Belfast: Two appear in court over NI human trafficking operation

The court heard she travelled to Dublin before being taken to an address in Omagh, County Tyrone.

Isolated and with limited English, the woman’s only associates were said to be alleged members of the organised gang.

She is believed to have been put to work at locations in both Omagh and Ballymena.

An adult website was set up advertising sexual services in return for cash payments, according to the prosecution case.

Bank accounts opened in the name of either the alleged victim or some of the accused also form part of the investigation.

Mr Justice Scoffield was told telecommunications data allegedly identified all of the accused as being involved in taking the victim to one of the addresses for sex work.

She is currently staying at a secure, undisclosed location.

Prosecutors also claimed Florin Ripan amassed more than £100,000 in unexplained bank account funds as part of the investigation.

Despite the earnings from Ripan’s poultry job, it was claimed that the scale of his balance could not be accounted for.

“The police officer told me there is £108,000 outstanding between his legitimate income and turnover,” counsel said.