Protesters gather in Cork, Dublin and Limerick in solidarity with Natasha O'Brien

THOUSANDS of people gathered in Cork, Dublin and Limerick to show their solidarity with a woman who was assaulted by an Irish soldier.

Protests were organised across the country after Cathal Crotty, a serving member of the Defence Forces, was given a three-year suspended sentence for the assault on Natasha O’Brien.

The 22-year-old, with an address at Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms O’Brien in Limerick in 2022.

Ms O’Brien has criticised the three-year suspended sentence handed down to Crotty, saying she feels let down by the judicial system.

There has also been criticism of Judge Tom O’Donnell, after he told the court earlier this week that if he imposed a custodial sentence, Crotty’s army career would be over.

Many people taking part in Saturday’s protest criticised the suspended sentence.

Outrage 

Hundreds of people gathered at The Spire in Dublin city centre calling for an end to gender-based violence and for legal reforms in how the judicial system deals with gender-based crime.

The demonstrators marched from The Spire on O’Connell street to the Department of Justice at St Stephen’s Green.

Ruth Coppinger, a spokesperson for the campaign group, Rosa, said the entire country is outraged by the court’s decision.

Attending the protest in Dublin, Ms Coppinger said: “He pleaded guilty to the most brutal assault on a young woman, beaten into unconsciousness with years long impact on her life, her job, her mental health, and was given a suspended sentence.

“His career was placed above the impact on her of the violence and that just says it all about the misogynistic rulings that we’re seeing in courts, to be honest, every day of the week, this is not unusual.

“We actually have to get that out there. These type of cases are a daily occurrence in the court.

“One in three rape cases ends in a partial or full suspended sentence. So this is not unusual.

“People may be reacting in a shocked way and I think that this has come to light because Natasha spoke out and probably because he’s in the army as well.

“It has captured the imagination of people, but unfortunately, this is too regular an occurrence."

Laura Fitzgerald, also from the Rosa organisation which organised the protests, said: “Women’s Aid this week reported the highest number of domestic violence disclosures in one year in 2023. That’s how wide spread domestic violence is.” 

'Epidemic of gender-based violence'

Taoiseach Simon Harris was among those who praised Ms O’Brien for coming forward and speaking out after she was assaulted by Crotty.

Asked about the suspended sentence Crotty received, Mr Harris said: “I find myself precluded from being allowed to comment on the sentence of a court despite perhaps having quite a lot that I would have liked being able to say, other than let me say this – the legal process may not be concluded because it is absolutely always open to the DPP to appeal a sentence and also to appeal the leniency of a sentence.

“I need to be particularly careful in that context.

“But we are living in a country where there is still an epidemic of gender-based violence.”

In a statement on social media on Friday, the Irish Defence Forces said: “Any conviction in a civilian court may have implications for the retention and service of members of the Defence Forces, as stipulated in Defence Forces Regulations.

“Once due process has been completed in a civilian court of law, it becomes a matter for the relevant Defence Forces authorities in accordance with Defence Forces Regulations.

“We can confirm that these proceedings have commenced and as such, it would be inappropriate to comment further on this specific case.”