Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MAN RAN BROTHEL TO PAY CREDIT CARD BILLS
Dad pleads guilty and spared going to jail
A MAN who ran a brothel to clear his debts avoided a prison sentence yesterday.
Paul Mcgrory, 54, rented the house in Argyle Street, Derry, and let the rooms to sex workers between February and November 2016.
The city’s crown court was told Mcgrory, a once successful businessman, paid £115 weekly rent but received £350 a week for each of the three bedrooms
The father of three, from Ard Fada in the Ardmore area of Derry, admitted managing the brothel and acquiring criminal property totalling £17,375.
He also admitted using the rental money to pay off £7,668 credit card bills.
The police investigation initially started as an investigation into human trafficking.
However the prosecution accepted this was not involved, nor did Mcgrory coerce the prostitutes, take a cut of their earnings nor did he withhold their passports.
Judge Philip Babington told him: “You were not involved in obtaining clients for the women, you were not a pimp, but you have upset the law abiding people of Argyle Street.” Judge Babington said police received complaints from residents who reported seeing men walking up and down the street at all hours . The men would receive phone calls and the front door of the brothel was then opened by a scantily-clad woman. Police searched the house twice during which they spoke with the prostitutes and found bedside lockers containing paraphernalia linked to the sex trade. Mcgrory and the prostitutes made contact with each other through the adult website Escort Ireland.
When police called at Mcgrory’s home in November 2016 they were met by his wife who knew nothing about his brothel activities.
He has since lost the trust of his wife and their three children.
Judge Babington, who said the maximum sentence for the offences was seven years, ordered Mcgrory to complete 60 hours’ community service. He also imposed a three year enhanced combination Order under which he must obey directions given to him by his probation officer. He added if he failed to do so he would face a prison term.irish@mgn.co.uk
You were not a pimp but you have upset law-abiding people JUDGE PHILIP BABINGTON DERRY YESTERDAY