A TRANSPORT consultant who advised the Government on a major transport project has been sent forward for trial on charges of operating and living off the profits of brothels in Limerick.
Thomas Lyons (54), The Warrens, Malahide, Dublin, faces seven charges under the Criminal Law Sexual Offences Act as well as one count of making a false statement to gardaí.
Mr Lyons previously worked as a senior consultant with a company involved in advising Fingal County Council and designing support services for the Metro West light rail project in Dublin.
His co-accused, Brazilian Zelandia Silva (43), The Matthews, O’Callaghan Strand, Limerick, faces seven charges under the same legislation.
Both were served with books of evidence yesterday at Limerick District Court.
They are charged with three counts of living off the earnings of prostitution from the apartments they owned or rented at Riverpoint, Bishops Quay, Bridgewater House, Harvey’s Quay, in Limerick city, and at Grove Island Road, Corbally.
They are also charged with a further three counts of operating brothels at apartments in Limerick city between August 2010 and June 2011.
They are also each charged with one count of organising prostitution at Brown Thomas, O’Connell Street, Limerick city, on February 2nd, 2011.
Mr Lyons is also charged with making a false statement to gardaí regarding a burglary at an apartment at Riverpoint, Limerick, in August 2010.
The court heard that an application for legal aid was “understandable given the serious nature of the charges”, according to Judge Eugene O’Kelly.
Det Garda Vincent Brick previously said that the State would be objecting to legal aid being granted and that the accused had assets outside the State.
Judge O’Kelly issued both defendants with the alibi warning, which means they must notify the State within 14 days if they intend calling any alibi witnesses, and remanded the case back to the next sittings of Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
He said the position of granting legal aid was now “a matter for the Circuit Court”.
Judge O’Kelly ordered that Det Garda Brick be furnished with all relevant documents ahead of any application for legal aid.
Both defendants were remanded on continuing bail to the next sittings of the Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
They are to sign on twice weekly at their local Garda stations, surrender their passports and notify gardaí of any change of address.