Government to redraw Defence Forces regulations in wake of Cathal Crotty’s assault on Natasha O’Brien

It could ultimately see liaison officers attending court in civilian clothes as garda witnesses frequently do.

The disciplinary rules are likely to be tightened up, with a fast-tracking of sanctions in the event of conviction.

Appeals against conviction are delaying expulsion from the ranks, while the system of awaiting certificates from the courts is also thought to be dysfunctional.

It is understood there is anger that a report, which was expected to be presented by the Defence Forces to the Government last night, detailing how many serving military personnel have convictions, and how many have convictions for gender-based violence, had not arrived by close of business yesterday.

Chief of staff Lieutenant General Seán Clancy is compiling the report.

Efforts are under way to determine the potential scale of the issue within the Defence Forces following the fallout of Private Cathal Crotty avoiding a prison term for a violent assault on Natasha O’Brien.

The absence of a prison term means he can continue to serve in the military, although the Defence Forces have initiated proceedings against him.

The matter is being treated with “urgency” at the highest levels of government amid the public outcry at the suspended sentence given to Crotty.

The Defence Forces said it “unequivocally condemns any actions by serving personnel that are contrary to military regulations or that do not reflect our values”. However, it did not address specific questions when asked how many serving members have such convictions.

Taoiseach Simon Harris warned the Defence Forces yesterday there should be no place in the military for personnel with criminal convictions.

Mr Harris issued the stark message to commanders after making it clear he was not satisfied with how they had handled the fallout from the case of Crotty, who walked free last week after getting a suspended sentence for attacking Ms O’Brien in Limerick in 2022.

The Taoiseach demanded to know if there are other members of the military who are “hiding with convictions” for domestic, sexual or gender-based violence.

His comments came on a day when TDs in the Dáil rose to their feet to applaud assault victim Ms O’Brien (24), whose case has sparked protests around the country.

Ms O’Brien was in the public gallery of the Dáil yesterday as Mr Harris fielded opposition questions on the controversy over the suspended sentence.

Mr Harris said he wanted to meet Ms O’Brien.

Standing ovation in Dáil for Natasha O’Brien

“We need more people to be coming forward, we need to have a zero-tolerance approach, and what we certainly don’t need is anybody being put off coming forward,” he said.

He also expressed anger at a “flurry of activity” by the Defence Forces now, questioning whether it was prompted by the public interest in the case.

“It’s a harsh thing for me to have to say as Taoiseach but I feel I need to say it, would the Defence Forces be carrying out their review that they’re now carrying out was there not so much public interest in this?” he said.

“There are people in the Defence Forces who clearly knew this was happening, why did they do nothing? These are very serious questions and as Taoiseach, I am not satisfied in relation to this, I am not satisfied at all.”

A government spokesman said work on Defence Forces regulations “is being done,” and it “will be discussed” within the Government.

Hundreds attended a demonstration outside Leinster House yesterday evening as Ms O’Brien told political leaders and the Defence Forces to “do your jobs” and address the issues around gender-based crimes. Ms O’Brien said: “If I can achieve anything with what I am doing right now, it is to make it easier for the next person that something heinous and violent might happen to.”