Courts / Longford / Report

'I just expected to end the day alive': second woman gives evidence in trafficking trial

Date
2023-02-01

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Longford

Summary

A Brazilian woman has testified at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that she expected merely to survive each day while allegedly trafficked in Ireland for sexual exploitation. Giving evidence via video-link with interpreter support, the woman described arriving in 2018 after being promised massage work, but was moved weekly between locations including Ballymahon, County Longford. She stated she was required to engage in sexual services, serving seven to nine clients daily at €100 to €150 each, while having limited English and facing aggressive clients. The witness detailed a system whereby she paid weekly fees for website listing, accommodation ranging from €500 to €900, transport, and transferred half her earnings to an account controlled by accused parties. She recalled meeting other women at a Christmas gathering organised by one of the accused. Natalia Nogueira Da Silva, of Drumlish, County Longford, has pleaded guilty to organising prostitution and money laundering but denies one human trafficking charge. Ivanilce Vailones Fidelis, of Roscommon, denies all eighteen charges including two human trafficking counts.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'I just expected to end the day alive': second woman gives evidence in trafficking trial. Charges or matters: one count of human trafficking a woman at an unknown location within the State, on dates between March 31, 2019 and May 18, 2019; all 18 counts against her; one count of organising prostitution during the same time period; 14 counts of money laundering the proceeds of crime on dates between January 2015 and December 2020 and one count of removing proceeds of crime from the State during the same time period. Procedural stage: trial

When:

March 31, 2019 Other
May 18, 2019 Other
December 5, 2018 Other
March 2020 Other
May 2021 Other
December 2018 Other
May 2019 Other
January 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
December 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
2015 and 2020 Other
Christmas Other
2023-02-01 Publication

Why: She said she spent a week there because Lisa would tell her she had to move every week because it was too dangerous to stay. CNI source report

Case subjects

Da Silva

Defendant

Charges: one count of human trafficking a woman at an unknown location within the State, on dates between March 31, 2019 and May 18, 2019; all 18 counts against her; one count of organising prostitution during the same time period; 14 counts of money laundering the proceeds of crime on dates between January 2015 and December 2020 and one count of removing proceeds of crime from the State during the same time period (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Vailones Fidelis

Defendant

Plea: Not guilty