Human trafficking trial adjourned for the day

The jury in a human trafficking and prostitution trial has been told it is not required for the day and sent home.

The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of Natalia Nogueira Da Silva and Ivanilce (Lisa) Vailones Fidelis is not sitting today Tuesday, Judge Patricia Ryan told the jury. The trial opened two weeks ago and is set down for six weeks. The State alleges that the accused women trafficked two vulnerable Brazilian women for the purposes of exploiting them and taking advantage of their vulnerability "to such an extent as to cause the trafficked person to have no real or acceptable alternative but to submit to being trafficked."

Ms Vailones Fidelis (46) of Castle Manor, Racecourse Road, Roscommon, has denied all 18 charges against her, including two counts of human trafficking, one count of organising prostitution and money laundering charges on dates between 2015 and 2020.

Ms Da Silva (32), of Cairn Hill View, Drumlish, Co Longford, has admitted 35 charges, including organising prostitution, facilitating the entry into the state of an illegal person and money laundering. She has denied a single charge of human trafficking in 2019.

Ms Da Silva has pleaded not guilty to one count of human trafficking a woman at an unknown location within the State, on dates between March 31, 2019, and May 18, 2019. She has pleaded guilty in front of the jury to one count of organising prostitution at an unknown location within the State on dates between December 5, 2018, and May 18, 2019.

She has also admitted one count of facilitating the entry into the State of a person she knew to be illegal on March 31, 2019, at Dublin Airport, along with 33 counts of money laundering the proceeds of crime on dates between March 2020 and May 2021. Ms Vailones Fidelis has pleaded not (NOT) guilty to all 18 counts against her.

The trial will resume tomorrow, Wednesday February 8 before Judge Ryan and a jury.