#Natasha O’Brien

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#Natasha O’Brien

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Paula Doyle speaking at the press conference on Tuesday at Buswells Hotel in Dublin as she and other survivors of gender-based and sexual violence called for reform of Ireland's 'barbaric legal system'. Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins </p>

news

Gender-based violence survivors call for reform of Ireland's 'barbaric' legal system

Issues raised by four survivors include the sharing of rape survivors' counselling records as evidence during trials

<p>Cathal Crotty initially lied to gardaí, telling them he had been attacked first, but changed his story when confronted with CCTV. Picture: Collins Courts</p>

court and crime

Cathal Crotty jailed after Court of Appeal overturns suspended sentence for attack on Natasha O'Brien

<p>The life sentence imposed on a man who inflicted '25 years of hell' on his wife marks a significant moment. Picture: iStock</p>

ourview

Irish Examiner view: Ireland may be waking up to the incalculable harm of gender-based violence

'I want to tear it all down', Natasha O'Brien tells national meeting about gender-based violence

news

'I want to tear it all down', Natasha O'Brien tells national meeting about gender-based violence

Defence Forces only sought power to suspend members facing criminal trial two weeks ago

politics

Defence Forces only sought power to suspend members facing criminal trial two weeks ago

Cathal Crotty to be discharged from Defence Forces on Thursday

news

Cathal Crotty to be discharged from Defence Forces on Thursday

'This is just the bare minimum': Natasha O'Brien reacts as Cathal Crotty discharged from Defence Forces

'This is just the bare minimum': Natasha O'Brien reacts as Cathal Crotty discharged from Defence Forces

“It is important because it is setting a new precedent that this will not be tolerated in the Defence Forces," said Natasha O’Brien. “But lots of things in society need to change, and this is just the basic bare minimum.”

Tue, 09 Jul, 2024

Cathal Crotty to be discharged from defence forces this week

Cathal Crotty to be discharged from defence forces this week

Crotty's dismissal comes after he was found guilty of beating Natasha O'Brien unconscious in a 'vicious' street attack

Mon, 08 Jul, 2024

Gardaí investigating threats to Cathal Crotty following assault conviction

Gardaí investigating threats to Cathal Crotty following assault conviction

Gardaí are investigating a letter sent to the father of Natasha O'Brien's assailant, threatening to harm his son if he does not leave the area within a specified timeframe

Sun, 07 Jul, 2024

Simon Harris TD Taoiseach

Taoiseach: whole-of-society approach needed to combat domestic and sexual violence

'Zero tolerance should mean zero tolerance. That stretches to the barstools, the Whatsapp groups, the workplace, the football clubs and the newspaper columns,' said Simon Harris

Wed, 03 Jul, 2024

DPP lodges appeal against soldier Cathal Crotty's suspended sentence

DPP lodges appeal against soldier Cathal Crotty's suspended sentence

Crotty who beat a woman unconscious in a random street attack, and boasted about it afterwards on social media, walked free from a court after getting a fully suspended sentence

Mon, 01 Jul, 2024

Gareth O'Callaghan: Any man who sets out to attack a woman belongs in a cell

S Gareth O'Callaghan: Any man who sets out to attack a woman belongs in a cell

Until we start to see these Neanderthal savages for what they are, then we can never say with hand on heart that we respect women.

Sun, 30 Jun, 2024

Anyone in Defence Forces accused of rape or sexual assault must be put on leave, says Tánaiste

Anyone in Defence Forces accused of rape or sexual assault must be put on leave, says Tánaiste

Those serving in the Defence Forces must be held to a higher standard because they are part of a force that is meant to protect society, said Mr Martin

Fri, 28 Jun, 2024

Women of Honour group

Women of Honour call for changes to Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry

They want the remit of the tribunal — formally launched last Monday — to include crimes perpetrated by Defence Forces personnel

Fri, 28 Jun, 2024

'Unprecedented' meeting to discuss how Defence Forces handles offenders

'Unprecedented' meeting to discuss how Defence Forces handles offenders

Lieutenant General Clancy is expected to admonish his junior officers for not telling him about serving soldiers with convictions or facing charges

Fri, 28 Jun, 2024

RTE Gaelic Games Commentator Micheal O Muircheartaigh commentates on his last All-Ireland Senior Championship Final

Letters to the Editor: Poem sums up life of Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh

Tributes are paid to the legendary broadcaster, while other readers say the reasons Natasha O'Brien had to speak out must be addressed

Fri, 28 Jun, 2024

Jennifer Horgan: Ireland needs more caretakers like Natasha O’Brien and Cara Darmody

S Jennifer Horgan: Ireland needs more caretakers like Natasha O’Brien and Cara Darmody

People like Cara Darmody and Natasha O’Brien show us just how brilliant our little county can be

Fri, 28 Jun, 2024

Two violent assaults on women, a slap on the wrist for the soldiers — 100 years apart

Two violent assaults on women, a slap on the wrist for the soldiers — 100 years apart

It remains the case that the careers of violent men are seen as in need of more protection than seeing justice being served for the female victims of that violence, writes Dr Mary McAuliffe

Thu, 27 Jun, 2024

Julian Assange released from prison

Letters to the editor: Is Ireland’s neutrality really just an illusion?

Seán O’Riordan, in his excellent appraisal of Ireland’s at-risk neutrality, mentions that “the British media has been hard at work” in chastising Ireland as a “freeloader”.

Thu, 27 Jun, 2024

Majority rate independence of Irish courts and judges positively

Majority rate independence of Irish courts and judges positively

Europe-wide survey comes after judge caused controversy by handing down suspended sentence to soldier convicted of beating Limerick woman Natasha O'Brien unconscious

Wed, 26 Jun, 2024

Courts must 'be a place of humanity', Natasha O'Brien tells Limerick protest

Courts must 'be a place of humanity', Natasha O'Brien tells Limerick protest

The assault victim said she was traumatised by the manner in which Limerick Circuit Court judge Tom O’Donnell last week imposed a fully suspended three-year sentence on solider Cathal Crotty

Wed, 26 Jun, 2024

Anna O'Donoghue: Social media can strengthen voices in activism

Anna O'Donoghue: Social media can strengthen voices in activism

Social Media Editor Anna O’Donoghue looks at how the story of Natasha O’Brien sparked an online uprising

Wed, 26 Jun, 2024

Natasha O'Brien's story shows how women are trapped inside a system ‘built on misogyny’

Natasha O'Brien's story shows how women are trapped inside a system ‘built on misogyny’

Last week brought me right back to the danger of unchecked male violence. I heard the key in the door again. A lot of us did

Wed, 26 Jun, 2024

Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh 1930 - 2024

The Irish Examiner view: The loss of two links to our past

Sport is one of the magnificent trivialities that many of us use to mark the passing of time; the death of one of its most significant heralds is itself a watershed

Wed, 26 Jun, 2024

Letters to the Editor: Who are the judges really defending?

Letters to the Editor: Who are the judges really defending?

One reader writes into to say that 'dishing out the same old suspended sentence time after time must get boring, but it is especially important to get members of the Defence Forces back to work'

Wed, 26 Jun, 2024

Sarah Harte: Violent crimes against women are systemically minimised in our society

Sarah Harte: Violent crimes against women are systemically minimised in our society

A functioning judicial system should ask how we appropriately penalise a person who has committed a crime

Wed, 26 Jun, 2024

There's beauty behind the darkness

‘Natasha O’Brien did what I haven’t been able to. She spoke up and stood up...’

The case of Natasha O’Brien sparked a national outcry and led thousands of people to take to the streets to express their outrage. But, for a number of women, it has also reignited the trauma caused by their own experiences of male violence. Today, two women tell their stories

Wed, 26 Jun, 2024

Cathal Crotty protest

Politicians and Defence Forces told to 'do your jobs' as Crotty judge retires early

Ms O'Brien told protesters: 'I sat up in the public gallery ... and thought: 'What are you going to do, what are you going to do? I'm right here'

Tue, 25 Jun, 2024

Watch: Dáil breaks protocol to hold a moment's applause for Natasha O'Brien

Watch: Dáil breaks protocol to hold a moment's applause for Natasha O'Brien

Social Democrat leader Holly Cairns asked: 'How many more women's names will we have to learn before meaningful action is taken?'

Tue, 25 Jun, 2024

Natasha O'Brien: 'Keep coming forward because we’re only going to make an impact'

Natasha O'Brien: 'Keep coming forward because we’re only going to make an impact'

Natasha O’Brien says she 'felt completely alone after her ordeal last week in court, but is heartened by the level of support she has received

Tue, 25 Jun, 2024

Taoiseach: Natasha O'Brien case raises 'grave' questions about Defence Forces

Taoiseach: Natasha O'Brien case raises 'grave' questions about Defence Forces

Simon Harris has said there should be no hiding places within the Defence Forces for individuals convicted of either sexual or gender-based violence

Tue, 25 Jun, 2024

Louise O'Neill: The justice system is not built to protect women like Natasha O'Brien

Louise O'Neill: The justice system is not built to protect women like Natasha O'Brien

Irish courts help normalise violence against women by their repeated failure to hand down appropriate consequences for such attacks

Tue, 25 Jun, 2024

Fergus Finlay: I would like to meet Natasha O'Brien and tell her how very sorry I am

S Fergus Finlay: I would like to meet Natasha O'Brien and tell her how very sorry I am

Because of men, the absolute minimum that we have to do right now is apologise to Natasha O’Brien

Tue, 25 Jun, 2024

Cathal Crotty protest

Plans to protest at Limerick courthouse on day Crotty judge retires

Judge suspended sentences for Defence Forces members who seriously assaulted women, leaving one maimed

Mon, 24 Jun, 2024

Women of Honour group

Women of Honour say Defence Forces' handling of Crotty case 'beggars belief'

'Surely his admission of guilt should have been the moment to act, and not until there was either a sentence or an outcry'

Mon, 24 Jun, 2024

Letters to the Editor: Ireland has to stop facilitating Israel's war crimes in Gaza

Letters to the Editor: Ireland has to stop facilitating Israel's war crimes in Gaza

Readers respond to issues including conflict in the Middle East, the sentencing of a violent criminal, and funding for cancer services

Mon, 24 Jun, 2024

Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder shows support for Natasha O'Brien at Marlay Park gig

Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder shows support for Natasha O'Brien at Marlay Park gig

Eddie Vedder showed support for assault victim Natasha O'Brien on Saturday evening as Pearl Jam played Marlay Park on Saturday night. Touring the release of their Dark Matter Album in April, the Seattle band took to the stage in Dublin at around 8pm.

Sat, 22 Jun, 2024

Natasha O'Brien: 'I suffered a horrific assault by a soldier pledged to protect us'

Natasha O'Brien: 'I suffered a horrific assault by a soldier pledged to protect us'

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

Sat, 22 Jun, 2024

Ashling Murphy death

Michelle McGlynn: I am sorry to Natasha O'Brien and every woman this country continues to fail

In a few days, the wider public will move on until the inevitable next big story. In the meantime, women and girls all around this country will continue to suffer, writes Michelle McGlynn

Sat, 22 Jun, 2024

The Irish Examiner view: Attack and sentence that shocked the nation

The Irish Examiner view: Attack and sentence that shocked the nation

Disappointment is perhaps the least of the emotions which has to be applied to this case, which was heard in the same week that Women’s Aid said that it received a record 40,000 disclosures of domestic abuse

Sat, 22 Jun, 2024

Natasha O'Brien 'overwhelmed' by support ahead of protests over soldier's sentence

Natasha O'Brien 'overwhelmed' by support ahead of protests over soldier's sentence

The Defence Forces has commended the “bravery” of Natasha O’Brien, and Tánaiste Micheál Martin has confirmed an investigation has been launched to deal with Crotty

Fri, 21 Jun, 2024

Outraged Limerick assault victim feels suspended sentence sends the message that 'violence is ok'

Outraged Limerick assault victim feels suspended sentence sends the message that 'violence is ok'

There has been an outpouring of anger since Ms O’Brien spoke out about the case, with Justice Minister Helen McEntee saying there is an 'epidemic' of violence against women

Fri, 21 Jun, 2024

Watch: Natasha O'Brien speaks outside court

Watch: Natasha O'Brien speaks outside court

Natasha O'Brien speaks outside court after soldier who 'took pride' in beating woman unconscious in Limerick street avoids jail.

Fri, 21 Jun, 2024

Limerick mayor references case of soldier who beat woman at inauguration

Limerick mayor references case of soldier who beat woman at inauguration

The country's first directly-elected mayor, John Moran, vowed to work to help make his adoptive Limerick city a safer place in his speech

Fri, 21 Jun, 2024

Micheál Martin confirms Defence Forces probe into soldier who beat Limerick woman

Micheál Martin confirms Defence Forces probe into soldier who beat Limerick woman

The Tánaiste also said: 'I want to commend the bravery, the courage and the dignity of Natasha O’Brien in the face of such an assault'

Fri, 21 Jun, 2024

Soldier who 'took pride' in beating woman unconscious in Limerick street avoids jail

Soldier who 'took pride' in beating woman unconscious in Limerick street avoids jail

Hours after the attack Cathal Crotty boasted to friends on Snapchat: 'Two to put her down, two to put her out'

Thu, 20 Jun, 2024