A twice-convicted brothel-keeper yesterday received a suspended jail sentence after she admitted failing to make returns in relation to a tax bill of nearly £200,000.
Marie Bridgeman (56), with addresses in Royal Oak, Santry, Dublin, and Rathoath, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to failing to make returns for 1995/96 and 1999/00. Dublin District Court heard she was arrested by Criminal Assets Bureau officers following her conviction last February for running two brothels.
She made a number of statements to garda∅ and was assessed as owing £132,000 for 1995/96 and £62,000 for 1999/00. The court heard CAB had obtained an attachment order for £73,000 against her house in Santry but Revenue had identified no other assets.
Last February, she received an 18-month suspended jail sentence and was fined £1,500 after pleading guilty to operating brothels called La Mirage and Escort Studio in Wexford Street and Ranelagh.
Garda∅ estimated Ms Bridgeman made between £500 and £600 per day from the operation. She had a previous conviction in March 1998 for running a brothel called Tiffany's, also in Wexford Street.
Yesterday, Judge James Scally imposed a six-month suspended sentence, to begin when the Circuit Court sentence finishes next July.