Suspect found after murder of sex worker in Limerick

After a sex worker was stabbed to death at the beginning of the week in Co. Limerick, a man was arrested by gardaí following an extensive search for a suspect. The dead body of the young woman was found at an apartment on Dock Road in Limerick city in the afternoon of Tuesday, April 4.

It was confirmed by gardaí that on Thursday night, a 26-year-old male had been arrested in the North.

Following the arrest, a Garda spokesman said: "Gardaí in Limerick are continuing to investigate the fatal assault of a woman that occurred at 1.30pm on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at a residential property on Dock Road in Limerick city."

We support the call by sex workers for the decriminalisation of sex work and stand in solidarity with sex workers fighting for safer working conditions and liberation. The Nordic Model only enables violence and murders against sex workers

— Trans & Intersex Pride Dublin 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 (@DubTrans) April 5, 2023

"Investigating gardaí are aware that detectives from the PSNI Serious Crime Branch have arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of murder," the spokesman continued.

"Detectives based at the Garda incident room at Henry Street Garda Station remain in close contact with our colleagues in the PSNI at this time, [while] the Garda Technical Bureau is continuing with their examination of two scenes in Limerick."

Gardaí is currently in the process of contacting the family of the 20-year-old Romanian woman. They are also talking to members of the sex worker community in Limerick, as well as those in surrounding counties. For the purpose of referral, gardaí has also appointed a family liaison officer.

According to several sources, a considerable majority of the interviewed sex workers were unwilling to offer information due to present sex work laws. The frequency of attacks on sex workers in the area appears to be increasing, and the number of unreported crimes is particularly high.

This is something the state, the laws and it's supporters need to own.

Her murder was preventable. So we will continue to highlight that this murder victim was a sex worker, because that is our role.

Our priority is the sex worker community and their safety.

— Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) (@SWAIIreland) April 7, 2023

The Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) described the killing as the "grim but obvious result of a law that disregards the voices and safety of sex workers."

Linda Kavanagh, communications manager of the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland said: "When this law was being debated in 2015 and 2016 sex workers and allies warned that the law would increase violence against sex workers. Since that time mountains of research, as well as the lived experiences of sex workers, have shown us to be correct."

"Despite the misguided promises of those who support the law, the client now has the upper hand in negotiation – he is the one at risk of criminal prosecution. To get the client’s money, a sex worker needs to make him feel safe and deprioritise their own safety."

Criticising the current law, Kavanagh stated that "the industry is pushed underground, away from services that can help a worker in an exploitative situation."