Natasha O’Brien, a victim of a violent assault that occurred in Limerick two years ago, voiced her belief that the distress caused by the crime committed against her was less taxing than dealing with the harrowing travails of the criminal justice system. Despite the hardship, she’s noticing early indications of reform. O’Brien, whose case has brought gender-based violence into the public sphere, vocalised this sentiment ahead of a Tuesday evening demonstration advocating for a reform of court and legal protocol in related cases.
Mr. Cathal Crotty, a 22-year-old active serviceman, assaulted Ms. O’Brien, then aged 24, in 2022. He managed to render her unconscious and later used social media to brag about the assault. Despite his guilty plea, his suspended sentence of three years has stirred up a national uproar.
Ms O’Brien criticised both the dismissive nature of the justice system, meant to provide protection, and the brutal experience of being assaulted. If given the choice, she would much prefer to endure the assault than to feel obliterated by a system intended to help victims.
On Tuesday, Ms O’Brien received enthusiastic applause from crowds of demonstrators gathered outside the Dáil chamber gates. These same activists had earlier offered her a standing ovation within the chamber. Among the complaints she raised were the insensitive handling of the case by Judge Tom O’Donnell and the inappropriate praises given to the attacker by his superior officer.
Dublin protester, Siobhán McGovern, emphasised the need for proportional punishment, asserting that in the absence of it, there’s a risk of societal collapse. She further claimed that while such cases may be intricate, the handling of Crotty’s case was particularly disappointing. Ms. McGovern believes that such incidents breed fear and discomfort among common citizens and challenge their sense of safety.
Kathyan Kelly, a professional assisting the victims of gender-discrimination violence indirectly, raised concerns over the significant number of women avoiding the report of abuse or violence due to their perception of the criminal justice system as another layer of mistreatment. Notwithstanding the unanimous political approval of Ms O’Brien’s case within the Dáil assembly, this is not a novel event that has instigated public uproar. More demonstrations are in the pipeline for the current week.
Ruth Coppinger, a People Before Profit councillor and demonstration planner, underscored the ordeal of a woman involved in a legal chase after her assailant, only to have the hollow consolation at the end – ‘Lucky, he admitted his guilt voluntarily.’ “This appears to be the norm for women subjected to harsh violence in this country,” she expressed.
Ivanna Youtchak, the co-ordinator of the National Women’s Council’s programme against women’s violence, referred to a report from her institution depicting the courts as detrimental and even torturous for the surviving women. The legal proceedings add to their existing trauma and negatively affect the victims’ mental health. Confirming the need for addressing the violence experienced by women on streets and households, she also emphasised the importance of improving the treatment of survivors within the justice system. “We’ve been in this place before,” she mentioned.