A YOUNG married man who gripped a woman’s feet while his friend raped her in a Dublin apartment block has received a partially suspended five-year sentence at the Central Criminal Court.
Mr Justice Peter Charleton suspended 2½ years of Radu Grieroscu’s jail term because he felt there was “real hope” the Romanian man would “come to his senses” and use his time in custody to obtain a life-skill.
Mr Justice Charleton said he appreciated his sentence would displease some, but stressed that it was his job to ensure an offender was not simply “warehoused” when there was a strong chance of rehabilitation.
Grieroscu (21), Island Street, Dublin, was convicted by a jury late last year of rape by common design, robbery and false imprisonment of a young woman after a night out on November 4th, 2006.
Mr Justice Charleton last week sentenced the co-accused and main aggressor, Julian Hobanel (23), Kippure Park, Finglas, to nine years in prison with three suspended.
Mr Justice Charleton said that Grieroscu had only slightly lesser roles in the robbery and false imprisonment but accepted that he did not physically participate in the sex attack, bar holding the victim’s legs.
He noted that had Grieroscu been a “decent” man, he would have attempted to stop the humiliating attack on the young woman but instead he “almost spontaneously” assisted Hobanel.
The judge acknowledged Grieroscu has a supportive family and new wife in Ireland and hoped that he would use his time in jail to become skilled in something which would benefit society.