Stelian Ciuciu jailed for eight years for organising prostitution across Dublin
Marie Pollard, 62, was struck by a motorcyclist while on foot at the junction of Eden Quay and Beresford Place, Dublin 1, on 9 November 2022 and died two days later at Mater Hospital from a traumatic head injury. Stelian Ciuciu, 32, a stateless person of Roma origin born in Germany, was arrested in November 2023 and pleaded guilty to 20 counts including organising prostitution, brothel-keeping, money laundering, and using false instruments relating to offences between January 2020 and November 2023. On 23 July 2025, Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to eight years' imprisonment, backdated to his custody in November 2023, after a global headline of 13 years. His accomplice, referred to as Ms N, has fled the country. The motorcyclist in the Pollard collision is to face trial in July 2026 after the DPP reversed a no-prosecution decision following a family appeal.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged23 Jul
- In court23 Jul
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced23 Jul
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Marie Pollard, 62, was struck by a motorcyclist while on foot and died two days later from a traumatic head injury.
- Stelian Ciuciu, 32, leased eight properties as brothels, used fake Romanian identity documents and employer references, and laundered approximately €320,000 between January 2020 and November 2023.
- Where
- The collision occurred at the junction of Eden Quay and Beresford Place, Dublin 1.
- When
- The collision occurred at around 10.40am on 9 November 2022.
- Investigation
- The offences came to light when landlords raised suspicions, and Gardaí followed Ciuciu to brothel properties and banks where he was lodging cash.
- Charges
- Ciuciu pleaded guilty to 20 counts including enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation, organising prostitution, brothel-keeping, using false instruments, and money laundering.
- In court
- Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Ciuciu at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 23 July 2025.
- The inquest into Pollard's death was adjourned pending criminal proceedings, and the DPP decided to prosecute the motorcyclist following a family appeal, with trial set for July 2026.
- Sentence
- Ciuciu was jailed for eight years, backdated to November 2023, after a global headline of 13 years, and forfeited €11,000 in cash seized from his home.
- Other details
- Ciuciu is a stateless person of Roma origin born in Germany with no previous convictions, and his accomplice, referred to as Ms N, has fled the country.
37 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMarie Farragher Pollard, 62, sustained fatal injuries in a motorcycle collision in Dublin 1 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShe died two days later at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMarie Pollard was struck by a motorcyclist while on foot at the junction of Eden Quay and Beresford Place in Dublin 1. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMarie Pollard was a 62-year-old retired nurse and mother of three, originally from Co Meath. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe died two days after the collision from a traumatic head injury at Mater Hospital. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe leased eight properties to be used as brothels. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe posed as part of a couple with another woman working as an escort to rent properties from landlords. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe used a WhatsApp group with about 450 members to advertise properties to escorts. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe laundered approximately €320,000. (irishmirror.ie)
- what€11,000 in cash was seized from his home when he was arrested in November 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe used fake Romanian identity documents and fake employer references to rent the properties. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatEscorts would pay up to €1,000 a week per property. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo or more escorts were working in each property. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe collision occurred at the junction of Eden Quay and Beresford Place, Dublin 1 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe collision occurred at around 10.40am on 9 November 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe collision occurred on the morning of 9 November 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences took place between January 2020 and November 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe post-mortem showed she died from a traumatic head injury (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe offences came to light when landlords came forward with suspicions about their rented properties. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí followed him to properties used as brothels and banks where he was lodging cash. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to 20 counts including enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation, organising prostitution, brothel-keeping, using false instruments, and money-laundering. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe inquest was adjourned pending completion of criminal proceedings (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case is listed for trial in July 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtFollowing a review, the DPP decided to prosecute. (irishtimes.com)
- courtCriminal proceedings have been instituted and a trial is set for July 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Martin Nolan sentenced him at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceStelian Ciuciu was jailed for eight years for organising prostitution across Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Nolan set a global headline sentence of 13 years before considering mitigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe final sentence of eight years was backdated to when Ciuciu first went into custody in November 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceCiuciu forfeited the cash seized during the investigation to the State. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe motorcyclist was uninjured and did not require medical treatment (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherShe had worked as a theatre nurse at University Hospital Galway until retiring in 2020 (irishmirror.ie)
- otherShe was visiting Dublin to attend an exhibition when struck (irishmirror.ie)
- otherShe had done charity work with Concern in Thailand and Bangladesh in the 1980s (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHis accomplice, referred to as Ms N, has fled the country. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe is a stateless person of Roma origin, born in Germany. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe has no previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 23 Jul2025Man jailed for eight years for organising prostitution across Dublin
Sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; Judge Martin Nolan imposed eight years (backdated to November 2023 custody) after a global headline of 13 years, with mitigation for no previous convictions and family circumstances. Ciuciu forfeited seized cash to the State.
convicted, Stelian Ciuciu, 32, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Stelian Ciuciuaccused, female - 23 Jul2025Family of woman killed after being struck by motorcyclist successfully appeal decision not to prosecute
Reports that the DPP, following a family appeal and review, has decided to prosecute the motorcyclist; criminal proceedings instituted with trial set for July 2026; inquest adjourned by Dr Clare Keane at Dublin District Coroner's Court.
victim, Marie Pollard, 62, female, irish (judged from name)Marie Pollardsuspect - 23 Jul2025Motorcyclist to face trial over pedestrian collision after family's DPP appeal
Reports the adjournment of the inquest at Dublin District Coroner's Court following the reversal of the DPP's no-prosecution decision; trial listed for July 2026.
victim, Marie Farragher Pollard, 62, female, Irish, irishMarie Farragher Pollardsuspect