Suspended sentence for soldier who beat woman unconscious.

[NitroNine]

A soldier who responded to a request to stop shouting homophobic abuse at passers-by by beating the woman who made it until she lost consciousness - ceasing only when passer-by intervened - has been given a 3-year suspended sentence & €3000 payment to the victim.

The judge was utterly focused on protecting this thug’s career. He’s never been caught being violent before so why she he lose his career - in the way his victim did in the aftermath of the attack? Who better to be in the army than someone incapable of controlling their temper; unwilling to take responsibility for their actions; & dishonest (he initially told the Gardaí his victim had attacked him)?

Absolutely disgraceful.

Appalling. Can you apply for an unduly lenient sentence to be reviewed in Ireland?

I'd also like to know whether the IDF will also be dealing with him internally or if they are glossing over it too.

"He said his name had been blackened around Limerick and when asked why, he replied, 'I hit a girl - not a good look'."

Not a good 'look'? Ffs.

Judge O’Donnell said Crotty deserved "no credit" for initially trying to deflect blame on Ms O’Brien but that he "must be given credit" for pleading guilty to assaulting her, causing her harm, which carries a maximum five-year jail sentence.
He remarked that he had a "huge judgement call to make" in respect of the defendant's future.

Seriously? Pleading guilty after he'd seen the CCTV and retracted his initial cowardly lie was a no-brainer, I'd have thought.
I'm amazed the army didn't give him a dishonourable discharge pronto.

Pleading guilty after his CO told him to more like. No credit to him. He needs a dishonorable discharge asap. I hope there will be an appeal on the sentencing - radio interview with the relevant government minister implies she's expecting one.

@PeonySeasons

The victim can ask the DPP appeal the sentence - I hope she does.

To paraphrase Germaine Greer, women have no idea how much men hate them.

The patriarchy is alive, well and doesn't care about men kicking the shit out of women.

He is going to lose his job anyway. He should go to jail too.

The Irish Army is dismissing him, showing more concern for justice and for Natasha O’Brien than the judge did:

“The Defence Forces commend the bravery of the victim in this case, and hope for her full recovery from the injuries sustained.
“The Defence Forces unequivocally condemn any actions by serving personnel that are contrary to or do not reflect our values. .. ....'

Nothing mitigates what he did, and how he behaved afterwards. The judge's concern about his job in the army is not only disgusting, but misplaced as the army don't want him anyway.

It is a total disgrace but shows the level of misogyny still alive and well in Ireland.

That judge is retiring in a few weeks which is a good thing but the fact he cared more about a thugs career and ignoring the fact the victim lost her job is a disgrace.

He was always going to lose his job, the army cannot have someone so now well known anyway for violence working for them but it does seem like he got a slap on the wrist and that is it. I cannot seem him being dishonourably discharged just discharged as his own boss gave a personal witness statement on his behalf in court which was just as disgusting.

Jesus Christ. Absolutely disgusting.

There's a long running thread in Craicnet about light sentencing in Ireland. I have commented there that somehow this one has pushed me to my limit. So much so that I have written an email to the DPP, Helen McEntee, and the Defence Forces (this last one primarily to say how repulsive I find it that his CO got up in court and said what a "lovely lad" Cathal Crotty is).
I doubt it will do anything, but really felt I had to say my piece.

That is appalling, and quite possibly this woman could have ended up dead if he were not interrupted.

@TaTuirseOrm a very apt username.

I came on today to see if anything had been posted about this -farce- court case. I will also email these people you mentioned. I wish there was more we could do.

it sounds like an terrifying violent attack.
I hope the judge is investigated, why are men's careers always so much more important that women's suffering.

(let's be grateful he doesn't play rugby for the army😏)

💐TaTuirseOrm speaking up is important even if it feels futile

Disgraceful, I hope there is a successful appeal and he does time in jail.

“Hours afterwards, he boasted about the attack to friends on Snapchat.”

Shows he had absolutely no remorse. Why didn’t he get a proper punishment? He’s a solider yes. Or at least was one. He should be held to the standards that are there.

That was quite a horrific read. @TaTuirseOrm I do not blame you for writing the emails. It is truly appalling and people need to speak up.

I do hope the victim appeals too.

@TaTuirseOrm have you a link to that thread? I cannot find it.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/craicnet/4494652-light-sentencing-in-ireland-re-crime

Here you go @Psychoticbreak

@TaTuirseOrm
Apt username is apt. I hope your emails bring some… satisfaction isn’t the right word exactly?

You’d hope the army might have dropped some hint they’d be booting him - I understand them hanging onto him until the trial ran its course, but… (I’m unconvinced by their statement in the article in terms of it having actual consequences for him, especially as his CO supported him at trial; but I’d be delighted to be proven wrong!)

I would say it is a case of having to wait till he was proven guilty first but his commandent should be bloody dismissed too for giving a character witness statement.

But he plead guilty so there was nothing to prove.

It's not unreasonable for his commanding officer to be a character witness but in the light of the admitted vile crime and the despicable lying and running away it's surprising it was so positive.

The misogyny of the soldier. The misogyny of the judge. Awful

Same old,same old.

I know a woman whose ex-husband got away with this thirty odd years' ago because 'he REALLY wanted to join the navy'.

DH has, in the past, gone to court to "defend" soldiers in similar cases. Not as bad though... more like drunk and disorderly, fights etc... Stupidity crimes

The army logic for minor crimes... they hope to keep them from reoffending, to give them positive focus. Plus, they've invested a lot in the training. Because unfortunately, once you've been in prison you ate likely to go on to commit more crime.

I'm so shocked by this yet as the old adage goes, not surprised. How that judge can apply the law in this way, it's unacceptable. Crotty, who only pled guilty after being shown CCTV is somehow to be praised for this and serve no custodial sentence? What justice is that. Once again men are more important and women should be kind, we don't want a poor man to lose his career after all.