Loopholes allow prostitutes to skirt prosecution

THE custodial sentence handed down to former prostitute Deena Edridge on Wednesday must have brought a great deal of satisfaction to Operation Quest, the team of garda investigators set up to combat vice in Dublin.

Prosecutions for operating brothels have been few and far between in recent months and years, though not through a lack of effort by the gardaí.

They are hamstrung by the ineffective legislation under which they have to operate and also by modern technology which allows promoter and prostitute to keep themselves one step ahead of prosecution.