Co. Down man remanded into custody over human trafficking and prostitution charges

by Q Radio News

A Co. Down man was remanded into custody today (tues) accused of a catalogue of exploitation offences including human trafficking and controlling prostitution.

Appearing in the dock of Craigavon Magistrates Court, 57-year-old Martin Heaney confirmed that he understood the nine charges against him.

Heaney, from Maypole Park in Dromore, faces three counts of trafficking three females with a view to them being exploited and controlling the women’s prostitution for gain, offences allegedly committed on specific dates of 31 October 2017, 30 January 2018 and 1 December 2018.

Heaney was also accused of acquiring criminal property of £139,772 on 30 September this year, paying for sexual services on dates between 1 June 2015 and 1 September this year and a final count alleging that he “kept or managed or acted in the management of or assisted in the management of a brothel” on 14 August this year.

None of the facts surrounding the allegations were opened in court but giving evidence, a Detective constable with the PSNI’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking unit said he believed he could connect the Heaney to the charges.

It is understood Heaney was arrested on Sunday and that the charges relate to what a police spokesman described at the time as a “proactive investigation into human trafficking for sexual exploitation.”

A 27 year old female arrested in the Antrim area on suspicion of controlling prostitution, brothel keeping and money laundering has been released on police bail while six men aged between 20 and 54, arrested at locations across Northern Ireland on suspicion of paying for sexual services, have been released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service.

In court today (tues) defence counsel Peter Coiley said there would not be a bail application for Heaney.

District Judge Amanda Brady remanded Heaney into custody to appear on videolink at Craigavon Magistrates Court on October 25.