More than €3,000 in cash seized in a raid at a Limerick brothel is to be donated to the Rape Crisis Centre, a judge ordered yesterday.
Judge Tom O'Donnell made the order at Limerick District Court where a pregnant woman and a father of two were convicted of managing and assisting in the management of a brothel at Mount Kennett Place in Limerick City on June 2002.
Paul O'Donnell (32), of Glenbrook, Old Singland Road, Limerick, was sentenced to four months in prison, while Michelle Long (26), of Estuary Place, Henry Street, Limerick, received a four-month suspended sentence.
The court heard that both were arrested on June 16th, 2002, at an apartment in Mount Kennett Place, which gardaí raided after receiving reports that it was being run as a brothel.
After reading statements given by the accused to gardaí, Judge O'Donnell said he was "shocked and appalled" by the contents.
Earlier the court heard from Det Sgt Declan Mulcahy that during the raid at the apartment a number of items were seized, including, €3,205 in cash, condoms, lubricants, sex toys, a rules list and a price list.
Det Sgt Mulcahy said when he arrived at the premises he found a number of girls dressed in "skimpy" clothing and 11 mobile phones.
When he answered one of the phones that was ringing, a man on the other end said he was looking for a "particular service".
The court heard a Russian agent was used to procure the girls, who came mainly from Latvia and Russia.
Advertisements were placed in English newspapers in an effort to get girls to work in the brothel.
Defence solicitor Mr Ted McCarthy said Long received €250 a week to work as a receptionist in the brothel and to "clean around".
Mr McCarthy said O'Donnell used to work as a taxi driver, but fell into financial difficulty after the industry was deregularised.
Judge O'Donnell said he believed that the role of the accused parties went beyond that of receptionist and security guard.
"I'm satisfied from statements that both the accused were actively involved in the running of the brothel, and while it is accepted that Ms Long was a minor part in the operation I don't accept that her role was so menial as to absolve her from all blame."
He said he believed O'Donnell's involvement was "well beyond" that of security man, and said he was one of a number of people involved in the "sordid enterprise which seeks to exploit young ladies from foreign countries".
After hearing evidence that Long is due to give birth to a baby soon, he suspended her four-month sentence provided that she keep the peace for two years.
Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.