Kilkenny suspects targeted as part of nationwide prostitution sting

A NUMBER of people suspected of paying for sex in Kilkenny and Carlow have been questioned by gardai as part of a nationwide sting operation.

A total of 38 people across the country were stopped and spoken to by gardaí last week on suspicion of having paid for prostitution services.

Some of the suspects are from the Kilkenny-Carlow area, the rest from Dublin, Cork, Kerry, Galway and Donegal.

The “intelligence-led” operations to tackle the purchase of sexual services and prostitution took place across nine Garda divisions.

A number of files on the cases will now be prepared for the Director fo Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Gardai said in a statement issued his morning: “This operation reinforces An Garda Síochána’s commitment to target the demand for prostitution and to protect vulnerable persons, including victims of human trafficking involved in prostitution. This is the second national operation targeting the demand for prostitution in 2019 and further operations are planned.”