Man pleads guilty to false imprisonment, robbery of prostitute

An unemployed 34-year old mechanic yesterday pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment and robbery of a prostitute at an Ennis hotel room last year.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Lithuanian national Gediminas Zigmantas was set to go on trial for the two offences after his counsel, Lorcan Connolly, last month confirmed to the court that a trial would be needed.

However, before Judge Gerard Keyes yesterday, Mr Zigmantas pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment of the woman at Room 214 at Treacy’s West County Hotel on the Limerick Rd, Ennis, Co Clare, on March 8 last year.

He also pleaded guilty to the robbery of an Apple iPhone worth €270 and a Sony Xperia phone worth €200 from the woman at the same hotel on the same date.

Mr Zigmantas has remained in custody since June 18 following his first appearance in the district court in relation to the offences. He bail in the High Court but has remained in custody after being unable to meet bail terms.

Ennis District Court was told that Mr Zigmantas made contact with the woman through the Escort Ireland website.

The single man has no previous convictions and evidence in the trial would have included CCTV and forensic evidence. Mr Zigmantas has lived in Ireland for nine years.

Mr Connolly told the court yesterday that Mr Zigmantas could be further remanded in custody for sentence to Ennis Circuit Court to March 23.

Stephen Coughlan, for the State, said: “I have no difficulty with that judge. He will remain in custody and will be marking up time in the meantime.”

In response, Judge Keyes remanded Mr Zigmantas in custody to appear at the circuit court on March 23.

Those convicted of false imprisonment and robbery can face up to life imprisonment for each offence.

Gardaí successfully opposed bail for Mr Zigmantas in the district court due to the seriousness of the charges, the strength of evidence in the case, and fears that he may represent a flight risk.

Detective Sergeant Dara O’Sullivan told Mr Zigmantas’s initial district court hearing that since the robbery at the West County hotel on March 8, gardaí had put in place an operation before Mr Zigmantas was arrested in Cork last June while he was collecting his social welfare payment.

Det Sgt O’Sullivan said gardaí had a fear that Mr Zigmantas may represent a flight risk, telling the court that he had been out of Ireland 12 times between September 2013 and June 2014.