ALAN MCBRIDE'S CRUMLIN CRIME: BUSINESSMAN SENTENCED FOR GROOMING TEENAGE GIRL

In April 2019, a disturbing case unfolded involving Alan McBride, a businessman from Crumlin, who was convicted of grooming a teenage girl for sexual purposes. The court proceedings revealed a troubling pattern of manipulation and exploitation carried out by McBride, a 40-year-old father-of-two residing on Long Rig Road in Nutts Corner. His actions led to his imprisonment, highlighting the serious nature of his misconduct.

Judge Geoffrey Miller QC sentenced McBride to a total of 18 months in prison, emphasizing his perception of McBride as a selfish and self-centered individual who showed little remorse or empathy for his victim. The judge ordered that McBride serve half of his sentence behind bars, with the remaining nine months to be served on licence, following McBride’s guilty plea to multiple charges including meeting a child following sexual grooming and inciting the girl to participate in pornography. All these charges pertain to a period between July and August 2013, during which McBride and the girl engaged in a relationship that was both manipulative and exploitative.

The victim, who was 15 at the start of the offending and turned 16 during the course of their relationship, attended the same church as McBride. The court heard that in the spring of 2013, McBride began flirting with her, using sexual innuendos and sending her flirtatious messages. Crown prosecutor Neil Connor detailed how this flirtation escalated from innocent exchanges to explicit communication, including text messages and images. McBride initially sent the girl photographs of women in lingerie and naked, accompanied by comments such as “I like women who dress up.”

The teenage girl, feeling somewhat flattered by the attention, responded with her own messages, some of which included images of herself naked. During this period, McBride sent her approximately ten naked images of himself, some when she was 15 and others after she had turned 16. The court was told that the pair exchanged graphic text messages, with McBride expressing his desire to have sex with her and describing what he wanted her to do and wear. Their meetings culminated in July 2013, when they met up explicitly for sexual activity.

Following her 16th birthday, the relationship between McBride and the girl became consensual, and they continued exchanging nude images. However, the court revealed that the relationship lasted around five months before McBride’s attention shifted to another girl, a friend of the victim. The victim, now 21, reported the abuse to police in June 2016, leading to McBride’s arrest. During police interviews, McBride admitted to having a sexual relationship with the girl but claimed he believed she was 16 at the time. He also described their relationship as “a bit of extra-marital fun.”

Prosecutor Neil Connor highlighted the aggravating factors of the case, including the significant 20-year age difference and the grooming element, which involved the girl sending him images of herself. Defense barrister Charles MacCreanor QC presented character references, asserting that McBride was “shamed and disgusted” by his actions. He pointed out that McBride had a clean record and no pending charges prior to this case, but acknowledged the damage caused to his personal life and business reputation, noting that McBride’s relationships with his children had been affected and that his business in Crumlin was suffering due to the allegations.

Before sentencing, Judge Miller addressed McBride directly, condemning his manipulation and abuse of the victim. The judge expressed concern over McBride’s apparent lack of empathy and his self-centered attitude, as revealed in a pre-sentence report. The judge also cast doubt on McBride’s claim that he believed the girl was 16 when they began their sexual relationship, suggesting that McBride deliberately targeted someone significantly younger for his own deviant interests.

In addition to his prison sentence, McBride was placed under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years, aiming to prevent any further offending. The case underscores the serious consequences of grooming and exploitation, especially involving vulnerable minors in Crumlin and the surrounding areas, and serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding young people from predatory behavior.