A Cork TD has said that he believes there is “mounting evidence that foreign gangs see Ireland as a predatory feasting ground” and that “communities are being poisoned by this cancer of criminality.”
Independent Ireland TD, Ken O’Flynn, made his remarks while also praising the work of special undercover operation officers from the Bridewell garda station in Dublin who have interrupted what is believed to be one of the States most extensive organised prostitution gangs.
Reporting on the matter, the Sunday World revealed that gardaí identified a 10-man gang of Romanian nationals who are all based in Dublin led by a 48-year-old Romanian national who also runs a number of businesses in the capital.
It is being reported that the gang have been using takeaways, cafes, barbers and butcher shops in Dublin city centre as “fronts” for the criminal activities.
A special undercover operation led by officers from Bridewell garda station has identified the organised crime gang that controls most of the prostitution in the capital and the Leinster region, the paper reported.
“They are using so-called legitimate businesses to launder their substantial gains – you won’t see anyone getting a hair cut in their barber shop or eating a burger out of their takeaways,” a source told the Sunday World.
“These businesses on both the north and southside of the inner city are what are known as fronts.”
Ken O’Flynn said the need for the operation mirrored concerns that he had identified in April with respect to the explosion of the so-called ‘Turkish barber’ networks involved in suspected money laundering enterprises:
“There is no doubt that Ireland is now being subjected to rampant levels of criminality originating from international gangs. This is happening in plain sight and it is tearing the social fabric of our cities, towns, and villages apart on a daily basis.”
“It also reflects concerns that Governments own local party representatives have expressed about the growing sense of a lack of safety in Cork city centre; concerns that I have been raising for years.”
“Everyone can see that our communities are being poisoned by this cancer of criminality, and while fantastic successes like the recent Dublin operation are welcome, they are unfortunately all too rare.”
“I want to see vastly increased levels of resources provided to An Garda Síochána to enable it counteract these thugs. We cannot allow these gangsters and ruthless predators to become embedded here to the extent that their activities then completely transform the high-trust society that we have enjoyed for so long.”
“I want to see the hammer of the law come down fast and hard on these individuals and I don’t want to hear anymore bleeding-heart nonsense,” he said.
The Department of Justice has been contacted for comment.
UPDATE: The Department sent a comment on 22/05/2025 and it has been included below.
The Government is fully committed to addressing organised crime and the Department has taken a number of steps to support the work of An Garda Síochána in dealing with organised crime groups.
These include:
•increasing the maximum sentence for conspiracy to murder from 10 years to life in prison to tackle those who direct gangland and drug related crime
•enacting new laws to criminalise the grooming of children into a life of crime
•rolling out a support programme to break the link between the gangs and the children they try to recruit
•drafting new laws which will provide for the use of facial recognition technology in the investigation of certain drug offences
•rolling out a support programme to break the link between the gangs and the children they try to recruit
•signing treaties on extradition and mutual legal assistance with the United Arab Emirates to ensure that organised crime gangs can have no hiding place anywhere in the world
The Government is also fully committed to addressing human trafficking in all forms and to supporting victims of this heinous crime.
A number of significant measures have been taken to combat human trafficking, to create a more victim-centred approach to identifying and supporting victims, and to raise awareness and provide training for those who need it. In 2023, the Third National Action Plan to prevent and combat human trafficking was launched and is currently being implemented.
Key actions include:
•Establishment of a revised National Referral Mechanism, which will make it easier for victims to come forward, be identified and access support. It will ensure that victims can come forward to a range of agencies and not just An Garda Síochána, as is currently the case.
•Development of a training framework for all who may come into contact with victims of human trafficking across Departments and State agencies.
•Ongoing development of training, through NGOs, targeting front line staff who may come into contact with trafficked persons, in industries such as hospitality, airline and shipping
•Ensuring effective anti-trafficking screening measures are in place at point of entry to the State
An Garda Síochána regularly conduct targeted operations to safeguard individuals in the sex trade, investigate organised prostitution, and prosecute offenders particularly those involved in controlling, organising or directing the offering of sexual services for profit.