in the dock | 

Men and woman deny running Belfast brothel

It is alleged that all three ‘kept or managed or acted in the management of, or assisted in the management of, a brothel’

Yesterday at 21:20

Two men and a woman have denied running a Belfast brothel for over six months.

Brian Gillan (65) appeared in the dock of Belfast Crown Court yesterday alongside Romanian nationals Florin Ghita (38) and Teodora-Cristina Musa (28).

It is alleged that between October 1, 2017 and April 13, 2018 all three ‘kept or managed or acted in the management of, or assisted in the management of, a brothel’.

Gillan, of Friendly Street in Belfast, was arraigned first and when asked how he pleaded, the pensioner replied: “Not guilty.” Ghita also denied the charge, as did Musa.

Ghita was then charged with three counts of transferring criminal property via the Western Union under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

He was charged with, and denied, transferring £1981.10 on November 10, 2017, transferring £985.10 on November 23, 2017 and transferring £715.10 on February 16, 2018.

Musa also denied three counts of transferring criminal property – namely sending £685.10 on November 17, 2017, £1281.10 on December 1, 2017 and £715.10 on February 19, 2018.

After all three defendants were formally charged, Judge Paul Ramsey KC enquired about the length of a trial and was told the hearing is expected to last up to two weeks.

The judge then set a date for the trial to commence on March 19, 2024.

Gillan was released on continuing bail while Ghita and Musa, whose addresses are both listed as unknown, were remanded back into custody.