Where and when will the protests against Cathal Crotty’s suspended sentence take place?

Protests are planned in Limerick, Cork, Galway and Dublin against what organisers describe as a “misogynistic justice system”.

Cathal Crotty, 22, received a three-year suspended prison sentence and had to pay Natasha O’Brien a fine of €3,000 after he attacked her for no reason two years ago.

The Irish Defence Force soldier punched Ms O’Brien in the face several times and later boasted about it to his friends on social media, saying it took him two punches to “knock Ms O’Brien down” and two to “black her out”.

Women’s rights group ROSA has organised a series of protests to take place across the country on Saturday (22 June) to protest against Cathal Crotty’s suspended sentence.

The protest in Cork will take place at 12pm on the Grand Parade, while the protest in Dublin will take place at 1pm on the Spire. In Galway, protesters will gather at Eyre Square at 2pm, while the protest in Limerick will take place at 3pm on Bedford Row.

Ruth Coppinger, a spokeswoman for the organisation, praised Ms O’Brien’s “courageous decision” to stand up to Mr Crotty.

“They should at least get justice,” she said. “Soldiers Cathal Crotty beat a young woman unconscious shortly after verbally abusing passers-by in a homophobic attack.”

“There is surveillance footage of his attack. He was still allowed to walk around freely. And not only that, his army superior gave him a glowing report.”

Ms Coppinger said: “The consequences are horrific but not surprising.”

“Our justice system sides with perpetrators of violence every day, giving more weight to the lives and feelings of violent men than to those of their victims,” she concluded.

Judge Tom O’Donnell praised Crotty’s guilty plea to the attack on Ms O’Brien and said he had to “take into account” that the soldier had no previous convictions.

“In fairness, it must be said that he appeared in court and publicly admitted his wrongdoing and that he publicly acknowledged his crime,” the judge said.

The attacker was given a three-year prison sentence, suspended in its entirety, and Crotty was also ordered to pay Ms O’Brien €3,000.