Undercover police in Limerick have nabbed 21 men who solicited them for sex – and ended up in the local District Court.

The men, ranging in age from mid-20s to mid-60s, were arrested by two female officers in November and early December.

The men all pleaded guilty to soliciting the two policewomen for sex acts in the city. Another six men have had their cases adjourned.

A total of 27 men were brought before the court accused of approaching the two undercover officers and offering them undisclosed sums of money in return for sexual activities.

The arrests occurred in locations across Limerick city centre, including Catherine Place, Perry Square, Catherine Street, Barrington Street, Mallow Street and William Street.

Judge Eamon O’Brien refused to grant free legal aid to one defendant because he was on social welfare.

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“I’m not granting free legal aid. If you can afford a lady of the night, you can afford a solicitor,” said the judge.

The 21 men all pleaded guilty to one count of ‘soliciting or importuning for the purposes of prostitution’ contrary to section 7 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993.

Judge O’Brien ordered them to pay an amount equivalent to the maximum mandatory fine under the legislation and will donate $700 to local charity Doras Luimní in lieu of a sentence.
Doras Luimní is a volunteer organisation which helps women who have been trafficked into Ireland from abroad for the purposes of prostitution.

The court heard a full account of the police operation in which two plain-clothes officers posed as prostitutes.

Solicitors for the guilty men told the Judge that their clients were embarrassed, apologised for their actions and did not want to come before the courts again.

All 21 accused were remanded on bail until March 13th next year for receipt of payment of the fine.
They are: Denis Enright (52), of Dromin, Listowel, Kerry; John Galvin (63), of Carrigeen, Croom, Co Limerick; Noel Mason (52), of Monaskeha, Clonlara, Co Clare; Valentin Munteanu, (28), of Kilmore, Grange, Co Limerick; Wayne Murphy (25), of Singland House, Ballysimon, Limerick; Noel O’Brien (27), of Ballingoola, Grange, Co Limerick; Krzysztof Poczynski (24), of Crestwood, Kilteragh, Dooradoyle, Limerick; Gary Stack (67), of Druimeen, Ennis, Co Clare; Adam Pustkowski (36), of Vartery Avenue, Raheen, Limerick; Derek Power, (49), of Glantan, Castletroy, Limerick; Patrick Quilty (38), of Castletown, Pallaskenry, Co Limerick; Gearoid Phelan (23), of Castletroy View, Childers Road, Limerick; Conor Carey (33), of Corelish, Pallasgreen, Co Limerick; Eamon Coffee (42), of Mortalstown, Ardpatrick, Kilmallock, Co Limerick; Michael Dorman (51), of Borrigone, Askeaton, Co Limerick; Serghei Boldescu (31), of The Grove, Huntsfield, Dooradoyle, Limerick; Séamus Keane (59), of Coolreiry, Castleconnell, Co Limerick; James Lynch (49), of Mayne, Kilmeady, Co Limerick; Dimitri Yakovlev (40), Parkview Court, Lord Edward Street, Limerick city; Makki Mutaz (45), of Foxes Bow, Limerick city; and Michael Ryan (63), of Knocka Lower, Drom, Templemore, Co Tipperary.

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