An Irish Columban missionary, who has bee nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to combat child prostitution in the Philippines, claim Irish bars could be involved in the sex tourism industry.
Fr. Shay Cullen said most Filipino bars wer frequented by people offering the services of wome prostitutes and some used this business as a cover fo supplying children.
These included a growing number of Irish them bars, most of which were owned by native Filipinos bu which attracted Irish visitors.
Fr. Cullen, who has worked in the Philippine for 30 years, runs the PREDA Foundation in Olongapo which rescues women and children from the sex industry. (Source: Catholic Times, May 6, 2001)
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Fr. Cullen has faced repeated threats to his life over his three decades in the Philippines, and has had to fight off 53 bogus or harassment charges, ranging from libel to rape. He still has 8 such charges hanging over him, but is confident they will be dismissed or dropped.