Human trafficking trial involving unnamed complainant collapses

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

A human trafficking trial involving an unnamed complainant at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was discharged before the jury on 8 February 2023.

Judge Patricia Ryan said the case could not proceed before that jury because of unforeseen circumstances, and it was expected to begin again before a new jury.

The trial involved Natalia Nogueira Da Silva and Ivanilce (Lisa) Vailones Fidelis. The State alleges that the women trafficked two vulnerable Brazilian women for exploitation.

Vailones Fidelis pleaded not guilty to all 18 charges, including two human trafficking charges, organising prostitution, 14 money laundering charges and removing proceeds of crime from the State.

Da Silva pleaded not guilty to one human trafficking charge but pleaded guilty to organising prostitution, facilitating the entry into the State of a person she knew to be illegal, and 33 money laundering charges.

During evidence, defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC put to the first complainant that she had worked as a sex worker in Brazil and came to Ireland to do the same.

The complainant had previously told the court she worked as a hairdresser in Brazil, and said she produced a knife to defend herself during two alleged assaults.