‘This is just the bare minimum’: Natasha O’Brien reacts as Cathal Crotty discharged from Defence Forces

He had seven days to appeal against an army decision last month to dismiss him over the 2022 attack.

That appeal process has, according to sources, concluded, and a senior officer has signed his dismissal papers.

Once Crotty has handed back his standard-issue equipment and uniform, and had his exit medical, he will be escorted off the premises at Sarsfield’s Barracks, Limerick.

He beat Ms O’Brien unconscious in a random street attack on May 29, 2022, and boasted about it afterwards on social media.

The 22-year-old, from Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, initially told gardaí that it was Ms O’Brien who instigated the attack at O’Connell St, Limerick, but admitted his guilt after gardaí showed him CCTV footage of him attacking her.

Despite his actions, he walked free from court after now-retired Judge Tom O’Donnell gave him a fully suspended sentence.

Natasha O’Brien, who went public after Crotty walked free, told the Irish Examiner: “It is extremely serious what he did to me.

“The fact that I’ve had to campaign and speak up is really not the way it should be.

“I should have got justice, victims should get their justice.

It’s not about me, I am just one person.

“For him to receive this punishment for my individual case, is just one case.

“This is what should have happened at the starting point, this is how these situations need to be managed.

“It is good that this is happening now.

“It is important because it is setting a new precedent that this will not be tolerated in the Defence Forces.

“But lots of things in society need to change, and this is just the basic bare minimum.”

The Defence Forces were unavailable to comment about Crotty’s departure.

A spokesperson stated last month: “The Defence Forces unequivocally condemn any actions by serving personnel that are contrary to or do not reflect our values.

“Any conviction in a civilian court may have implications for the retention and service of members of the Defence Forces, as stipulated in Defence Forces Regulations.

“Once due process has been completed in a civilian court of law, it becomes a matter for the relevant Defence Forces authorities in accordance with Defence Forces Regulations.”

The Defence Forces has since confirmed that 68 serving soldiers have been convicted in the last three years or are currently before the courts on a range of criminal offences.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has since lodged an appeal against the leniency of Crotty’s sentence.

Gardaí are also investigating a threatening letter sent to Crotty’s parents, warning them their son “will suffer for what he has done”.