Editorial: Suspended sentence for soldier Cathal Crotty in Natasha O’Brien assault case must be reviewed

The distinguished Mrs O’Brien (24), who correctly recognised the public outrage over the case, pointed out that the sentence is unlikely to be lenient compared to previous court decisions.

If this is the case, new laws are urgently needed, including mandatory prison sentences for gender-based violence crimes.

However, in the first instance, it is for the DPP to examine the facts and the sentence imposed by Judge Tom O’Donnell in the Limerick District Court.

The reported facts are disturbing: Crotty (22) and a group of friends shouted “homophobic insults” at people.

Ms O’Brien said: “They were very aggressive. It was like they were looking for trouble. We had this bad feeling in our gut. My friend and I tried to politely say, ‘Oh guys, come on, stop it’.”

Crotty, who was drunk and off duty, grabbed her by the hair and slammed her to the ground, where she was knocked unconscious. Hours after the attack, he bragged about the incident on social media, saying: “Two to knock her down, two to knock her unconscious.”

The court first heard from Crotty, who falsely claimed that Ms O’Brien had instigated the attack.

He received a three-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to the unprovoked attack on O’Connell Street in Limerick in May 2022.

In a sign of growing outrage, hundreds of people across the country took part in protests yesterday.

During the hearing, a force commander testified that Crotty was a “professional” and “disciplined” soldier. He said he was “extremely disappointed and surprised” and described the attack as “not at all typical of him.”

The commander said he was obliged to investigate criminal cases involving Irish soldiers and to report to his superiors on matters that could affect a soldier’s future in the armed forces. The armed forces have confirmed that disciplinary proceedings are currently underway against Crotty.

As a sign of growing outrage over the outcome of the trial, thousands of people across the country took part in protests yesterday.

The facts of the case raise several questions, including whether the armed forces should issue a certificate of good conduct to a person who has pleaded guilty to such an offence, regardless of the right to a fair trial.

Following the massive outrage over the murder of Offaly teacher Ashling Murphy in 2022, pledges were made that there would be a zero-tolerance policy on gender-based assault.

The Crown Prosecutor is likely to be reviewing the sentence imposed in this case, so it must be borne in mind that the legal process may not yet be complete. The Oireachtas must therefore await due process, but MPs and Senators must act immediately should new legislation be required to prosecute assaults such as that suffered by Ms O’Brien.

She spoke of her regular panic attacks and her fear of meeting Crotty again after the attack, which was so great that she had to quit her job working late into the night in a bar.

Ms O’Brien’s courage and commitment since sentencing have been extremely impressive and it follows that the growing campaign surrounding her high-profile case must be heard, heeded and acted upon.