A father of three has been given a suspended sentence for attempting to rob and threatening to rape an escort at gunpoint because he needed money for Christmas.
Liam McGran (49) later told gardaí he decided to rob the woman as he had been with her before and he knew she was small. He demanded money and threatened to rape the woman in her home as he pointed an imitation pistol at her.
However the victim, who had a firearms licence and was knowledgeable about guns, recognised it as a fake and fought McGran off before he fled the apartment.
Judge Mary Ellen Ring said the offence no doubt had a serious effect on the woman but noted it was McGran's first offence.
A presumptive mandatory minimum sentence of five years exists for possession of a firearm but Judge Ring said she could deviate from this because of McGran’s co-operation and early guilty plea. She imposed a three year sentence, suspended in full for three years.
McGran of Earlsfort Terrace Lucan, Dublin had pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm at Harcourt Green, Charlemont Street, Dublin on October 7th, 2013.
Detective Garda Philip Byrne told prosecuting counsel Garrett McCormack BL that he received a call to go to the woman's apartment on the night. The woman told him she worked as an escort and that McGran has made an appointment with her.
She buzzed him in and let him in the door. McGran then took out what looked like a black handgun while demanding money and threatening to rape the woman. During the subsequent struggle the gun fell to the ground and broke apart.
The woman sustained scratches and bruises while fighting off McGran. He also pulled out some of her hair before fleeing.
The woman gave gardaí the phone number McGran had used to book the appointment and officers traced it to a property in Lucan where they arrested him.
He made full admissions in interview and said he was desperate for money for Christmas. Det Garda Byrne said McGran targeted the woman because he knew she was small and that he could handle her.
“Not as small as he thought,” Judge Ring commented.
She noted that the woman has since taken a self defence course but “one might comment that she was doing well enough without it.”
Defence counsel Luigi Rea BL said McGran is deeply ashamed that the woman thought he might rape her.
He said his client has no drink or drugs problem and no previous convictions. He worked as a porter and as a security guard before setting up his own leafleting business. He said he has no money to offer the victim as compensation because business has been poor.
Counsel said McGran, who is married with three children and one grandchild, tried to call the woman later to apologise but released this was a foolish thing to do.