Garda’s book sheds light on degradation of sex slaves

The degradation of women locked into prostitution has been detailed in a book by a former senior garda.

Recently retired Det Insp John O’Reilly, who was one of Limerick City’s leading investigators, has battled the plight of human trafficking for more than a decade.

He was seconded to the UN mission Special Trafficking Operations Program ( Bosnia).

“I’ve given a few stories in the book and I can safely say it was a harrowing experience dealing with these women, he said. “They came from a situation where they were slaves for over two years. They had to have sex with 13 to 17 men per night, and often more, depending on the demand and supply.”

He says raids on brothels in Limerick and across Europe have saved the lives of the women working for pimps and crime bosses.

“When we inspected and raided the premises, they didn’t want to leave. It was the usual response: ‘I’m happy to be here, I love my job, there’s nothing wrong.’

It took a lot of talking and interviews and they eventually realised their predicament. And when they did realise it, I can only describe it as the light of life going back into their eyes, and they became rehumanised. Then they asked for help and they were repatriated. Their lives were saved.”

Through his contacts in police services across the world and expert training, Mr Reilly gained invaluable insight into helping women exit the world of sex slavery.

He has now put his 30 years of experience in the force into a book entitled Sex Slavery — The Way Back, in which he explains how the psychological effects of trauma changes victims’ behaviour.

More than 2,315 interviews with suspected trafficked victims and 265 women freed from sexual slavery were conducted for the book.

Sex Slavery — The Way Back is available at victimsliberation.com