Victims of trafficking are all around, ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’

“Keep an eye out” and “be kind” because victims of human trafficking are all around us, hidden in plain sight, was the message put forward at an event hosted by Mullingar Soroptimists in the Annebrook House Hotel.

The large crowd in attendance heard that not all humans trafficked are employed in the sex trade; they might be working in agriculture, in domestic servitude, in nail bars, car washes or begging on the streets, in fact anywhere.

The milestone case taken by gardaí in Mullingar in 2021 remains the only conviction for human trafficking in the country. All four girls involved in that case showed tremendous courage in seeing the case through, and their detailed evidence was crucial to the conviction, the meeting heard. All four are now working and rebuilding their lives.

Sarah McCormack is the local programme action officer of the national Soroptimists’ ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ campaign. She said that human trafficking is the fastest growing crime industry in the world. It is demand driven and we are feeding that demand, she warned.

“We are here to shine a light on human trafficking and to make people more aware of what to look out for and what to do if you have any suspicions,” she said. She called on the public and business community of Mullingar to ensure their campaign is the best in the country.

Sarah urged everyone to watch the RTÉ 1 programme, ‘The Case I Can’t Forget’, about the Mullingar case, aired last year and directed by Mullingar man Paddy Murray.

Garda Karen Coughlan, who was involved in the Mullingar case, played a moving video about a young Vietnamese man who was trafficked to Ireland to work alone on a “grow farm” in the west of Ireland.

The victim was forced to live in sub-human conditions and was only let out on one occasion, to exercise the dogs when the owners were away for the night. Fortunately, a neighbour noticed him and was suspicious. Gardaí were notified and he was rescued.

Detective Garda Vincent Reynolds said: “That is what we are trying to get across – if you see anything you are not happy with, ring it in and we will check it out.”

He said the four girls involved in the Mullingar case “saw it through to the end and deserve massive credit”.

Detective Garda Niall Stack said he and his two colleagues “lived this case for three years”.

“My eyes were opened, and I’m 20 years in the job,” he said.

He said the four girls had to give evidence during the six-week trial. “We are victim-centred but we have to do what we have to do.”

Det Garda Stack said that sex services are being provided in every town and village in Ireland, mostly to married men.

Sara Wallace, regional manager of Ruhama, a charity who work with woman affected by commercial sexual exploitation, said they supported 1,128 victims last year, up 75% on the previous year. Fifty six were in the midlands.

How can you help? Always be kind, you don’t know what they have gone through; acknowledge people, it means everything to them; and if you see something odd, report it, Sara advised.

Minster for State at the Department of Finance Robert Troy thanked the Soroptimists and the media for shining a light on the issue. He applauded the gardaí for getting a conviction and for “their painstaking efforts over a number of years”.

Minister Troy spoke of the government’s part in combating human trafficking and their victim first approach, and assured the Soroptimists, Ruhama and the gardaí of their support.

Veronica Larkin, who was in the audience, mentioned nail bars and barbers who operate on a cash only basis. “It strikes a chord with me, even when I am giving a tip – where does it go?” she said. She urged the gardaí, the government, the Revenue Commissioners and us as a community to see what we can do to keep these people in employment but ensure they get their entitlements.

One speaker called for harsher penalties for those convicted of human trafficking; another asked how such people are getting through airports with false documents.

Det Garda Reynolds informed the latter that, if she had connections to a criminal gang, she too could get a passport. He denied that “Ireland is too soft”, saying that it is the same in every country.

Det Garda Stack said that the defendants in the case they brought were sentenced to five years’ imprisonment each, increased to seven on appeal. A woman in a similar case in the UK got 16 years, he said.

He went on to say that another defendant, known as ‘Lucky’, was apprehended in Ireland and prosecuted for conspiring to aid human trafficking, although the offences were committed in Spain and Italy. He believed that was the first prosecution of its kind in Europe.

One woman called for changes in legislation to make it easier to get convictions. “We need to do something as a society to drive change,” she said.

Another declared that she was “blown away” by what she had heard and urged the government to help.

Sarah McCormack was “heartened to hear such passion in the room”.

“This has opened our eyes and ears,” she said.

Mary Wynne, president of the Mullingar Soroptimists and wife of retired Garda Enda Wynne, thanked the gardaí, Ruhama and “all who have done so much work to get this project off the ground”.

Hopefully, going forward, we can support and help you, she said.

Among those who attended were the chairperson of Westmeath County Council, Cllr Aoife Davitt, and president of Mullingar Chamber of Commerce, James Bourke.

Soroptimist Ireland