The significant sentences handed down in Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court yesterday (28 September) for the ‘heinous crime’ of human trafficking have been noted by Hildegarde Naughton (Minister of State for Civil and Criminal Justice).

Two Nigerian women were convicted of human trafficking of young girls into a prostitution ring they ran in the midlands, the first conviction of its type in Ireland.

They received jail sentences of five years and eight months, and five years and one month.

Alicia Edosa (45) and Edith Enoghaghase (31) were each found guilty of two counts of trafficking women around Ireland on dates between September 2016 and June 2018, following a six-week jury trial.

The pair were also each convicted of a single charge of organising prostitution.

The victims were also subjected to voodoo rituals.

Trafficking 'will not be tolerated'

Minister Naughton said: “Human trafficking is a heinous crime that will not be tolerated in Ireland.

“We are making intensive efforts to combat human trafficking and bring the traffickers who cruelly exploit vulnerable people to justice.”

“We have also introduced significant measures over the past year to create a more victim-centred approach to identifying and supporting victims, and to raise awareness and provide training.”

Naughton said that these measures include:

• Revising the National Referral Mechanism to make it easier for victims of trafficking to come forward, be identified and access advice, accommodation, and support,
• Drafting a National Action Plan on Human Trafficking,
• Training front-line staff in industries such as hospitality, airline and shipping who may encounter trafficked persons,
• Dedicated accommodation for female victims of sexual exploitation,
• Criminal justice system support for victims through the implementation of Supporting a Victim's Journey,
• Awareness campaign in partnership with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM),
• More funding for supporting victims of crime, and increased funding dedicated specifically to supporting victims of trafficking.

Minister Naughton commended An Garda Síochána for their work in investigating and obtaining the evidence necessary to secure the convictions.