A woman, severely beaten by a serving Clare soldier, has described being told his guilty plea spared her suffering a trial as “insensitive and obnoxious”.
22 year old Cathal Crotty of Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha walked free from court after receiving a fully suspended sentence for beating 24 year old Natasha O’Brien unconscious in a random attack.
It happened on O’Connell Street in Limerick in May 2022.
Natasha said she left the court house feeling ignored and defeated.
The National Women’s Council says the suspended sentence handed down to the Clare soldier is “not justice”.
Violence Against Women Coordinator with the National Women’s Council, Ivanna Youtchak says it goes against the government’s zero tolerance strategy.
“A man cannot viciously attack a woman, boast about it on social media and plead guilty to the attack and walk free from court with a suspended sentence”.
The Tánaiste, meanwhile, says he condemns unequivocally what’s he’s described as a shocking attack on Natasha O’Brien.
Speaking at a press conference in Cork, Micheál Martin said “It was a violent and vicious attack, unprovoked, and I want to commend the bravery, courage and dignity of Natasha O’Brien in the face of such an assault and the manner in which she has conducted herself since”
