The Defence Forces have begun action against Cathal Crotty, a soldier who was recently given a suspended prison sentence for a brutal, unprovoked assault on a woman which left her unconscious. Crotty, stationed at Sarsfield barracks in Limerick, is immediately facing disciplinary actions under military rules which stipulate the conditions for discharging a serving military member based on a conviction by a non-military court.
The Defence Forces confirmed in a statement released on Friday that the process had begun. They also noted that a conviction in a non-military court carries potential consequences for the continued service and retention of Defence Forces members, as per Defence Forces regulations. The situation becomes a matter for the appropriate Defence Forces authorities to handle once due process in a civilian court is concluded.
It is expected that a senior Army general will make the ultimate decision about Crotty’s military future. Micheál Martin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, confirmed the start of the process, whilst withholding further comments to avoid influencing the Defence Forces’ ongoing operations.
The victim, Natasha O’Brien, recounted to Limerick Circuit Criminal Court her genuine fear for her survival during the assault by Crotty, in which he continued to pummel her even after she had fallen to the ground. Following the loss of her job due to the attack, she expressed her discontentment that Crotty was still serving in the Defence Forces even after his conviction.
The military does not proceed with actions against serving members charged in civilian courts, as it may compromise their defence. The Defence Forces’ action against Crotty comes with the conclusion of his criminal trial, in which Judge Tom O’Donnell suspended his three-year sentence due to the fact that immediate imprisonment would terminate his Army service.
Crotty tried to pin the blame on Ms O’Brien for inciting the incident and boasted about the attack on social media. However, he confessed his guilt after being shown CCTV footage of the attack. The Defence Forces praised the courage displayed by the victim, and expressed their hope for her full recovery from her sustained injuries.
“The Armed Forces outrightly disapprove of the conduct of any active members which goes against or does not epitomise our principles,” is the stance of the organisation. Holly Cairns, who heads the Social Democrats, has voiced her disapproval over the mildness of the provisional sentence, affirming that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) should reassess the judgement.
The irony of the situation, according to Ms Cairns, is that whilst the judge considered how a sentence of imprisonment would affect the guilty party’s military career, the real victim was forced to forfeit her job due to the trauma caused by the assault. Ms Cairns drew attention to the constant threat of male violence towards women in Ireland and posited that the judgement sets a concerning precedent.
She insists on serious repercussions for men who inflict harm on women, therefore fully endorsing the demand for the DPP to re-examine the judgement with the intention of protesting its mildness.