A WOMAN has been remanded in custody for sentencing after she was found guilty yesterday of seven counts of prostitution and brothel-keeping in Cork city.
Caroline O’Leary (39), Scartbarry, Watergrasshill, Co Cork, a mother of two, had denied 69 counts of organising prostitution and brothel keeping at addresses at John Street and Grafton Street in Cork between January 26th, 2006, and May 24th, 2007.
Yesterday, the all-male jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court found O’Leary not guilty on 43 counts but could not reach agreement on a further 19 counts.
However, it found her guilty on three counts of acting and assisting in the management of a brothel at Grafton Street. She was also found guilty on a fourth charge in relation to Grafton Street and guilty on three similar charges in relation to the premises on John Street.
Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin said it was a serious matter and remanded O’Leary in custody until May 12th for sentencing. However, he indicated that his decision to remand her in custody would not prejudice whatever sentence he decided to impose.
O’Leary’s partner Tony Linnane (53), of the same address in Watergrasshill, had already pleaded guilty to 21 counts of organising prostitution and brothel-keeping at the same addresses and had been remanded on bail for sentencing on the same date.
During the trial, Tom Creed, for O’Leary, told the jury that Linnane had already pleaded guilty to similar charges and that O’Leary had made “significant payments” to the Criminal Assets Bureau after it had pursued him over his involvement in prostitution and brothels in Cork.
Linnane took to the witness box during O’Leary’s trial and told the jury he did not speak to her about the brothels. He also said she had no involvement in the running of 11 adult sex stores he owned around the country. “I did not discuss it. It was business. I went to work and I came home.”
Marjorie Farrelly SC, prosecuting, read into evidence statements from five women in which they told of how they provided sexual services, the rates for the various services and how they had to give half of what they earned to Linnane.