One fifth of sex workers say they have been sexually exploited by gardaí

Based on interviews of 25 sex workers, the report said some garda members were abusing them and threatening them with imprisonment and 'on a number of occasions blackmailing some of the participants into exchanging freedom from any charges for sexual favours'.

People should be legally allowed to purchase sex and laws introduced five years ago criminalising the act need to the repealed, according to new research.

The study says a fifth of sex workers interviewed — five out of 25 people — disclosed they had been sexually exploited by gardaí.