Ireland Case No. 22467Human trafficking; organising prostitution; money laundering · Co. Laois
Trial over trafficking and prostitution in Portarlington collapses at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
The trial of two women accused of trafficking Brazilian women to Portarlington and other towns for prostitution collapsed on day ten at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 8 February 2023. The case is expected to begin again before a new jury later in the month.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court1 Feb
4 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports53 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMs Vailones Fidelis is 46 and lives at Castle Manor, Racecourse Road, Roscommon (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatMs Da Silva is 32 and lives at Cairn Hill View, Drumlish, Co Longford (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe State alleged the accused women trafficked two vulnerable Brazilian women for exploitation. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatThe State alleges the accused women trafficked two vulnerable Brazilian women for the purposes of exploiting them. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatA woman testified that a client in Portarlington demanded his money back and beat her after the service was provided. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe woman kept a knife by her bed for protection after the assault in Portarlington. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereShe was picked up at Belfast Airport and taken to Ballymahon, Co Longford. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereOne of the sex workers worked out of an apartment in Portarlington (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe woman came to Ireland in 2018 after a friend advised her that she could help organise work for her. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe charges against Ms Vailones Fidelis relate to dates between 2015 and 2020 (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeThe State alleges the two accused women trafficked two vulnerable Brazilian women for the purposes of exploiting them. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeThe State alleges the accused women trafficked two vulnerable Brazilian women for exploitation (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeMs Vailones Fidelis has denied all 18 charges against her (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeMs Da Silva has admitted 35 charges (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeMs Da Silva has denied a single charge of human trafficking in 2019 (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeMs Da Silva pleaded guilty to one count of organising prostitution at an unknown location within the State between 5 December 2018 and 18 May 2019 (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeMs Da Silva admitted facilitating the entry into the State of a person she knew to be illegal on 31 March 2019 at Dublin Airport (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeMs Da Silva admitted 33 counts of money laundering the proceeds of crime between March 2020 and May 2021 (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeVailones Fidelis, 46, of Roscommon, denied all 18 charges including two counts of human trafficking, one count of organising prostitution and money laundering charges on dates between 2015 and 2020. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeDa Silva, 32, of Drumlish, Co Longford, admitted 35 charges including organising prostitution, facilitating entry of an illegal person and money laundering. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeDa Silva pleaded not guilty to one count of human trafficking a woman at an unknown location within the State between 31 March 2019 and 18 May 2019. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeDa Silva pleaded guilty to one count of organising prostitution at an unknown location within the State between 5 December 2018 and 18 May 2019. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeDa Silva admitted facilitating the entry into the State of a person she knew to be illegal on 31 March 2019 at Dublin Airport. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeDa Silva admitted 33 counts of money laundering the proceeds of crime on dates between March 2020 and May 2021. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeIvanilce Vailones Fidelis, 46, of Roscommon, denied all 18 charges including two counts of human trafficking, one count of organising prostitution, and money laundering charges between 2015 and 2020. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeNatalia Nogueira Da Silva, 32, of Drumlish, Co Longford, pleaded not guilty to one count of human trafficking between March 31, 2019 and May 18, 2019. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeDa Silva pleaded guilty to one count of organising prostitution between December 5, 2018 and May 18, 2019. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeDa Silva admitted facilitating the entry of a person she knew to be illegal at Dublin Airport on March 31, 2019. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeDa Silva admitted 33 counts of money laundering the proceeds of crime between March 2020 and May 2021. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe woman gave evidence via video-link and through an interpreter at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe trial is being heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtJudge Patricia Ryan is presiding over the trial (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe trial opened two weeks before 7 February 2023 (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe trial was set to resume the following day before Judge Ryan and a jury (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe jury was told they were not sitting for the day and sent home. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtJudge Patricia Ryan presided over the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe trial had opened two weeks earlier and was set down for six weeks. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe trial was to resume the following day before Judge Ryan and a jury. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe trial collapsed on day ten at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe case is adjourned to Friday for a new trial before a new jury. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherMs Vailones Fidelis, 46, of Castle Manor, Racecourse Road, Roscommon, has denied all 18 charges against her. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherMs Da Silva, 32, of Cairn Hill View, Drumlish, Co Longford, has admitted 35 charges and denied a single charge of human trafficking in 2019. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherShe spent a week in Ballymahon because Lisa told her she had to move every week because it was too dangerous to stay. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherShe could have seven, eight or nine clients on a daily basis and they would each pay €100 to €150. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherShe had to pay €100 per week for the Escort Ireland website, rent ranging from €500 to €900, and the driver who moved her to a different location every week. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherLisa made her delete the WhatsApp conversations and she had to send a screenshot to prove that she had deleted them. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherLisa organised a hotel room, clothes and a photographer for pictures, in a school girl style with really small skirts, stockings and heels. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherAt Christmas, Lisa rented a house for all the girls to spend Christmas together, and there were eight or nine girls present. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherShe met a woman called Natalia at the Christmas gathering whom she had never met before. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe trial was expected to take six weeks. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe woman told the court that Lisa told her not to do anything to the client and to let him leave. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe woman said Lisa told her she should never react when a client wanted to beat her or wanted the money back. (leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 8 Feb2023Trial over trafficking and prostitution in Laois and other counties collapses
Reports the collapse of the trial on day ten due to unforeseen circumstances, the discharge of the jury by Judge Patricia Ryan, and the adjournment for a new trial before a new jury.
accused, Ivanilce (Lisa) Vailones Fidelis, 46, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Ivanilce (Lisa) Vailones Fidelisaccused, Natalia Nogueira Da Silva, 32, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Natalia Nogueira Da Silvavictim, female, Brazilian, non-irishvictim, female, Brazilian, non-irish - 7 Feb2023Trial of woman living in Longford accused of human trafficking adjourned for the day
Provides a detailed breakdown of the charges and pleas for both defendants, confirms the trial opened two weeks prior and is set down for six weeks, and reports the jury was sent home for the day on 7 February 2023.
victim, female, Brazilian, non-irishvictim, female, Brazilian, non-irishaccused, Ivanilce (Lisa) Vailones Fidelis, 46, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Ivanilce (Lisa) Vailones Fidelisaccused, Natalia Nogueira Da Silva, 32, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Natalia Nogueira Da Silva - 7 Feb2023Trafficking trial involving sex worker who operated in Laois set to resume
Reports the trial was not sitting on 7 February 2023 and was set to resume the next day; provides full details of the charges and pleas for both defendants.
suspect, Ivanilce (Lisa) Vailones Fidelis, 46, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Ivanilce (Lisa) Vailones Fidelissuspect, Natalia Nogueira Da Silva, 32, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Natalia Nogueira Da Silvavictim, female, Brazilian, non-irishvictim, female, Brazilian, non-irish - 1 Feb2023Trial hears from second woman who was allegedly trafficked to Ireland to work as a prostitute
Describes the testimony of the second victim at trial, detailing her daily routine, the services clients paid for, her weekly financial obligations (website fee, rent, driver, half of earnings to Lisa), and the Christmas gathering where she first met Natalia in person.
victim, female, Brazilian, non-irishaccused, Ivanilce (Lisa) Vailones Fidelis, 46, female, Brazilian, named, non-irishIvanilce (Lisa) Vailones Fidelisaccused, Natalia Nogueira Da Silva, 32, female, Brazilian, named, non-irishNatalia Nogueira Da Silva