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Woman jailed for three months after gardai raided brothel on main street |
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Crimewatch
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Published in The Irish Independant
28th February 2010
A ROMANIAN woman has been jailed for three months after she pleaded guilty at Monaghan District Court to running a brothel on the main street of Monaghan town. Florentina Parpala, 35, with an address at 12 Dublin Street, Monaghan, was jailed by Judge Sean Martin McBride after she could not find the €1,000 bail surety which would have resulted in her receiving a suspended sentence.
Inspector Pat McMorrow had told the court that gardai forced their way into the premises and seized a number of items they believed were involved in the running of a brothel. A laptop was seized, along with €800 and £700 in cash. Ms Parpala asked the judge: "If I am jailed, who is going to look after my nine-year-old child?", but Judge McBride replied: "That is not my problem."
Her solicitor, Damien Rudden, appealed for the return of the cash, "so that she can leave Ireland and never return". However, this was rejected by Judge McBride, who said: "It is obvious that the money was the proceeds of organised crime and this lady was involved in organised prostitution in which other unfortunate people were exploited and controlled." He told the accused: "I am giving you three months and with good behaviour you will be out in two."
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Crimewatch 