Girl (17) in HSE's caregranted bail

A 17-YEAR-old girl, whom gardaí believe was trafficked into Ireland to work in the sex industry, has been remanded on continuing bail. The girl, who has been placed in the care of the Health Service Executive (HSE), was arrested during a raid on a suspected brothel in Kilkenny city in June.

She appeared before Carlow District Court yesterday. The girl, who is from Nigeria and cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with failing to produce a passport or another form of identification. Gardaí have no record of anyone by the girl's name entering the State. Judge William Harnett told an earlier sitting of the court it appeared she was brought here "most likely for the purpose of putting her into slavery".

The girl was placed in the care of the HSE last month on a 28-day interim order that was extended yesterday until September 9th. Martin O'Carroll, solicitor for the girl, applied to the court for an adjournment in relation to the criminal charge against his client.

Judge David Anderson remanded the girl on bail and ordered that she appear at Kilkenny District Court on September 9th.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times