Dublin man jailed 7½ years for oral rape and strangulation of woman who sheltered him
Brian Carrie (39), of Crumlin, Dublin, pleaded guilty to oral rape, strangulation and threats to kill. Judge set a 12-year headline sentence, reduced on mitigating grounds.
Crumlin man sentenced for campaign of violence and sexual assault against host
A Dublin man who orally raped, strangled and threatened to kill a woman who had taken him into her home following a stay at an addiction treatment centre has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.
The Irish Times reports that Brian Carrie (39), of Rutland Grove, Crumlin, Dublin, pleaded guilty before the Central Criminal Court to oral rape, criminal damage, assault, production of knives, strangulation, and making threats to kill or cause serious harm. The offences took place at the woman's home on dates in October 2024. Carrie has 49 previous convictions, though none of a similar nature.
Passing sentence on Monday, Judge Tony Hunt said the relationship — which lasted only a number of weeks — was characterised by "violence, intimidation, coercion and control" and culminated in serious sexual offending. "The hospitality and support she offered him at a difficult time of his life were roundly abused by him," he said.
Knives, strangulation and a threat to burn down the house
An investigating garda, giving evidence to prosecuting counsel Fiona Murphy, told the court the relationship deteriorated rapidly. The woman was forced to delete Snapchat and was prevented from speaking to others for fear of provoking Carrie's jealousy.
During one incident in her living room, Carrie produced two large kitchen knives while the woman pleaded with him to stop. He smashed her mirror before following her upstairs, threw a phone at her and told her to call gardaí.
On a separate occasion, Carrie grabbed her by the throat and squeezed. She believed she may have lost consciousness; when she came to, he was still leaning over her. Judge Hunt described strangulation as an "inherently dangerous form of violence" and noted the woman had been left in a state of acute fear.
Carrie then told her that if she did not perform oral sex on him he would kill her. She complied, telling the court she felt she had no choice given her fear for her life.
On the final occasion, she told him the relationship was over. He threatened to break every door and window in her house before burning it down with her inside. He then left for a pub, and she contacted gardaí. Carrie was arrested shortly afterwards.
Victim describes lasting trauma
In her victim impact statement, the woman described severe anxiety, flashbacks and difficulty sleeping. She said it would take a long time to recover from what had happened to her. "It was the most terrifying thing that has ever happened to me," she told the court.
The court heard of the courage it took for her to attend the hearing, given her fear of encountering Carrie again.
Guilty plea and mitigating factors reduce sentence
Carrie took the stand and offered an apology to the woman, saying he deeply regretted his actions and wished her no harm. His counsel, Eileen O'Leary, noted that he had been clean of drugs and methadone.
Judge Hunt set a headline sentence of 12 years, which he reduced to nine years in light of mitigating factors — including Carrie's guilty pleas, his history of addiction and a background of social disadvantage. The final 18 months of that sentence were suspended on conditions, including that he have no contact with the victim for an indefinite period and that he engage in programmes addressing domestic violence and victim awareness.
The judge noted the enduring impact the offending had on the woman, emphasising the particular aggravation of it having occurred within an intimate relationship in which she had shown him trust and care.
Source: Irish Times