Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 8787Participating in or contributing to a criminal organisation · Co. Dublin

Woman jailed for three years over Dublin brothel criminal organisation

Bruna Da Silveira, a 26-year-old Brazilian woman (one report gives her age as 25), has been sentenced over a criminal organisation that ran brothels across Dublin, where nearly 30 young Brazilian sex workers were identified by gardaí. The alleged offence ran from 10 July 2024 to 9 September 2025, and she was arrested with three other defendants after an operation involving Europol and the Brazilian Federal Police. She pleaded guilty on 13 July to participating or contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation, and Judge Elma Sheahan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned the case for sentencing. The latest development is that Da Silveira was sentenced to three years in jail, with the final six months suspended on conditions, after a headline sentence of five years was reduced to three and a half.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court1 Jul
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced1 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Da Silveira, a Brazilian woman, pleaded guilty to participating or contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation.
  • The criminal organisation ran brothels across Dublin, and gardaí identified nearly 30 young Brazilian sex workers.
Where
  • The allegations related to 10 brothels in Dublin.
  • Da Silveira is of Reilly's Avenue, Dublin 8, though one source gives the address as Reilly Avenue, Dublin 8.
When
  • The offence was alleged to have occurred between 10 July 2024 and 9 September 2025.
  • Da Silveira pleaded guilty on 13 July.
Other details
  • Da Silveira is 26 years old, though one report gives her age as 25.
  • The allegations linked the defendants to the recruitment in Brazil of vulnerable young women who were coerced into sex work in Ireland.
  • €737,000 in proceeds from prostitution went through Da Silveira's three bank accounts between 2024 and 2025.
Cause
Da Silveira was in a relationship with the head of the organised crime group.
Investigation
  • Gardaí, Europol and Interpol investigated the group, with a team of 60 gardaí involved in the multi-jurisdictional inquiry.
  • Da Silveira and three other defendants were arrested after an operation involving Europol and the Brazilian Federal Police.
  • Three men are before the Irish courts and others are being prosecuted in Brazil.
In court
  • The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned it to Friday for a sentence hearing after a solicitor protest delayed proceedings.
  • The defendants were considered flight risks with no ties to this jurisdiction.
Sentence
The judge set a headline sentence of five years, reduced to three and a half years, and Da Silveira was sentenced to three years in jail with the final six months suspended on conditions.
24 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDa Silveira helped run a brothel-keeping criminal organisation across Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatNearly 30 young Brazilian sex workers were identified by gardaí. (thejournal.ie)
  • what€737,000 in proceeds from prostitution went through Da Silveira's three bank accounts between 2024 and 2025. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatDa Silveira was listed for sentence on a charge of participating or facilitating the activities of a criminal organisation. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereDa Silveira is of Reilly's Avenue, Dublin 8. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereDa Silveira is of Reilly Avenue, Dublin 8. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe offence was alleged to have occurred between 10 July 2024 and 9 September 2025. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeDa Silveira was in a relationship with the head of the organised crime group. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe organised crime group was investigated by gardaí, Europol and Interpol. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThree men are before the Irish courts and others are being prosecuted in Brazil. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationDa Silveira and three other defendants were arrested after an operation involving Europol and the Brazilian Federal Police. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationA team of 60 gardaí were involved in the multi-jurisdictional inquiry. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeDa Silveira pleaded guilty to participating or contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation between 10 July 2024 and 9 September 2025. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeDa Silveira pleaded guilty on 13 July to participating or contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtDefence counsel said his instructing solicitor would not attend in solidarity with other solicitors. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtJudge Elma Sheahan adjourned the case to Friday for a sentence hearing. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of five years, reduced to three and a half years. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceDa Silveira was sentenced to three years in jail. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe final six months of the sentence were suspended on conditions. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherDa Silveira has no previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe allegations linked the defendants to the recruitment in Brazil of vulnerable young women who were coerced into sex work in Ireland. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe allegations related to 10 brothels. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe defendants were considered flight risks with no ties to this jurisdiction. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Jul2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, follow-up
    Sentencing of woman in prostitution case the latest court proceeding delayed by solicitor protest

    Covers the sentencing listing for Bruna Da Silveira, adjourned to Friday after the solicitors' withdrawal of services delayed proceedings. Adds the guilty plea, the charge period, the Europol-assisted investigation and the court's bail reasoning.

    convicted, Bruna Da Silveira, 25, female, Brazilian, named, non-irishBruna Da Silveira
  2. 1 Jul2026
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Woman who ran Dublin brothels where almost 30 young Brazilians worked jailed for three years

    Reports the sentencing of Bruna Da Silveira to three years in jail, with a headline sentence of five years reduced to three and a half, the final six months suspended.

    convicted, Bruna Da Silveira, 26, female, namedBruna Da Silveira