Women jailed for keeping brothel in Sallins

Two women have been found guilty of keeping a brothel in Sallins at Naas District Court earlier this evening, Thursday, December 6.

The pair, 28-year-old Romeyka De  Sa Oliviera and 57-year-old Katia Camango Silva, whose addresses are listed as 4 O’Callaghan Court, Upper Erne Street, Dublin were arrested on Wednesday, October 17, following Garda survellance which saw six men entering 19 Millbank Square, Sallins over the course of 24 hours.

Each of the men appeared to be directed to the apartment by phone and each stayed for approximately 40 minutes.

Sgt. Jim Kelly and Detectives Martin Long and Grainne Phelan gave evidence in the trial of the two women that when they entered the apartment just before 2pm that day, they discovered the two women, numerous lit scented candles, dozens of unused condoms in every bedroom, a sex toy and various intimate lubricants.

They also found 14 clear plastic bags in the bin, containing used condoms and tissues as well as a considerable amount of cash, some of it hidden, and some not.

There was a man in one of the bedrooms, fully clothed. Although he was not called upon to give evidence on the day, in his statement which was read out in court, he claimed that his “back was at him” and that he had made contact with them after he found a number for a massage on www.escorts.ie

One of the women initially claimed that they offered massage, but when the used condoms were pointed out to her she admitted it was “massage with happy ending”.

The two women confirmed to Gardai that they were offering sexual services.

Legal representatives for the two women argued in court that while all the evidence pointed clearly to the two women being prostitutes, the prosecution had failed to prove that they were keeping a brothel, which is what they were charged with.

Tony Hanahoe argued that the law prohibiting ‘keeping a brothel’ was aimed at the “large brothels in Dublin which were controlled by pimps”. It was not he argued, aimed at the “lady on the street”.

It was also pointed out that prostitution is not illegal (soliciting is) and that there is no definition, in legislation, for a brothel.

In the end Judge Desmond Zaidan went with Inspector Jim Doyle’s argument that the women could fulfill both roles, as prostitute and brothel keeper. He argued that a brothel is a “building where more than one woman uses for the purpose of fornication”.

The women were both sentenced to four months imprisonment and fined €1,000.

They were also both given leave to appeal.

- More on this case in next Tuesday’s Leinster Leader.