Cameras filmed brothel activities, claims prosecution
That was one of the claims made by the prosecution in opening the case against Caroline O’Leary, aged 39, of Scartbarry, Watergrasshill, Co Cork, who pleaded not guilty to a total of 69 counts related to the alleged organisation of prostitution and the keeping of brothels at 26 John Street and 18 Grafton Street, Cork, on dates between January 2006 and May 2007.
Prosecution senior counsel Marjorie Farrelly also told the 12 men of the jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that O’Leary’s partner, Tony Linnane, also of Scartbarry, had previously pleaded guilty to the organisation of prostitution and the keeping of brothels at John Street and Grafton Street, Cork.
Ms Farrelly SC said the Grafton Street premises (between Oliver Plunkett Street and South Mall) over the Jade Winters adult shop was raided in November 20, 2006.
“A number of covert cameras were found in rooms used for prostitution, in particular one of the rooms. The covert camera was triggered by a person working in the sex shop downstairs. Covert cameras were found in electrical plugs in the wall and that sort of thing.
“In a raid at the premises at Scartbarry where Mr Linnane and Ms O’Leary reside… computer equipment was found. The state will say the evidence demonstrates from these covert cameras a live feed that could be relayed to what was occurring in these rooms where the business of prostitution was being conducted,” Ms Farrelly said.
The senior counsel said: “A particular list demonstrated how the spoils of prostitution were being divided. One of the lists you will see has each of the girls working at any given time. Half of what they earned went to what was described as ‘boss’, half went to themselves.”
Another document would show the rules of the brothel from the point of view of the prostitutes and the €50 penalty that applied for the breaking of any of the rules, which included not taking more than one or two baby wipes into the room, not turning back on camera when selecting number of condoms, counting of money openly and the requirement to speak clearly.
Tom Creed, senior counsel for O’Leary, said the defence was prepared to accept that the premises were brothels and the prosecution did not need to prove this.
Uncontested statements from five customers and five prostitutes were read into evidence without the parties being identified.
One prostitute from Brazil gave the price list for sexual services: “€100 for massage and hand-relief, €130 for blow job, €150 for full sex, €150 for half an hour, €200 for an hour, €250 for domination.”
One man, a Mr Walsh, said the room he went to at John Street had the type of bed or table one would see in a gym and oral sex was performed on him for €130 and that he wore a condom. Another man, Mr O’Keeffe, had full sex for €200 with a prostitute who came from Grafton Street to a hotel he was staying in. He had been to the Grafton Street premises before but found it dirty and scruffy. Another man paid €600 for a prostitute to be chauffeur-driven to his home in west Cork.
One of the prostitutes – a non-national – said of the John Street brothel: “It is very horrible, when it rains, rain comes in the window.”
Ms Farrelly SC said one of the pieces of evidence against the accused would be a little black book with names found in her handbag during the raid of her home.
