We cannot have prostitutes cast as criminals or victims, depending on which side of the border they are in, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has urged.

All sorts of people are clients of prostitutes — from “members of the Oireachtas to down-and-outs” — a leading specialist on sexually transmitted diseases has said.

THE number of prostitutes attending the Women’s Health Centre increased last year, with 10% suffering sex assault by clients.