Limerick soldier attack victim speaks out - 'I felt so defeated'

The woman who yesterday saw her attacker walk free from court after he pleaded guilty to beating her unconscious on the street has said she was “completely horrified” by the sentence – but not surprised. On Lunchtime Live this afternoon Natasha O’Brien said she had spent the weeks leading up to the hearing preparing herself for a soft sentence. She said victims of violent crime in Ireland see their attackers walk free far too often, adding, “It's the system of justice we are the true victims of”. The 24-year-old said she came to court hoping to prove that there are repercussions for intentionally harming others – but warned that the “exact opposite message” has now been sent out. Yesterday, 22-year-old soldier Cathal Crotty of Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha, County Clare walked free from court after he was handed a three-year suspended sentence for the attack on Ms O’Brien. Ms O'Brien suffered a broken nose, bruising, nightmares and panic attacks after the unprovoked attack. Hours after the attack, Mr Crotty boasted about what he had done, writing to friends on Snapchat, "Two to put her down, two to put her out." Delivering the sentence, Judge Tom O'Donnell said Crotty's actions were "utterly appalling" but said he was not imposing an immediate jail sentence because he had 'no doubt' it would end his army career. “I just remember walking out of that courtroom and I had so many emotions pumping through my body,” Ms O’Brien told Lunchtime Live. “I was just completely horrified and appalled. “I couldn't believe the reason for the sentence that was given by Judge O’Donnell. “That it was so important that this young, promising male did not lose his career in the Irish Defence Forces. “In my victim impact statement, I had expressed very, very clearly that my mental health declined so badly [after the attack], that I couldn’t complete basic tasks, let alone show up to work.” Ms O’Brien said she had to restrain herself in court as the sentence was announced. “I really, really had to bite my tongue because I was telling myself, ‘I'm in court’,” she said. “It was my first ever time appearing in court and I was telling myself, ‘Don’t try and shout at the judge or don't try and do something. “I walked out of that courthouse and I felt so, so ignored and so defeated, but the most heartbreaking part is that I wasn't actually surprised." ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 📱 Have you downloaded the Newstalk app? - Find the app in the Google Play store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thisisaim.newstalk&hl=en_IE&gl=US - Find the app via Apple: https://apps.apple.com/ie/app/newstalk-106-108-fm/id372643826 #️⃣ SUBSCRIBE to the Newstalk social channels: - YOUTUBE | youtube.com/@Newstalkfm - TWITTER | twitter.com/newstalkfm - INSTAGRAM | instagram.com/newstalkfm/ - FACEBOOK | facebook.com/newstalkfm - WEBSITE | https://www.newstalk.com/ 🎧 PODCAST - listen at your leisure: newstalk.com/podcasts - iTunes: search for Newstalk in your app! - Spotify: search for Newstalk for our latest pods and news - Or wherever you get your podcasts! 📱GET IN TOUCH WITH NEWSTALK - WhatsApp: get in touch on 0871400106