TWENTY-ONE men pleaded guilty at Limerick District Court yesterday to soliciting two undercover female gardaí for sex acts in Limerick city.
The men, aged from their mid-20s to mid-60s, were arrested on different streets in the city, on dates between November 11th and December 4th this year.
In total, 27 men were brought before the court accused of approaching the two undercover gardaí and offering them undisclosed sums of money in return for sexual activities.
The incidents happened in locations across Limerick city centre, including Catherine Place, Perry Square, Catherine Street, Barrington Street, Mallow Street and William Street.
Judge Eamon O’Brien told one accused man who had requested free legal aid because he was on social welfare: “I’m not granting free legal aid. If you can afford a lady of the night, you can afford a solicitor.”
The 21 men, who each pleaded guilty to one count of “soliciting or importuning for the purposes of prostitution” on dates between November 11th and December 4th this year contrary to section 7 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993, were ordered by Judge O’Brien to pay an amount equivalent to the maximum mandatory fine under the legislation. Each has therefore been told to pay €470 to local charity Doras Luimní, in lieu of a sentence.
The court heard of a Garda operation in the city, in which two plain-clothes gardaí posed as prostitutes.
Solicitors for the 21 men who pleaded guilty told the court their clients were embarrassed and apologised for their actions, and did not want to come before the courts again.
Doras Luimní is a volunteer organisation working on behalf of the human rights of all migrants living in Ireland.
It also helps women who have been trafficked into Ireland from abroad for the purposes of prostitution.
The 21 accused men were remanded on bail until March 13th next year for receipt of payment of the fine.
They are: Denis Enright (52), of Dromin, Listowel, Kerry; John Galvin (63), of Carrigeen, Croom, Co Limerick; Noel Mason (52), of Monaskeha, Clonlara, Co Clare; Valentin Munteanu, (28), of Kilmore, Grange, Co Limerick; Wayne Murphy (25), of Singland House, Ballysimon, Limerick; Noel O’Brien (27), of Ballingoola, Grange, Co Limerick; Krzysztof Poczynski (24), of Crestwood, Kilteragh, Dooradoyle, Limerick; Gary Stack (67), of Druimeen, Ennis, Co Clare; Adam Pustkowski (36), of Vartery Avenue, Raheen, Limerick; Derek Power, (49), of Glantan, Castletroy, Limerick; Patrick Quilty (38), of Castletown, Pallaskenry, Co Limerick; Gearoid Phelan (23), of Castletroy View, Childers Road, Limerick; Conor Carey (33), of Corelish, Pallasgreen, Co Limerick; Eamon Coffee (42), of Mortalstown, Ardpatrick, Kilmallock, Co Limerick; Michael Dorman (51), of Borrigone, Askeaton, Co Limerick; Serghei Boldescu (31), of The Grove, Huntsfield, Dooradoyle, Limerick; Séamus Keane (59), of Coolreiry, Castleconnell, Co Limerick; James Lynch (49), of Mayne, Kilmeady, Co Limerick; Dimitri Yakovlev (40), Parkview Court, Lord Edward Street, Limerick city; Makki Mutaz (45), of Foxes Bow, Limerick city; and Michael Ryan (63), of Knocka Lower, Drom, Templemore, Co Tipperary. Each man admitted offering money for sex at various locations in Limerick city centre.
Six other men, who are charged with the same offence, had their cases adjourned.