Operating a sex 'cottage industry'

There was a considerable amount of money being made at prostitution in Cavan with two women running something akin to a cottage industry, it was claimed at Cavan District Court last Thursday. Two women, both foreign born, were before the court for keeping a brothel in the town and were fined heavily for the offence. Angela Culicovscaia (34) with an address at 21 Stonebridge Court apartments, Railway Road, Cavan, was charged with keeping a brothel at the above address on September 29, 2011. Ann Kelly Batista De Oliveira (32) with an address at 7 The Clayton, Barrow Street, Dublin, was also charged with brothel keeping at the same address on September 30, 2011. Inspector Dermot Drea, prosecuting, said that Garda McCann and other gardaí inspected the premises under warrant. On entering they met Anna Kelly Batista, a Brazilian national. She was cautioned and freely admitted that she had been engaged in sexual activity for payment. Remarking that a considerable amount of money was being made by those providing such illicit sexual services, the inspector described the two defendants as operating something akin to a cottage industry. Eirinn McKiernan, solicitor defending, said that any money that Ms Batista earned she sent home to her family in Brazil. She was returning to Brazil in December, she added. When Judge MacBride indicated that he would fine this defendant €1,000 and give her time to pay, Ms McKiernan pointed out that she wasn't the main person involved. However, Inspector Drea stated that Ms Batista was advertising the activity herself. Judge MacBride reduced the fine to €750 and allowed her one month to pay. In relation to the second defendant, Ms Culicoiscaia, Inspector Drea said that in the course of an investigation into prostitution in Cavan the gardaí inspected an apartment at Stonebridge Court, Cavan, On entering they met Ms Culicovscaia, a Moldovan national, who freely admitted that she was engaged in sexual activity for payment. She was leaving the country on November 7 revealed the inspector who commented that prostitution seemed to be quite prevalent in Cavan at this time. Judge MacBride directed the defendant to pay €500 forthwith.