Lapdance club owners charged with employing illegally

The operators of four Dublin lapdancing clubs appeared in court today charged with illegally employing female dancers.

They were arrested following simultaneous raids on clubs across the country as part of Operation Quest, set up to crack down on illegal activity in the industry.

Among them, 10 operators and owners of the four Dublin clubs – Club Lapello, Playmates, Strings and La Petite – faced 95 charges.

All but one relates to the Employment Permits Act with regard to employing 30 women illegally who do not have the legal documentation to be working in Ireland.

The companies under which they trade were also charged.

Judge Timothy Lucey at Richmond District Court adjourned all charges to two dates in April pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The raids took place on June 5 last year and a total of 101 people in 10 clubs were arrested in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Galway and Dundalk.

The ongoing nationwide operation was launched under the Illegal Immigrant Trafficking Act 2000.