Cathal Crotty, a former soldier, has been sentenced to two years in prison for assaulting Natasha O'Brien after she asked him to stop using homophobic slurs. The Court of Appeal overturned his previous suspended sentence, ruling it was unduly lenient. Crotty will also pay €3,000 in compensation to Ms. O'Brien.
The Court of Appeal has overturned the fully suspended sentence handed down to former soldier Cathal Crotty and jailed him for two years for beating Natasha O'Brien unconscious on a public street after she asked him to stop shouting homophobic abuse. The three-judge court imposed the sentence after an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who argued that the fully suspended three-year sentence imposed by the Circuit Court last year was unduly lenient.
Lily Buckley BL, for the DPP, argued that the failure to impose a custodial sentence on Crotty (22) sent the wrong message regarding society's disapproval of such offending. The court agreed and imposed a sentence of three years in prison with the final 12 months suspended for one year. Crotty will also pay €3,000 in compensation to Ms O'Brien. Crotty has been taken into custody to begin his sentence. Crotty pleaded guilty in July last year at Limerick Circuit Court to assault causing harm. The case prompted a public and political outcry when it emerged that Crotty had assaulted Ms O'Brien (25) on a Limerick street on May 29, 2022 after she heard him call someone a 'faggot' and asked him to stop shouting homophobic abuse. He then verbally abused Ms O'Brien using the same word before carrying out the assault. Crotty initially lied to Gardaí, telling them he had been attacked first, but changed his story when confronted with CCTV. Hours after the attack Crotty, who was a serving member of the Defence Forces at the time, boasted on Snapchat: “Two to put her down, two to put her out,” in reference to striking Ms O’Brien. He was discharged from the army in July. Crotty, from Ardnacrusha, Co Limerick, was aged 20 at the time of the assault. In June 2023, Judge O’Donnell, sitting at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, imposed a suspended three-year term on Crotty and ordered him to pay €3,000 compensation to Ms O'Brien. Prior to resentencing, Ms Buckley told the court that the victim still suffers with post traumatic stress disorder and is attending therapy. She is not currently working and experiences highs and lows but is engaging with treatment. Brian McInerney SC, for Crotty, asked the court to take into account the 'enormous amount of media attention' that the case has attracted. Crotty has been discharged from the army as a result of the offence and he has been expelled from a prominent golf club in Limerick. He is working at a warehouse earning a 'modest pay', counsel said, and recently received a letter which, when viewed by gardai, prompted them to say they would prioritise any calls from his address.
HOMOPHOBIC ABUSE ASSAULT SENTENCE COURT OF APPEAL IRELAND
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Soldier Jailed for 8.5 Years for Raping Fellow Soldier in Dublin HotelKielan Mooney, a 30-year-old soldier from Derry, was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison for the rape of a fellow soldier at a Dublin hotel in 2021. The judge described Mooney's actions as 'selfish, arrogant, and forceful,' highlighting his disregard for the victim's wishes. Earlier testimonials portraying Mooney as a devoted father were deemed 'a gross overstatement' and 'a false prospectus' by the judge after two women came forward to refute the claims.
Read more »
Former Soldier Denies Sexual Assault Charges in Limerick CourtA woman testified in Limerick Circuit Criminal Court that a former soldier sexually assaulted her multiple times when she was a child. The accused denies five counts of indecent assault against two young girls, alleged to have occurred between 1984 and 1989. The trial continues with the second alleged victim expected to give evidence.
Read more »
Lowry Corruption Case File Sent to DPP After 14 YearsThe Director of Public Prosecutions has received a file from the Garda relating to the findings of the Moriarty tribunal, which investigated payments to politicians including former Fine Gael minister Michael Lowry. The file, assembled by the Criminal Assets Bureau, comes almost 14 years after the tribunal concluded that Lowry had secured a mobile phone licence for Denis O'Brien's company, Esat Digifone, and received payments from O'Brien. The Moriarty tribunal's findings remain disputed by Lowry and O'Brien.
Read more »
DPP Seeks to Overturn Suspended Sentence in Homophobic Assault CaseThe Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is challenging a suspended sentence given to soldier Cathal Crotty, who beat Natasha O'Brien unconscious after she asked him to stop using homophobic slurs. The DPP argues that a prison sentence is necessary to deter future crimes like this.
Read more »
Appeal against ex-soldier Cathal Crotty’s sentence, Donegal murder trial and MV Mathew drugs seizure among cases due before courts in 2025Former soldier Lisa Smith will also appeal against her conviction for membership of terrorist group Islamic State
Read more »
Triumph for Joseph O'Brien and Paul Townend as Banbridge wins King GeorgeThe latest sports news from The42.ie in 60 seconds
Read more »