Bail for woman accused of keeping brothels and organising prostitution in five counties

Lenuta Andreea Cucoranu also faces a charge of participation in a criminal organisation

Lenuta Andreea Cucoranu is still to indicate a plea. Photo: Collins Courts

An alleged brothel keeper awaiting trial on more than 100 charges involving more than 45 sex workers operating in Dublin and around Ireland has been released on bail.

Lenuta Andreea Cucoranu, 29, a Romanian woman with no fixed address but who has been living in Ireland for 12 years, was arrested following a "complex" operation by detectives from the Organised Prostitution Investigation Unit in the Garda National Protective Services Bureau.

Detectives charged her in 2023 with 16 offences from 2020 to 2023. There were three counts of organised prostitution in Dublin and Louth and three more for brothel keeping contrary to the Sexual Offences Act, four charges of using false instruments under the Theft & Fraud Act, and six money-laundering offences.

She was initially granted €25,000 bail.

At Dublin District Court last week, she was charged with 93 additional offences. The extra counts are 17 for organised prostitution, 17 for brothel-keeping allegations, 11 for money-laundering, seven for thefts, 40 for using false documents, and one for participation in a criminal organisation from 2016 to 2023 in Meath, Wicklow and Kildare.

She had been remanded in custody because the organised crime charge required a High Court bail application, which was granted. She appeared again at Dublin District Court, and Judge Monika Leech adjourned the case until April 15 for the accused to be served with the prosecution's book of evidence.

The organised crime offence can carry a sentence of up to 15 years; the other charges carry maximum sentences ranging from five to 14 years. Detective Garda Michelle Woods said the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided that Ms Curcoranu must face "trial on indictment" at a higher level.

The State must complete a book of evidence and serve it on her before the District Court grants a return for trial order. The judge granted legal aid to Ms Cucoranu, who is still to indicate a plea. She did not address the court.

An earlier bail hearing was told the accused allegedly leased properties for organised prostitution and operating brothels. Detective Sergeant Andrew Lambe said the woman allegedly used false documents to secure leases from landlords.

The court heard that the brothels ran simultaneously, there was CCTV evidence, and individual prostitutes had provided statements. Detective Sergeant Lambe claimed that she transferred more than €12,000 to landlords, but the accused had no legitimate source of income.

He described the investigation as "complex and protracted". He had said the case involved more than 45 witnesses who were described as people working in the sex trade or landlords of multiple properties subject to this investigation.

The court heard she had relatives in Ireland and proposed to reside in Irishtown, Straffan, Co. Kildare.