TWO ROMANIAN women convicted of operating a brothel in Limerick were given 72 hours to leave the city yesterday.
Ramate Vitez (25) and Iona Agen Ethler (20) were arrested at the Shannon Arms apartment complex on Thursday evening following a lengthy Garda surveillance operation.
Limerick District Court heard the women were arrested on suspicion of engaging in prostitution in Waterford last November.
Garda Vincent Brick, Henry Street, told the court there were a number of customers in the premises when gardaí conducted a search at about 4pm on May 20th.
He said that following their arrest the women admitted they were operating a brothel for financial gain.
Solicitor Muiris Gavin said his clients came from very poor backgrounds and described their situation as “desperate”. The women had young children who were living with other family members in Romania.
“They have been exploited and they are very worried about the consequences and they just want to leave the country and go back to Romania.”
Judge Tom O’Donnell sentenced both of the women to six month in prison, but he suspended the sentences on condition they leave the city within 72 hours and stay out of trouble for a year.
Judge O’Donnell ordered that €200 of the money seized at the brothel be returned to the women to help them make travel arrangements.