GARDAÍ HAVE OPENED an investigation following a formal complaint by a Thai massage therapist in Connemara, who had to stop accepting male clients after being bombarded with enquiries seeking sexual services and ‘happy endings’.

Yosita Fitzpatrick, who is from Thailand and owns Connemara Massage Therapy and Wellness in Letterfrack, met with gardaí in Galway last week and handed over audio recordings and screenshots relating to the offensive enquiries.

One of the calls seeking sexual services was made from the phone number of a former member of An Garda Síochána, who asked if she takes her clothes off during massages, and told her he was looking for sex.

A Garda spokesman confirmed that an investigation is now underway following receipt of a report last week. The probe relates to alleged offences under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020.

It is also an offence under the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 to seek to purchase sexual services.

Last month, Ms Fitzpatrick announced that she would no longer be accepting male clients due to the volume of offensive enquiries asking her for ‘happy endings’, which she was receiving “pretty much daily”.

She attended Clifden Garda Station last week, where she made a formal complaint and provided gardaí with copies of offensive texts and other evidence in relation to phone calls received since she set up the business last November.

These are now being examined as part of the investigation into the matter.

“I am fully aware that, in the eyes of the world, the phrase ‘Thai women’ evokes unfair and negative stereotypes – portraying us merely as objects of desire,” said the mother-of-two.

“The truth is far richer. Thailand has so much to offer, and Thai women possess value that cannot be confined to narrow, outdated perceptions.

“No one has a right to harass me simply because I am a Thai woman or because I own a massage business,” she said.

“I am a therapist. I heal people. This is what I love. It is my purpose, and I do not want to walk away from it.”

Ms Fitzpatrick about the psychological impact of the offensive communications on RTÉ Liveline two weeks ago, and has since indicated on social media that she required medical treatment as a result of her ordeal.

“All I ask for is simple – respect,” said Ms Fitzpatrick. “I can no longer accept what has been happening.”

The massage therapist is married to an Irish man, whom she met in Thailand, where they got married and lived together for 10 years. They have two children together and moved to Ireland just after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Letterfrack is a small village in Co Galway with a population of around 200, and is situated near Connemara National Park.