Ex-soldier Cathal Crotty jailed over beating Natasha O'Brien unconscious as suspended sentence overturned

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.

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