GARDA Headquarters today urged any sex worker in the Limerick or Munster area who has been the victim of assault to report the matter confidentially to Gardaí.
The appeal was made following an alleged false imprisonment and sexual assault of two female sex workers in Limerick last Sunday night and Monday morning.
Subsequent allegations emerged today (Wednesday) that some Gardaí had “protected” men who had allegedly sexually assaulted and committed violence against sex workers.
Garda HQ urged “any sex worker in Limerick or the wider Munster region” to speak to Gardaí if they were under threat.
Gardaí said the safety of sex workers was a priority for the force, and that “if any sex worker finds themselves in immediate danger or in an emergency, always contact 999/112”.
Gardaí said they were investigating allegations that two women were held at a premises close to the city centre and subjected to violent sexual and physical assaults over prolonged period between last Sunday night and early Monday morning.
One of the women “may have played dead”, reliable sources said, while the other managed to escape and raise the alarm nearby.
Gardaí said the suspect, an Irish man, had been found dead and they were not looking for anyone in relation to the man’s death. They added that there was “no ongoing risk to public safety” in respect of the suspect.
It’s believed the man brought the two women to the premises separately and may have been seeking a third woman while Gardaí were actively trying to trace him.
A statement released today by online sex worker safety organisation UglyMugs.ie said that “serious assaults on sex workers and victims of sex trafficking are happening on a daily or weekly basis” and that “the vast majority of these men are Irish nationals”.
The statement alleged that “far too many men committing these types of violent crimes appear to be protected by Gardaí”.
The organisation said the State was obliged to take an interest in and help vulnerable people, including street sex workers and sex trafficking victims, “but it has not”.
It claimed sex workers were “over-policed and under protected by the Gardaí” and that Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has “done nothing for people in sex work or victims of sex trafficking”.
“Under his leadership, violence in this area has increased dramatically. That is a stain that shall forever remain on his record as a chief police officer.”
In response, Garda Headquarters said it did “not comment on remarks made by third parties”, but that “any allegation of corruption or collusion by members of An Garda Síochána is a very serious one” and should be brought “to either the attention of An Garda Síochána or the attention of the Garda Ombudsman Commission so they can be examined”.
The Garda statement strongly encouraged sex workers who had been assaulted “to speak with us at any Garda Station, or alternatively on the free Garda Confidential Line number, 1800 666 111, or the Crime Victims Helpline at crimevictimshelpline.ie”.
“We are here to listen and support anyone that requires assistance and advice or believes that they are subject to threat,” the statement continued.
“Their safety is a priority and Gardaí will treat any report of a crime against them in the course of their work sensitively and with the utmost seriousness whether it is assault, theft or criminality of any other kind.”
The Garda statement said the force “regularly engages” with sex workers through the Organised Prostitution Investigation Unit (OPIU), the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB), and local Gardaí, providing “safeguarding checks, safety advice, and contact details for specially trained Garda Liaison Officers, and other important support services”.
“It is also through safeguarding checks that Gardaí can link in with those in the sex trade who may be vulnerable or who maybe being sexually exploited or trafficked.”
Garda HQ said it was “cognisant of the fact that the sale of sexual services in Ireland is not a criminal offence, and some people wish to work independently in the sex trade” and that “the protection of human rights of all persons is a fundamental principle for An Garda Síochána”.
“Members of An Garda Síochána have sworn a solemn declaration to discharge their duties with fairness, integrity, and regard for human rights and sign up to the Code of Ethics for An Garda Síochána.
“An Garda Síochána is one of the most trusted police services in the world based on our tradition of policing by consent and An Garda Síochána polices in the interests of all people and all communities.”
Meanwhile, the head of the Ruhama charity, which provides supports for sex workers and sex trafficked victims, said it was “horrified and deeply concerned by the news of the violent attack on two women in Limerick”.
“We hope the women concerned are accessing all the necessary supports,” Ruhama’s Barbara Condon said.
Ms Condon said Ruhama was “very worried about the increase in the level of violence against women involved in the sex trade being reported in recent years” and that it was “vital that victims receive adequate support and that justice is pursued to prosecute violent perpetrators”.
Ruhama operates a freephone support number on 1800 020 202 and a free text support service available by texting REACH too 50100.
A source outside of the UglyMugs group, who is familiar with the women who work as street sex workers in Limerick City, said Gardaí needed to do better in supporting the women.
They said that women had shared among themselves that attacks, similar to the alleged incident last Sunday night, have been happening at an increased frequency in Limerick.
“It’s been going on quite a while now…they have been picked up and physically and sexually assaulted for hours on end,” the source said.
“There is still a lot off stigma and shame associated with working on the street, these women are very vulnerable so it is harder for them to report these incidents.”
“Some of the women working on the street are also entrenched in addiction and homelessness and are in need of support.”
