Claire Henry
A man who carried out “planned and premeditated” knifepoint robberies of two escorts in separate incidents has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.
Liam McGrane (59), of Earlfort Road, Clondalkin, Dublin, pleaded guilty on a trial date to two counts of robbery at separate Dublin hotels on December 21st, 2018 and August 4th, 2019.
McGrane has previous convictions, which include road traffic offences and two offences of a similar nature, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.
Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin had previously adjourned the case for the preparation of a probation report. On Tuesday, she noted that McGrane is assessed at low risk of re-offending, but said the court was “not satisfied” to accept this.
She noted that McGrane told a probation officer that he got no money from the first robbery in December 2021, but the facts of the case were that he took €1,500.
The judge said McGrane previously indicated he had used this money to support his family, but told a probation office that he did not get any money and had since instructed his defence the same.
Imposing sentence, the judge said there were “planned and premeditated robberies” which were part of a “pattern of offending” which targeted “vulnerable young women”.
She said McGrane arranged to meet both injured parties intending to rob them and while there were no victim impact statements, the court considered both women must have been “absolutely terrified” by the experience.
The judge said both women were entitled to feel safe while going about their work and McGrane had “shattered” that for them.
Guilty pleas
Judge Ní Chúlacháin noted that McGrane's guilty pleas were “an acknowledgement at last of wrongdoing” but said they couldn't be considered to be early pleas.
She noted that McGrane has previous convictions for similar offending and “does not come before the court as a person of good character”.
“You are not a person of good character”, she told McGrane. Later in her judgement, she said that while the probation officer felt he was open and honest, “I don't think you were”.
Judge Ní Chúlacháin handed McGrane a four year prison sentence with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions.
First robbery
Detective Garda Patrick Cullen told Simon Matthews BL, prosecuting, at a previous hearing that gardaí were called to a Dublin hotel after a female escort called to say she had been robbed of a sum of cash. The woman told gardaí that she had a profile on Escorts.ie and a man made a booking to meet her at the hotel.
When he arrived at the door, he produced a knife. The man, later identified as McGrane, went into the hotel room and demanded cash from the woman while pointing the knife at her.
The court heard that he took €1,500 from the woman and asked if she had a friend in the room next door who might also have cash. As the woman walked towards the door of the room next door, she screamed, and McGrane ran away down the hall. Gardaí obtained CCTV footage from the hotel.
Second robbery
Det Gda Cullen said that nearly one year later, gardaí received a call from another escort at a hotel in Saggart. She told gardaí that she also had a profile on Escorts.ie and arranged to meet a man in a hotel room.
When the man, who was later identified as McGrane, entered the room, he produced a Stanley knife and demanded cash from the woman. He took €1,800 from the woman and left.
CCTV footage showed a man leaving the hotel in a blue car. Gardaí traced the car registration plate to McGrane. The following day, gardaí arrived at McGrane’s address where the same car was parked outside.
When McGrane answered the door, he was cautioned and made admissions to the robbery of the woman the day before. He also handed over the €1,800 that he had robbed from the woman. He asked gardaí not to search his house as his family was sleeping. He was taken into custody.
When gardaí who had been involved in the hotel robbery the previous year became aware that McGrane was in custody, he was questioned regarding this robbery and made admissions. He told gardaí that he had gotten himself “into a mess”.
Det Gda Cullen agreed with Nicola Cox BL, defending, that these were not sophisticated crimes and that, on one occasion, McGrane drove to the hotel in his own car. He further agreed that McGrane was co-operative with gardaí and made admissions.
The garda agreed that this was a frightening experience for the two women, and the guilty pleas were beneficial.
Ms Cox said that her client has not come to any adverse attention since these offences, and he acted in a “self-destructive” manner.
Counsel said her client was “truly sorry” for his offending and offered his apologies to both of the injured parties.
Ms Cox handed a written letter from her client into the court and asked the judge to be as lenient as possible when sentencing.
She asked the court to take into account her client's personal circumstances. She noted that her client's guilty plea may not be considered early and while he may have “dragged” things out while trying to be there for his family, it does show he accepts responsibility.
At the previous sentence date, Judge Ní Chúlacháin said these were “very serious matters”. “I can’t imagine how terrifying this must have been for the injured parties,” she said.
The judge noted that McGrane has undertaken counselling. She noted he says that he is no longer a danger, but that she has no evidence of that.
“These are knife crimes and are very serious,” she said.
Referring to the probation report, Judge Ní Chúlacháin on Tuesday noted that a full record of McGrane's previous convictions was not provided by gardaí to the Probation Services.
She expressed concern that there was no change to supports which might help him to avoid re-offending. The judge noted that McGrane is not currently working and that financial pressures were a factor in his previous offending.
She said McGrane is not under financial pressure at this time, but later added that if his situation changes, the risk of re-offending is “not beyond the bounds of possibility”.
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