Gardaí probe 47 claims of labour trafficking but no prosecutions follow

GARDAÍ have investigated 47 cases of alleged human trafficking for labour exploitation — but no prosecutions have been taken.

Support groups say the legal requirement on gardaí to prove trafficking set the “bar too high” and that the focus should be on the crime of forced labour.

The Migrants Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) said it was awaiting a promised decision by Justice Minister Alan Shatter as to whether or not the law needed to be changed in the area.