Thomas Carroll: jailed for seven years in Cardiff

TWO relations of an Irishman jailed in Wales last week for operating a network of 35 brothels are the subject of a garda probe for their role in the international trafficking ring.

Thomas 'TJ' Carroll (48), originally from Carlow, and his South African partner, Shamiela Clark (32), admitted running the racket, which involved a ring of trafficked young women and girls, from their base in Pembrokeshire.

Carroll and Clark were supplied with vulnerable young women and girls, who were subjected to bizarre rituals and violence.

At Cardiff Crown Court, Carroll was jailed for seven years, Clark for three-and-a-half years while Carroll's daughter, Toma Carroll (26) was imprisoned for two years for her part in laundering profits. The 26-year-old former law student was freed immediately because of the time she had spent in custody awaiting trial.

An extensive garda file in relation to the activities of two other relatives of Carroll is almost complete and is due to be sent to the DPP. The man and woman are accused of laundering profits as well as involvement "on the fringes" of Carroll's trafficking and prostitution ring.

A senior source said that the two are believed to have laundered as much as €100,000 at a time through bank accounts for Carroll. "What was going on really was a family affair," said a senior garda involved in the investigation.

Gardaí and police are now satisfied they have effectively dismantled Carroll's prostitution ring "for the time being. He kept it in the family and all of the serious players involved have either been convicted or are actively being investigated."

The court heard that in one year the profits amounted to €1m. A garda inquiry into the prostitution racket here showed Carroll and his associates were raking in around €70,000 a week before the recession hit their business.

As well as now being a focus of the Criminal Assets Bureau, Carroll has properties in Bulgaria, Cyprus and Mozambique that gardaí and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) are examining, it is understood.