Protesters gather in cities in solidarity with woman beaten unconscious by soldier who received suspended sentence

Protests were organised across the country after Cathal Crotty, a serving member of the Defence Forces, walked free from court after he was given a three-year suspended sentence for attacking Natasha O’Brien.

The 22-year-old, with an address at Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms O’Brien in Limerick in 2022.

Ms O’Brien has criticised the three-year suspended sentence handed down to Crotty, saying she feels let down by the judicial system.

There has also been criticism of Judge Tom O’Donnell, after he told the court earlier this week that if he imposed a custodial sentence, Crotty’s army career would be over.

Many people taking part in Saturday’s protests criticised the suspended sentence.

Hundreds of people gathered at The Spire in Dublin city centre calling for an end to gender-based violence and for legal reforms in how the judicial system deals with gender-based crime.

Men, women and children of all ages carried placards calling for an…