
Gardaí have said seven attacks have taken place on sex workers advertising services online since mid-October.
On each occasion, an online appointment is made but when the parties involved meet, the sex worker is attacked and robbed by a number of men.
Gardaí said the motive for the attacks appears to be monetary gain and that violence has been used.
The attacks - which have targeted both male and female sex workers – have been “terrifying incidents” for the injured parties, according to gardaí.
Investigation into these attacks are at an advanced stage, gardaí have said.
Gardaí said the force are treating the victims with the “utmost sensitivity and confidentiality”.
An Garda Síochána is appealing to any person with information on the attacks to contact the Garda Confidential line on 1800-666111 or any garda station.
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Sex workers said over a year ago that because prostitution was now illegal on the island of Ireland that working together (what they used to do) was now not possible. They said they were now scared of the police (being arrested for selling services) and now scared of people hurting them (people pretending to pay for services but planning attacks on them). The main thing the criminalisation of prostitution has done on the island of Ireland is cause more people – workers primarily now – to be scared of the law. The Nordic model does not work. The sex workers said this doesn’t work. They said they are afraid to work together now and it is, as the above story clearly shows, an even more scary place for sex services. Can we please take a note from Germany and liberalise the sex industry here?
@Dermot Buckley: legalising prostitution in Germany has had little to no impact on human trafficking and exploitation
https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/15723/germany-nigerian-women-at-growing-risk-from-traffickers
@Dermot Buckley: it is illegal to buy sex which doesn’t criminalise the sex provider so I’m confused as to why this would impact the relationship with Gardai in practice? Perhaps the pool of buyers has decreased resulting in providers resorting to meeting buyers they wouldn’t have previously which impacts safety
@Seomra Ban: Sex work is a business. It is about making a living and paying bills (sometimes in very difficult circumstances indeed, where a good income is an imperative – still people trying to hang on to the family home after the crash, dual carers trying to give their loved ones more of their time and a better standard of living) If you report an incident to the Gardai thy know you are a sex worker, they know where you are, and technically they are obliged to start arresting your clients.
So, when a crime is committed you have to balance the huge cost of calling Gardai against the cost of letting the attack go unreported, and it will usually cost a great deal more to report the crime. That doesn’t just apply to attacks on sex workers, it also applies to other crimes sex workers witness during the course of their day.
The Nordic Model turns sex workers into outlaws, just to protect their livelihood.
@EillieEs: can.we not have government owned and run brothels then.? And have employees who are screened and vetted ?
These senseless “end demand” laws have turned sex workers into sitting targets.
*They can’t work together.
*They have to accept and carry cash.
*They can’t afford to call Gardai (because they will have to move and rebrand if they do).
*Bad people worked all this out before the 2017 Sexual Offences act was passed.
All these thing are pretty obvious, basic common sense. “End Demand” legislation hurts sex workers and doesn’t help anyone who isn’t getting a salary out of promoting it.
We have a duty of care to protect sex workers. One of the ways to do this is make sex work legal and regulate it. As it stands, these men and women are completely vulnerable to attacks like this.
Can we not just mature as a country and legalise prostitution? Ignore nuns and SWERFs.
@Darren Bates: we could Master Bates, that’ll solve the issue.
@RabidHorizon: we can get sick of that handy
I’m astounded that the rhuama legislation hasn’t put an end to sex working anyway.
have your say