‘Serious concern’ with soldier assault case – Women’s Aid

The CEO of Women’s Aid has said that a verdict which saw a soldier avoiding a jail term after beating a woman unconscious, calls into question Ireland’s national strategy of zero tolerance of violence against women.

Cathal Crotty, 22, of Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, who beat a woman unconscious in a random street attack, and boasted about it on social media, walked free from court after being given a fully suspended sentence which the victim described as “not justice”.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime, Sarah Benson said: “When you have a situation where the record is clear in showing that somebody can walk down a public thoroughfare, and publicly yell homophobic slurs, and then proceed to beat a woman unconscious … and yet is referred to as exemplary, as polite, as courteous and as professional – I just don’t think that one can square that circle when it’s a matter of record that individual perpetrated these acts.”

Ireland needs to “take seriously” its commitment to women, Ms Benson said, adding that she had hoped we as country “were in a better place” than where this case suggests.

“To plead guilty but having also done some insidious initial actions such as gloating about the behaviour … on social media, to blame the victim for what has happened, these are tropes that are core to the structural and systemic issues, and misogyny that we have to work to overcome.

“I would have hoped we were in a better place than this case is suggesting.”

Ms Benson said that it is of “serious concern” that someone can commit an act of violence against a woman “in full public view”.

“I think any act of violence against women, whether it is somebody who is close, or even in an intimate relationship with somebody or somebody who is willing to perpetrate such an act, in full public view, should be of serious concern.”

Ms Benson reiterated that the State needs to reassess its commitments to women in light of today’s verdict.

“We have to really take seriously our commitments.

“This person is a serving soldier, and we have to look at the impact of this person’s actions.”