No conviction recorded for half of those buying sex

Under the Sexual Offences Act 2017, those who offer their services as a sex worker are not committing an offence, but brothel keeping is an offence. Picture: iStock 

More than half of people prosecuted for purchasing sex have escaped a conviction and were instead directed to pay into the court poor box.

According to figures from Justice Minister Helen McEntee, 31 people were prosecuted last year for buying sex.