FOLLOWING the latest garda crackdown on prostitution, a 19-year-old Romanian national appeared in Limerick District Court after a brief garda surveillance in the Catherine Street area. In the country just two days, Elena Condrea, no fixed abode, was seen by Garda David Dunn walking “up and down Catherine Street” shortly after 11pm on September 29 last.
In his evidence, garda Dunn said that the teenager was observed getting into a vehicle driven by a male that made its way towards the Dock Road.
The vehicle was stopped by Garda Dunn and he proceeded to question the woman as to her relationship with the male driver.
The accused had no relationship with the driver, and she was arrested contrary to section 7 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993.
Ms Condrea was conveyed to Henry Street Garda Station and formally charged with soliciting or importuning another person for the purposes of prostitution and was detained under the charge. She appeared in court and was granted legal aid.
She had been staying in local hotels.
Solicitor Muiris Gavin said that the accused was “scared to be in court and detained,” and did not have any source of income.
Judge McCarthy fined the accused €200 and gave her one month to pay or if found in default, serve five days in prison.
