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The Madame who runs Exclusive Escorts claims she has a client list of 6,000
names, including politicians and media personalities. (Kathryn Holmquist,
"On the game in Dublin," Irish Times, 3 May 1997)
The owner of an escort service in Dublin made L720 an hour by prostituting
12 women. Of the L390 each man paid, the agency received L360. (Judge Cyril
Kelly, "Man punched 'escort girl,'" Irish Times, 11 April 1997)
Four of the male prostitutes surveyed were introduced to prostitution at
age 13, most were 14-19. ("Guys go on heroin, then on the game," Irish
Times, 30 July 1997)
Male prostitutes in Dublin can range in age from mid to late teens to early
40s. (David Sleator, "Drug abuse leads to sex and violence in Phoenix Park,"
The Irish Times, 12 April 1997)
The market for younger "rent boys" is the greatest and offers higher financial
rewards. (Outreach worker, David Sleator, "Drug abuse leads to sex and violence
in Phoenix Park," Irish Times, 12 April 1997)
Most male prostitutes come from Dublin, a few from Italy, and others from
Britain and Eastern Europe. A third are or have been drug addicts, while 60
per cent were at some stage homeless. More than 40% had been forced to have
sex or engage in particular sex acts. Almost half were paid more for unsafe
sex. (The Men in Prostitution qualitative report by the Eastern Health Board's
Gay Men's Health Project (GMHP) on 27 male prostitutes in Dublin, Cork, Galway,
Limerick and Belfast, Kevin O’Sullivan, "Male prostitution study shows link
with drugs," Irish Times, 30 July 1997)
Exploiting a prostitute, as a crime, it is almost the "perfect" crime. The
chances of being caught are absolutely minimal. (Father Peter McVerry, who
runs hostels for homeless boys, David Sleator, "Drug abuse leads to sex and
violence in Phoenix Park," Irish Times, 12 April 1997)
Buyers of male prostitutes are mostly male (women sought their services in
a small number of cases), mostly married and rich or middle-class, ranging
in age from 30 to 60 years. (Kevin O’Sullivan, "Male prostitution study shows
link with drugs," Irish Times, 30 July 1997)
Child prostitution is increasing in Dublin. Ireland’s increasing numbers
of homeless youth are forcing many into prostitution due to their circumstances.
(Michael Kennelly, executive member of the Association of Garda Sergeants
and Inspectors, "Hungary children call on Garda for food, shelter," Irish
Times, 27 March 1997)
Prostitution among males is associated with homelessness and drug addiction.
Teenage boys, young as 13 are involved in prostitution, most however, are
18-25. Male prostitutes are often poorly educated and frequently experience
sexual and physical violence. Less than a third have had a check-up for sexually
transmitted diseases. (Kevin O’Sullivan, "Male prostitution study shows link
with drugs," Irish Times, 30 July 1997)
Frequently prostitued male youths are beaten up and robbed in the area in
which they congregate, near Wellington Monument. (David Sleator, "Drug abuse
leads to sex and violence in Phoenix Park," The Irish Times, 12 April
1997)
Methods and Techniques of Perpetrators Buyers frequently meet the male prostitutes
in gay clubs, while some make appointments by telephoning the prostitutes
at specific pubs in the city. (David Sleator, "Drug abuse leads to sex and
violence in Phoenix Park," Irish Times, 12 April 1997)
280 people are in custody for sex offenses. "Research shows that the rate
of recidivism among pedophiles are very high, somewhere between 90 and 95
percent. This means that if the offender has access to children and is not
monitored in therapy, re-offense will occur." (Department of Justice, Tighearnaigh,
Kathy Donaghy, "Putting tabs on pedophiles," Irish Times, 14 June 1997)
Case
A 17-year-old male prostitute from Phoenix Park was found dead in the bed
by the man who bought him. His death was reportedly due to asphyxiation caused
by alcohol and drug abuse. (Richard Balls, "Man awoke to find rent boy dead
in bed beside him," Irish Times, 12 April 1997)
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Official Response and Action
The Government approved the drafting of legislation that will make it an
offense to possess child pornography for personal use, punishable by up to
three years in prison. Trafficking in children for the purpose of their sexual
exploitation will carry heavy prison sentences. All manifestations of child
pornography - on the Internet, in films, videos, photographs, written or auditory
forms, will be criminal offenses with prison terms, on conviction, of three
years to life. Producing, printing, publishing, exporting, importing, selling
or distributing child pornography will be covered. ("Child pornography law
agreed," Irish Times, February 12, 1997)
Policy and Law
The Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, passed on July 29, 1997, makes
it an offence to knowingly produce, distribute, print, publish, import, export,
sell, show or download from the Internet any child pornography. Those found
guilty of trafficking children or making pornography can be jailed for 14
years. No one has been prosecuted in the State for the possession of pornographic
material from the Internet, since the enactment of the law. The Department
of Justice has recommended the introduction of a code of practice for Internet
Service Providers to combat child pornography. ("100 arrested as Internet
pedophile ring uncovered," Irish Times, 3 September 1998)
Case
A man kicked and punched a woman he bought for L150-an-hour when she tried
to stop him taking photographs of her lying naked in a Dublin hotel room.
When she tried to take the camera off him, she was thrown against the wall,
punched in the face several times and kicked. A week after the assault, police
raided Byrne's home and found the photographs and negatives. James Byrne pleaded
guilty to assaulting the woman, causing her actual bodily harm on March 27th,
1996. (Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, "Man punched 'escort girl,'" The
Irish Times, 11 April 1997)
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