A “dramatic” change in situation in the case of Edith Orumwenes, who claims to be the victim of human trafficking, was heard in Castlebar District Court on Wednesday, after a Garda investigation may have identified her as a woman who was working under the professional name of “Joy Jolly” in Clonmel during the time she claims that she was held captive in a house in Castlebar.
Inspector Mick Murray outlined to the court that following the defendant’s court appearance in Ballina, Orumwenes assisted gardaí as she provided her fingerprints and identified two premises in Castlebar where she was kept. Insp Murray said that an investigation into Orumwenes’ fingerprints resulted in no leads in Ireland or the UK, and that her fingerprints were now being furnished to Interpol.
Upon entering the apartment building where Orumwenes claims she was held against her will for five weeks, the defendant said that she could not be definite.
Garda enquiries also showed that the apartments, which are made up of student accommodation, were all occupied when the defendant claims to have been held there and that following door to door investigations in the apartment block no one recognised the defendant.
According to Insp Murray, the gardaí also followed another line of enquiry into the women who was in the company of Orumwenes when she was arrested. This led their investigation to Clonmel. A photo of the defendant was also shown to gardaí in Tipperary who said that this was “Joy Jolly”, who had come to Garda attention on October 17, and who had given the same date of birth to Clonmel gardaí as Orumwenes had to Castlebar gardaí. October 17 would have been during the time period that Orumwenes claims she was in Castlebar.
The inspector also outlined how Orumwenes was last week shown CCTV footage taken from a hotel in Castlebar. Orumwenes claimed this woman was “most resembling” the woman who held her captive. Judge Mary Devins was handed in a copy of an article from the Irish Independent (January 15 ) which reported on a court case of Brazilian women Marcia Da Silva (40 ) who admitted keeping a brothel at a Limerick apartment.
The inspector said that the National Immigration Bureau was satisfied that there was no evidence to show that Orumwenes is a victim of trafficking. Judge Devins congratulated the State on their “dramatic” findings and Insp Murray put in an application for a fairly short remand of the defendant in order to examine a High Court judicial review which would assist with this case.
Defending solicitor Aidan Crowley said that what was presented by the inspector in court was the first time that he heard this evidence, but reiterated that the one charge which Orumwenes is facing is for not producing ID to a garda, with the maximum penalty being a fine and a year in prison — with the defendant already having spent over two months in jail. Mr Crowley said that Orumwenes would be pleading guilty to this one charge which is before her.
Insp Murray said that he would consult with the DPP, but did not think that there would be further charges brought against the defendant. Judge Devins said that facts and sentencing of the case would be heard at Ballinrobe District Court sitting in Castlebar today (Friday 23 ).
