A 25-year-old woman who was seriously assaulted by a then serving member of the Defence Forces in 2022 has said she felt seen, heard and acknowledged following today's ruling by the Court of Appeal.
Last year 22-year-old Cathal Crotty from Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, was given a three-year wholly suspended sentence for beating Ms O'Brien unconscious in a random attack on O'Connell Street in Limerick in May 2022.
Speaking outside court today, accompanied by her mother Anne, Ms O'Brien said she was in shock. She said for the first time in an Irish court she felt seen and heard and acknowledged and it was a total contrast to how she had felt leaving Limerick courthouse last year.
Ms O'Brien said the court had sent a message loud and clear that violence would no longer be tolerated against any woman or man in this country.
She said the previous sentence had not been a deterrent, but today a new precedent had been set. She said she felt she could now put the attack behind her. She said it was closed and she could move on.
Ms O’Brien said it did not feel good to see a young man put away. But she said she thought it was necessary. She said the judges had seen the total leniency and the error in the previous judge’s sentencing.
Judge's comments 'profoundly validating'
She described the comments of Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy as "profoundly validating" for a victim who had felt totally ignored for two-and-a-half years.
She said she hoped the court’s decision could be a true lesson and that the language used and the comments made could be a turning point.
Ms O’Brien said that every person deserves to walk the streets and feel safe or be at home and feel safe and if they were put in harm’s way and met with violence, they deserved to know that violence would be dealt with efficiently.
Ms O'Brien also thanked the organisation Victim Support at Court for their help and support and she thanked investigating garda Brian Carroll.
