Organised prostitution targeted in Garda raid in Dundalk

Gardaí searched a premises in Dundalk last week as part of a two-day nationwide operation targeting organised prostitution.

The search follows a six month long investigation by the Organised Crime Unit into the activities of a criminal group involved in organised prostitution, brothel keeping and other associated criminal activity.

The operation was conducted in close co-operation with Europol as part of an initiative targeting mobile organised crime groups active throughout Europe.

Since Thursday morning, Gardaí searched a total of 22 premises, which include apartments, flats and houses at locations in Dundalk as well as Letterkenny, Ennis, Clonmel, Waterford, Cavan, Mullingar, Limerick, Ballina, Newbridge and Cork along with 11 locations in the Dublin area.

More than 60 Gardaí were involved including members of Organised Crime Unit, local detective units and uniformed Gardaí. The purpose of this search operation was to gather evidence in order to advance the investigation. Evidence of suspected prostitution activity was detected at a number the locations although it is not yet known if any such activity was identified in Dundalk.

During the searches Gardaí seized documentation, mobile phones, computers and money. A number of women present at various locations were interviewed by Gardaí and have been offered support and advice.

One man was arrested in Swords.

Blackrock man identified as a “major pimp”

The Sunday World article about Liam Crawley

A man from the Blackrock area has been identified by the Sunday World newspaper as a “major pimp who preys on vulnerable teenager girls and young single mums”.

Liam ‘Creepy’ Crawley is said to specialise in targetting drug dependent youngsters – many of whom are addicted to heroin – who he then allegedly persuades to become prostitutes in order to pay off debts they had run up to drug dealers.

According to the newspaper, the pensioner has operated the sex empire on both sides of the border for over 30 years althoug he did tell reporter Hugh Jordan that he had now quit the brothel business, saying there was no money in it.

A former nightclub bouncer, the paper claims Crawley ran a brothel “right under the noses” of gardaí in Dundalk having operated from a house in Stapleton Terrace before relocating to a rented house on the Castletown Road.

The Sunday World claimed that the house was repeatedly raided by Gardaí looking for drugs and was petrol bombed and destroyed in November 2012.

Crawley, who now lives in Ardshee in Blackrock, is alleged to still be running working girls from this address.

One girl who spoke to the paper claim she was recruited while attending St Louis Secondary School.