Andrew Carey
A GRANDMOTHER from Hungary arranged clients, took bookings and set prices for a brothel in Limerick city, the local district court has been told.
Jozsefne Dogi (47) with an address at Kilteragh, Dooradoyle rented an apartment at Market Court, High Street in Limerick where two young Hungarian women worked as prostitutes.
Judge Eugene O’Kelly heard that the grandmother of three worked at the brothel where she answered the phone and arranged bookings.
Detective Garda Brendan Stokes told the court that on March 8 of last year, Gardaí entered the premises on foot of a search warrant. The apartment had been under surveillance for a number of days and was operating as a brothel at the time.
Defence Solicitor John Devane said his client did not make any money from the enterprise. She was approached by two Hungarian girls who asked her to help secure accommodation.
However, Garda Stokes said that while there was no proof how they met, Ms Dogi was a participant in the operation, albeit an unlikely one, and she admitted this when interviewed.
Mr Devane said that Ms Dogi was resident in Ireland for the last nine years and was in a relationship with a Limerick man. She foolishly stayed involved after she helped the two girls secure accommodation.
Rejecting the allegation that Ms Dogi played a minor part in the operation, Judge O’Kelly said it was people like her who facilitated prostitution were causing widespread nuisance in the city.
The case first came before the court over 18 months ago but due to the defendant’s ill health, it was adjourned on several occasions.
Judge O’Kelly said Ms Dogi’s story and added that the court was constantly being told that vulnerable women were being trafficked to Limerick for the purposes of prostitution.
He added that there was nothing to suggest that she was bullied or intimidated into running the brothel and were it not for her guilty plea, she would be facing a custodial sentence.
Ms Dogi was sentenced to five months in prison, suspended for two years on condition she was of good behaviour for that period.
