Soldier Cathal Crotty set to be dismissed from Defence Forces next week

Last week, Mr Crotty (22) was given a three year suspended sentence after he assaulted Natasha O’Brien in Limerick in 2022.

Ms O’Brien was on her way home from work when she heard Mr Crotty shouting homophobic slurs at a passer-by and asked him to stop.

Mr Crotty responded by assaulting Ms O’Brien and the young woman suffered serious injuries as a result.

In the hours after the attack, Mr Crotty took to social media to boast about the attack.

“Two to put her down, two to put her out,” Mr Crotty wrote online.

In the weeks after, Ms O’Brien and her friend scoured social media platforms to find the identity of the man who assaulted her and came across Mr Crotty and the information was passed to An Garda Síochána.

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There has been widespread condemnation of the sentence handed down by Judge Tom O’Donnell, who also ordered Mr Crotty to pay Ms O’Brien €3,000 in compensation.

Thousands have taken to the streets in protest, calling for reform in sentencing, while the Dáil this week gave Ms O’Brien a standing ovation and acknowledged the work she had done in speaking out after the attack.

In handing down his sentence, Justice O’Donnell noted the impact a custodial sentence could have on Mr Crotty’s career in the Defence Forces.

However, last week Mr Crotty was informed that he will be discharged from the army as a result of the assault and this could happen early next week, according to The Irish Times.

When Mr Crotty was informed of the decision to discharge him, the soldier was given the opportunity to make representations against his dismissal and appeal the decision.

While his dismissal is expected to happen next week, this could be delayed if Mr Crotty seeks a judicial review, though this has not happened yet.

Separately, a request to the Court of Appeal to review a sentence on grounds of undue leniency can be made by the Director of Public Prosecutions within 28 days of the sentence being imposed.

Speaking today, Taoiseach Simon Harris confirmed he had received the full details of how many Defence Forces personnel have civilian criminal convictions.

It comes after he complained in the Dáil on Tuesday that it was “utterly unacceptable” that he could not stand up and answer a question as to how many people with domestic abuse and violent crime convictions remained serving.

“I have nothing but respect and indeed pride in the thousands of men and women who serve in Óglaigh na hÉireann and who do so with distinction on a daily basis at home and abroad,” Mr Harris told reporters in Brussels.

“I think the best thing I can do for them is make sure these matters are not allowed lie — that it’s just not accepted and that it’s called out.

“Remember, it’s only about a year since a judge-led independent review into our Defence Forces uncovered really horrific situations. The chief of staff referred to the findings as stark.

“We then had a situation where the Government decided to establish a tribunal of investigation.

“I am the Taoiseach of this country. And zero tolerance is not a political slogan. Zero tolerance is the cultural change that must become embedded in every part of our society, including the Defence Forces.

“I will speak up and speak out for the women of this country who have been failed, badly failed, over a significant period of time.

“My colleague, Minister Carroll MacNeil has met with women in the Defence Forces. The Tánaiste is leading an important program of reform and I commend and support the work that he is doing.

“But we are not where we need to be in relation to zero tolerance. And people in every aspect of our society need to know zero tolerance isn’t just something they talk about in the Dáil. It’s something you have a responsibility to implement in your workplace as well.

“And I’ll await the full report in detail from the Tánaiste who is due to meet with the Chief of Staff, but I do remain this afternoon very concerned.

“There is no place in my view for people who have convictions in our Defence Forces, particularly convictions in relation to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

He added: “And I also think there’s serious consideration together we need to give an accept this may require a change on our end — if there are serious allegations made against somebody, what happens to them in the period of time before that allegation goes to court? How can they possibly be allowed to continue to serve and is there a need to change regulations in that space? There may be.

“There’s a serious issue here. And as Taoiseach I remain concerned this afternoon.

“We’re going to get to the bottom of this, and we’re going to get it right.”