Natasha O’Brien, who endured a brutal assault from a current soldier, Cathal Crotty, and witnessed him evade prison at a trial in Limerick, expressed her readiness to meet with Ireland’s Justice Minister, Helen McEntee, to discuss methods to combat rising violence in the country.
Crotty, a 22-year-old resident of Parkrose Heights, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, was handed a three-year suspended sentence by the Limerick Circuit Criminal Court for his attack on Ms O’Brien on May 29th, 2022, that took place on O’Connell Street.
Recently, a group of over 60 individuals congregated outside the courthouse on Washington Street, Cork, symbolising their support for the 24-year-old victim.
Ms O’Brien blamed Minister McEntee earlier in the week for the current state of affairs, arguing that if she was executing her duties correctly, Ms O’Brien wouldn’t have felt compelled to speak up.
At a human trafficking seminar in Cork, McEntee extended an invitation to Ms O’Brien to collaborate on efforts to enforce changes that would make Ireland a safer place for women.
The Cork demonstration was orchestrated by feminist group Rosa, where Ms O’Brien affirmed that comprehensive measures should be introduced to eradicate the different forms of violence prevalent in Ireland. She stated her resolve to examine the laws and sentencing procedures that allow such incidents to occur and discourage victims from seeking legal action.
Despite the chaotic week she’d experienced, Ms O’Brien confirmed her intent to propose necessary legislation to McEntee and communicate with all relevant parties. She acknowledged that while she’s the spokesperson at present, there are thousands of individuals standing by her in this mission.
Teenager Zyro McHugh stressed her participation in the rally was motivated by her outrage regarding the case details, venting her frustration at the recurrent pattern of such incidents in their country and emphasising the need for societal change.
Ireland suffers from a prevalent culture of violence based on gender. It’s pivotal to address it for what it truly is. Often, a societal stigma surrounds sexual and physical assault, causing many women to refrain from speaking up, fuelled by the fear of judgement.
Michael Murphy, a seventeen-year-old attendee along with Zyro, emphasised the necessity of tackling gender-based violence actively. He conveyed the public’s concern about the harm inflicted on individuals like Natasha O’Brien.
Mary Villiers reveres Natasha O’Brien, exclaiming her great admiration for her. Her distinct strength is indisputable, however, she shouldn’t be required to display such resilience. Villiers sees it as an utter shame. Regarding O’Brien’s impressive stance for all women who feel unsafe roaming the city streets, she has nothing but praise despite her mere age of 24.