TW: Sex trafficker gets time served…

[NitroNine]

What could possibly go wrong?

Last week there weren’t enough police in Belfast to arrest a shoplifter who was making away with half of Boots. I’m sure they’ll be able to stay completely on top of this 7 year STPO. And of course if he should break it, it’s only a few [more] women right? 🤬

As it says in the article:
While the prosecution and probation board had sought to argue that Heaney is a dangerous offender and posed a significant risk of causing serious harm, Judge Lynch said that having considered the reports, it was his view that the seven-year STPO would be sufficient to protect vulnerable women from being exploited by Heaney.

So there was an attempt to get him put away, at least. But instead he’s now going to be released in about 5 minutes; & desperately vulnerable women have to rely on proactive policing from a force that apparently aren’t QUITE sure if huge bonfires having effigies of Catholics on gallows/signs about killing all [slur for] Catholics/posters of Catholic politicians/the Irish [or sometimes Ivory Coast 🤨] flag could constitute hate crimes 🙄

The link didn't work...
Is TW 'trigger warning' in this case?

That’s a premium article in the BelTel even if the link had worked op. Here’s another article armaghi.com/news/banbridge-news/predatory-pimp-preyed-on-vulnerable-women-and-forced-them-to-have-sex-with-him/176248

and I agree chances of the PSNI putting much effort into protecting vulnerable women from this nasty piece of work when they could be harassing Ceri Black at the behest of a very minor alleged ‘actor’ instead is unlikely

@ErrolTheDragon It is Trigger Warning, yes - the content was pretty grim, but I forgot on this board I shouldn’t abbreviate it! 🤦‍♀️

@NorthernIrishFeminist
Thank you for the article - BelTel one wasn’t a premium one when I first read it (when it went up): I suppose it got lots of interest so they stuck it behind a paywall. I’ve caught them doing that before so I should’ve checked it still worked on clicking through, not just looked at the open tab from earlier.

Makes you despair doesn’t it: absolutely prolific offender, very good at what he does (🤢), the reports are warning he’s dangerous & needs shutting away & there’s the judge “sure he’ll be grand now I’ve told him to stop being bold”. Have we not seen SHPOs - which often involve similar measures - fail even when offenders are closely monitored?!

'Judge Patrick Lynch QC said it was clear that Heaney “was using women, many of whom were extremely vulnerable whether through young age, mental health difficulties, drug misuse or general deprivation.”'

Well, I won't say the words in my head. This man should be jailed indefinitely.

An eight month investigation, and from the sounds of it a proactive police force doing their best to help the women involved. And they get thrown this miserable sop of a sentence. I'd be fuming.

to all the victims of his abuse, and thank you Detective Inspector Rachel Miskelly.

Be fair to the police they got it to court.
Got the serch warrants
Found the witnesses
Got witnesses to testify
Made a solid case that the prosecution could prove that he was a cross-border human trafficker.
It was not their fault that the judge did not decide to use the legislation and impose a long sentence.
The first thing i would want to know is what is the sentencing guidelines.
Whats the normal /recomemded sentencing for brothel keeping etc?
How many sexslaves are required for jail time for human trafficking?

NitroNine

BelTel one wasn’t a premium one when I first read it (when it went up): I suppose it got lots of interest so they stuck it behind a paywall. I’ve caught them doing that before
I didn’t realise they did this, useful to know

The whole thing makes me despair,

• the man doing the trafficking


• the men both sides of the border abusing those vulnerable young women


• the man who passed the sentence that lets Heaney out again so quick


• the gardai who have not done anything useful to help these women being trafficked south of the border

SolasAnla

You’re right thank goodness for Detective Inspector Rachel Miskelly, she must be in despair at this sentence.

Just fed up at the disregard for women that comes through the PSNI (and gardai) overall

@SolasAnla as @NorthernIrishFeminist said, you’re absolutely right about DI Miskelly; & obviously she’ll not have worked it alone. But it’s that feeling of hopelessness when SHPOs repeatedly fail even when men (because it is men [or male people, at least, however they may identify] who get them) are under incredibly close supervision.

On the plus side, however, just seen on Twitter (courtesy of another BelTel paywalled article 🙄 - nowhere else has picked it up yet) that the DPP is considering referring the sentence passed down to Martin Heaney to the Court of Appeal on the grounds it may be unduly lenient. May be unduly lenient like it was a wee bit warm on Monday, presumably?

I am guessing some of the problem will be the the sentencing guidelines.

CAB got involved here due to tax evasion.
www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/2022/06/24/warrant-for-arrest-of-convicted-brothel-keeper-overturned/

I might actually write to that DI to say thank you. The police get so much stick, they deserve a bit of recognition when they work hard to try and protect us.

BelTel have unlocked some of their coverage - is a bit of a guessing game, but it includes a wee article with a video taken in 2015.

I wonder if the police were actively working it back then? There’s not anything they can do with “we all know what he is” - but what’s really interesting is it highlights again he knew exactly who to target; & who to, quite literally, keep his hands off.

Am hoping the DPP’s review request bears fruit: there must be scope for less leniency or they wouldn’t be seeking to appeal.