Man jailed for robbing Brazilian escort at knifepoint

A man who robbed a Brazilian escort in a Dublin hotel room and put a knife to her throat has been sentenced to three years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended.

Joey Fagan, aged 35, of Rory O’Connor Park, Deansgrange, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery and production of a knife in a bedroom at Clyde Court Hotel, Ballsbridge, on Oct 8, 2012.

Garda Bryan Hunt said Fagan had made an arrangement to meet the woman in her hotel room shortly before he robbed her.

Garda Hunt told Karen O’Connor BL, prosecuting, that the Brazilian woman had been working in Ireland for several months and had been staying in the Clyde Court Hotel for a few days.

She was providing an escort service whereby she would give company and sexual favours to men in return for money.

The woman arranged by phone for a man to come to her hotel room for escort services half an hour before the incident. She said Fagan arrived and seemed a bit nervous. She started to get scared when he put his hand into his bag and she heard a noise made by something metal.

Fagan then took out what the woman described as a 15in “handmade blade” and lunged towards her, holding the knife against her neck.

He pushed her to the wall but the woman grabbed his knife arm, kicked him in the legs, and ran to the doorway where she called a cleaner for help.

Fagan then went to the lift, turned and shouted: “You are a prostitute and I will kill you.”

The woman said she was terrified during the ordeal and Fagan had repeatedly threatened to kill her.

Garda Hunt said he responded to a 999 call and took a statement from the woman. Fagan was identified from CCTV footage and gardaí later searched his home, where he showed them the sports bag he had used and also pointed to a white laptop he had stolen from the hotel room. He admitted making a phone call to arrange visiting the woman’s room and said his intention had been robbery.

Fiona Murphy BL, defending, said Fagan was deeply ashamed and apologetic for what he had done.

The court heard Fagan is a full-time carer to his mother, who is recovering from a liver transplant. He has 16 previous convictions including theft, robbery and assault causing harm.