'BROTHEL' CLOSED

The rented house in Victoria Street was left abandoned after rumours circulated about the activities in the building.

Police said they attended the house last Thursday after reports of 'suspicious activity' but found the property vacant.

Victoria Street residents raised the alert after large numbers of men in expensive cars called to a rented property at all times of the day and night.

Local Councillor Noel McGeown commended residents for alerting the authorities

One resident said: "It was obviously a brothel - there is no other explanation for it.

"There were men coming and going at all times of the day and night, some of them in expensive cars.

"Something dodgy was obviously going on."

He went on: "Residents are becoming fed up with this. Crime is everywhere, areas around Victoria Street, Princes Street and Derry Street are fast becoming like ghettos.

"The police need to come into the area and stamp this out once and for all - or there will be a backlash.

"People are moving into the area all the time, they have no jobs and are up to no good.

"There was a recent court case involving a very serious crime - that is the kind of thing that is happening more and more - these people are not even from Lurgan.

"A stop needs to be put to this before something very dangerous erupts and we can't go back."

Councillor Noel McGeown said: "Residents were fearful that the property was being used for illegal activity, either as a drug den or as a brothel, because of the constant stream of people to the door.

"Neighbours reported men were pulling up outside the house in BMWs and Mercedes at all hours of the day and night.”

The councillor informed the police of the residents' fears, he added: "I don’t know who the tenants of the house were or what they were doing but it seems that they moved on rather than explain themselves to the PSNI.

“There were a number of issues involved here not least being the potential for the abuse of women who are forced into working as sex slaves by unscrupulous criminal gangs.

"This is particularly worrying in light of the criminal trade in female sex slaves that had been uncovered in other areas and is an issue that can only be resolved by catching the gang organisers and rescuing the women from a life of misery and hardship.”

Cllr McGeown also praised the residents who had raised the issue and urged anyone who notices suspicious activity to report it to the police.

The neighbourhood policing team encouraged anyone with concerns to contact them at Lurgan station on 0845 600 8000.