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The Defence Force has begun the process of dismissing soldier Cathal Crotty, who was given a suspended sentence for carrying out a vicious attack on a woman and bragging about it online.
Crotty, 22, from County Clare, was given a three-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to assault at Limerick Crown Court on Friday. He was also ordered to pay €3,000 compensation to victim Natasha O’Brien, who was knocked unconscious during the attack on May 29, 2022.
Judge Tom O’Donnell described Crotty’s actions as “extremely appalling”.
Judge O’Donnell told Limerick Crown Court: “He (Crotty) took pride in assaulting a defenceless woman and this was a cowardly, vicious, unprovoked and completely unnecessary attack.”
Micheál Martin, Ireland’s deputy prime minister and defence minister, described the attack as a “shocking attack” that was “violent and vicious”.
“I want to unequivocally condemn the appalling attack on Natasha O’Brien. This was a violent and vicious attack, without provocation,” Martin told reporters in Cork. “I want to commend Natasha O’Brien for the bravery, courage and dignity she showed in the face of such an attack and for the actions she took.”
“I realise that the judicial process may not be complete. I cannot comment further as this may prejudice further deliberations at that level.”
In a statement, the Defence Force praised Natasha O’Brien’s bravery and wished her a speedy recovery.
“The Defence Force firmly condemns any behaviour by service members that is contrary to or does not reflect our values,” the force said in a statement.
The statement confirmed that the case is currently being handled by the Defence Forces authorities.
“Any conviction in a civilian court may have an impact on the retention and service of a member of the Defence Forces under the Defence Forces Regulations.
“Once due process has been completed in the civilian court, the matter becomes a matter for the relevant authorities of the Defence Forces as per the Defence Forces Regulations.
“We can confirm that these proceedings have commenced and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further on this specific case.”
The Wall Street Journal reported The process of removing Crotty from the Defence Force has begun and will involve the army’s internal courts and the military justice system.
As O’Brien and her friends were walking home from the bar, Crotty grabbed O’Brien by the hair and knocked her to the ground.
The court heard Crotty, who did not know O’Brien, grabbed her hair with one hand and punched her in the face with the other until she lost consciousness.
Crotty initially claimed O’Brien provoked him and hit him in the face, but later admitted that the claim was “completely false.”
If Crotty commits another offence within the next three years, he will be sentenced to the full three years in prison.
O’Brien told the court she had been dealing with concussion symptoms in the months following the attack and said she was considered at “high” risk of a brain bleed.
She said she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and often worries she will die from her injuries.
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