Two of the Romanian women leaving Letterkenny district court yesterday after they were charged with allowing a premise to be used as a brothel
A number of men from Co Derry have been interviewed by Gardai following a raid on a brothel across the border in Donegal.
The men were observed over a week long surveillance operation by undercover detectives at an apartment in Letterkenny.
Two women and a man appeared in court yesterday charged with knowingly allowing a premise to be used as a brothel.
All three were Romanian nationals who were arrested by detectives at Court Manor House at Justice Walsh Road following a surveillance operation.
Detective Garda Peter Cullen told Letterkenny District Court that following information received they observed the premises.
They then approached a number of men leaving the premises at different times and took statements from them and they confirmed the apartment was being used for prostitution.
Garda sources have revealed that the men who visited the premises had come from as far Co Derry and as far away as Sligo to use the services of the women.
The women’s advertised their services on social media site Escort Ireland.
When Gardai raided the premises last Saturday night, December 10, Detective Cullen said it was obvious that there was sexual activity going on in a bedroom while another man and woman remained in a sitting room.
He added that it was evident from a search of the premises that it was being used for habitual prostitution.
The man found on the premises is understood to be a 75 year old man from rural Donegal.
A total of seven mobile phones and €810 was seized, as well as £120 sterling and 80 Romanian leu (approx €50).
Gardai said they were satisfied that the women were not being trafficked and were operating independently.
Patsy Gallagher, defence solicitor for all three accused, said they were from a very poor part of Romania where the average weekly wage was just €50.
The three before the courts were Daniella Costache, 19, of no fixed abode; Daniella Ionita, 28, of Court House Manor, Letterkenny and Florin Nic, aged 35, of Sanefield Court, Ennis, Co Clare.
All three were charged with knowingly allowing a premises to be used as a brothel.
The court was told that there is a bench warrant out for the arrest of Ms Ionita from Tralee District Court recently for a similar offence.
Judge Paul Kelly released Ms Ionita on her own cash bail of €500 cash to appear at Tralee District Court on December 14th next.
He also applied the Probation Act and forfeited the remainder of the cash.
The judge also applied the Probation Act to the other two accused and also offered them to forfeit the seized cash to the State.
The raid is the second on a brothel in the Letterkenny area in two weeks.
Three other Romanian women were also arrested when Gardai raided a premises at Lower Main Street in Letterkenny.
All three were also advertising their services on the Escort Ireland website.
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