Arrests made as gardaí raid brothels

LIMERICK gardaí have uncovered three brothels in the city centre. Three prostitutes, all Brazilian were arrested.

In a separate case last week three Brazilians were brought before Limerick District Court following the discovery of another brothel in the south side of the city.

Detectives from the Crime and Immigration offices at Henry Street carried out raids over the weekend which uncovered the three brothels at Mount Kennet. The three Brazilian women arrested were released after being questioned and their passports have been held while gardaí investigate if they are legally here.

A “tick list” of clients was also found. A garda spokesman said: “Their clientele would be local. They come over for a set number of months and do their shifts and then go back home. They rotate their tours of duty,” said a garda source.

Meanwhile following further shootings two houses in the St Mary’s Park were shot at early yesterday. This brings to eight the number of gun attacks on houses in a week. Nine shots were fired at the two houses in these latest attacks. Nobody was hurt.

Kieran O’Donnell, TD, yesterday demanded more garda resources for the city. “Cork has fewer headline crimes than Limerick and yet continues to have 100 plus more gardaí than Limerick. To date in 2007, Limerick has seen 80 firearm discharges, which is an increase of 33% since last year. The situation in the affected areas is intolerable.”

He said he is now demanding the extra 100 gardaí needed in Limerick and proposed in the John Fitzgerald report drawn up for the regeneration of Moyross and Southill.

Mr O’Donnell said: “The Fitzgerald report also promised a superintendent to head the operation and made the vital recommendation of a Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) branch be established in Limerick to deal with hard line crime. A gangland element is amassing wealth and must be tackled head-on.”

Resources, he said, must also be made available to allow Mayorstone and Mary Street Garda stations operate on a 24-hour basis.

“Suburban areas such as Castletroy, which has a population of more than 12,000, must also be given Garda stations.

Extra community police must be seen walking the beat because people are entitled to feel safe in their beds,” he said.