Courts / Dublin / Report
Violent offender jailed for trying to get woman into his car while posing as garda
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Declan McGowan, aged 33, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for a series of offences committed on 18 September 2021. He was found guilty of attempted coercion, impersonating a Garda, assault and assault causing harm after he approached a woman, Andra Calauz, on Kimmage Road Lower, claiming to be a Garda and urging her to get into his car. He also threatened her husband, Daniel Ion, and physically assaulted him. McGowan had previously pleaded not guilty but later accepted the jury's verdicts. The judge cited his 31 prior convictions, including impersonation and assault, as aggravating factors, while mitigating factors included personal circumstances. The sentence was back‑dated to the day he entered custody. The court heard victim impact statements from both Calauz and Ion, detailing fear, injury and disruption to their family life. The case was concluded with McGowan's acceptance of the verdict and the judge's remarks on his repeated impersonation of Gardaí.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Violent offender jailed for trying to get woman into his car while posing as garda. Charges or matters: all counts. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- September 18, 2021 Incident
- July 1, 2019 Incident
- July 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2022-11-04 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: all counts (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Photo: Collins) A violent offender who tried to get a woman into his car late at night by pretending to be a garda before intimidating her and attacking her husband has been sentenced to three years in prison. She sentenced McGowan to three years in prison which she backdated from when he went into custody.
Places mentioned
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