Courts / Dublin / Report
Grocer fails in appeal against 12-year sentence for sex attacks
Summary
Joseph McGrane, a fruit and veg salesman aged 60, was convicted of 11 indecent assault and seven sexual assault offences committed between 1985 and 1993. The victims, all of whom worked for him at different times, included three boys aged 13 to 18 and a 22‑year‑old woman. McGrane denied the charges but was found guilty by a jury in March 2019. The trial judge, Elma Sheahan, reduced the headline sentence from 18 to 13 years, suspended the final year, and considered that McGrane had not reoffended for 26 years. The Court of Appeal upheld the 12‑year sentence, noting that the trial judge had been misled about the maximum sentence for sexual assault under the Criminal Law (Rape) Act 1990. McGrane's appeal against the severity of the sentence was dismissed. The case was heard by Justices Isobel Kennedy, George Birmingham and Patrick McCarthy. The final sentence remained 13 years with the last year suspended.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Grocer fails in appeal against 12-year sentence for sex attacks. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- March 2019 Incident
- 1985 and 1993 Incident
- 2020-11-26 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; She said the judge reduced the headline sentence accordingly from 18 years to 13 years and suspended the final year having considered all mitigating factors. McGrane had no previous convictions and the judge sentenced him to 13 years of imprisonment with the final year suspended.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request