Transsexual dressed in lingerie opened brothel door to gardaí

A Venezuelan transsexual dressed in lingerie answered the door to Cork detectives investigating a reported brothel, but the accused denied a charge yesterday of being party to the use of the premises as a brothel.

Sex toys, bedrooms with darkened windows and red light bulbs, condoms, uniforms, lingerie and cash of €13,000 and £720 were found during a search of the house at 91 Great William O’Brien St, Cork, on Aug 12, 2011.

Raul Alvarado, aged 40, a transsexual from Venezuela, living in Cork, denied the charge yesterday of willfully being a party to the use of the premises as a brothel on that date. Questioned about being a male or a female, Alvarado told gardaí, “I am saving money for my operation . . . I still have a penis and boobies.”

Detective Garda James O’Reilly read from a memo of interview with the defendant, where Alvarado said he was on an internet site as Lena, a transsexual, and had worked as a prostitute in Waterford, Limerick, Tralee and Galway, but had heard that Cork was a good place to work.

The defendant said he performed different sexual services for men at prices ranging from €150 to €250 and could have up to four clients a day, who would contact him by phone.

During the interview the defendant denied being party to the running of the brothel, replying, “That is not true.”

Asked if he was aware prostitution was illegal, he replied, “Yes, I am sorry.”

Detective Sergeant Vincent O’Sullivan said, “It was blatantly a brothel. Three bedrooms had windows blacked out and had red light bulbs.”

The detective said the defendant initially gave an undertaking to stop working as a prostitute in the house, but that it was clear two weeks later, on Aug 12, that it was operating as a brothel again.

Det Sgt O’Sullivan called again on that date and said the defendant answered the door dressed in lingerie.

Judge Con O’Leary agreed to adjourn the case for further submissions and possible evidence on Wednesday.