Gardai in Dundalk believe they have identified men who were paying teenaged males for sexual acts.
As the acts took place "among consenting adults" none of the men will be prosecuted but, gardai say, another man who allegedly raped one of the young men will be charged with sexual assault.
"Dave" (not his real name) spoke to The Irish Times in July and said he had been paid for sex by men since he was 15.
Yesterday the public toilets allegedly used by the men were knocked down, and Dundalk Urban District Council is to replace them with automatic facilities.
The publicity about the toilets motivated the council to replace them, according to Mr Seamus Byrne, chairman of Dundalk UDC. But he stressed that the council had agreed earlier this year that they should be replaced. Other public toilets near the Town Hall are also to be replaced.
The work has been welcomed by residents of the adjacent Mulholland Avenue, who had complained to gardai about the activities there.
"`My son used to get a taxi home from work when he finished at 10 o'clock. Now he can walk home without fear. We are delighted that the toilets and the men who hung around them are gone," said one woman, who did not want to give her name.
Gardai had put extra patrols in the area and a spokesman said the investigation was continuing.
While no complaints were made by the younger men allegedly involved, gardai did visit their homes and made them aware that their activities were known.
The alleged activities happened in private places, the parties were over the age of consent for males (17 years), and no complaints have been made about these men by the younger men, so gardai say there is no legislation under which they can act.
Gardai confirmed that the men in question have not been seen in Dundalk in recent weeks.
Gardai also confirmed that one young man who admitted he had been paid for sexual acts by several men has alleged that he was raped by a man from Dundalk. The alleged perpetrator has been interviewed and a file is being prepared for the DPP. It is expected that a charge of sexual assault will be recommended. Gardai were led to several other teenaged boys who it was feared might have been interfered with sexually.