[ad_1]
A father of seven who told Gardaí that he thought he was attending a job interview but ended up participating in a violent forced eviction has been jailed for three years.
Esmond McGrath (50) was part of a seven-man gang, including convicted murderer Declan Duffy and INLA kidnapper Dessie O’Hare, also known as ‘The Border Fox’, who falsely imprisoned and attempted to evict a family from her home.
McGrath also participated in the assault by a security guard who became involved in the incident, hitting and kicking the man.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that five of the men involved, including O’Hare and Duffy, were convicted in Special Criminal Court in 2019. The court heard that O’Hare and Duffy were “the ringleaders” of the events.
After his arrest, McGrath told Gardaí that before arriving at the scene he had been told that he was attending a job interview for security jobs. The court heard that McGrath was dressed “almost like a gorilla” for that reason at the time of the crimes. McGrath of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, Dublin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Court to assaulting and injuring John Roche in The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart on June 9, 2015.
He also pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment of Martin Byrne and Lisa Byrne at the same address on the same date. His 11 previous convictions include petty theft and traffic offenses.
In sentencing yesterday, Judge Karen O’Connor said the crime was compounded by the “level of violence” against the security guard and the impact the crime had on the family who was falsely incarcerated.
Judge O’Connor said mitigating factors were McGrath’s guilty plea, his admissions, his remorse, his difficult record, and his efforts to rehabilitate from drug and alcohol addiction.
He said that a distinction could be made between him and the others who participated in the crimes. He sentenced McGrath to four years in prison, but suspended the last 12 months of the sentence under strict conditions.
At a previous sentencing hearing, Sergeant Eamon O’Neill told Garret Baker BL, at the prosecution, that Byrne had worked in the security industry for 25 years prior to the June 2015 events.
Mr. Byrne was employed as the head of security for the Mansfield Group, which managed several properties such as the Citywest Hotel. Sergeant O’Neill said that on the date in question, Mr. Byrne attended an office where O’Hare was present. Duffy joined them and five more men arrived, including McGrath.
O’Hare told Mr. Byrne that his services were no longer needed and that he should immediately vacate the property on Garter Lane where he had been residing with his family as part of his employment agreement.
Mr. Byrne said that if they gave him 24 hours he could remove his family and possessions from the property, but this offer was rejected.
He tried to leave of his own free will, but the men surrounded him, grabbed him and put him in a car.
Irish independent
[ad_2]