Woman charged with running Sligo brothel

A woman has been remanded in custody after she was charged today with running a brothel in Sligo in 2007.

Charity Ajayioba (aged 35), a failed asylum seeker from Nigeria, who is of no fixed abode, appeared at Dublin District Court today charged under Section 11 of the Criminal Law Sexual Offences Act for organising, directing and running a brothel, at Rathbraughan Park, in Sligo, on March 22, 2007.

Judge Denis McLoughlin heard that she had been arrested at the North Circular Road, in Dublin yesterday evening and then brought to the Bridewell Garda station where she was charged at 7.51pm.

Detective Sergeant Frank McGrath, of the Garda National Immigration Bureau, told the court that after being cautioned Ms Ajayioba replied: “I do not know what you are talking about.” The charge was read to her again and she then answered: “I understand.”

Defence solicitor Brian McKenzie told Judge McLoughlin that his client, who was not required to speak at today's hearing, was not making a bail application.

Judge McLoughlin remanded her in custody for one week.

Mr McKenzie made an application for legal aid to be granted to his client. He informed the judge that she had a deportation order pending against her and she that she was a failed asylum seeker.

Det-Gda McGrath told the court that a substantial sum of money had gone through the defendant's bank account and that formed part of the investigation. “But she does not have access to that as we speak,” he added.

Judge McLoughlin asked for the defence to submit a statement of Ms Ajayioba's means and deferred deciding whether legal aid would be granted to her until she appears again at the district court on May 4 next.