Protests were organised across the country after Cathal Crotty, a serving member of the Defence Forces, walked free from court after he was given a three-year suspended sentence for attacking Natasha O’Brien
More than a thousand people have gathered in protests in Dublin and Cork in solidarity with a woman who was viciously assaulted by an Irish soldier.
Many people taking part in Saturday’s protest criticised the suspended sentence. Hundreds of people gathered at The Spire in Dublin city centre calling for an end to gender-based violence and for legal reforms in how the judicial system deals with gender-based crime. “His career was placed above the impact on her of the violence and that just says it all about the misogynistic rulings that we’re seeing in courts, to be honest, every day of the week, this is not unusual. We actually have to get that out there. These type of cases are a daily occurrence in the court. One in three rape cases ends in a partial or full suspended sentence. So this is not unusual.
Campaigner and women’s rights activist Ailbhe Smyth said: “This will not be the only time that we will be standing here or marching through the streets of Dublin on the issue of violence against women. Quite frankly this is enough. We have had enough. We will absolutely not take anymore. Taoiseach Simon Harris was among those who praised Ms O’Brien for coming forward and speaking out after she was assaulted by Crotty.
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