Ireland Natasha O'Brien on the release of her attacker Cathal Crotty
In May 2022 Cathal Crotty, a man who was then a serving member of the Defence Forces, assaulted Natasha O'Brien, a woman, on O'Connell Street in Limerick city after she asked him to stop shouting homophobic abuse. Crotty pleaded guilty. In 2024 Limerick Circuit Criminal Court imposed a fully suspended three-year sentence, which the DPP appealed as unduly lenient, and in January 2025 the Court of Appeal jailed him for two years. As of 17 July 2026 Crotty is due to be released from Limerick Prison next week after serving a year and seven months, and O'Brien said she was told of his release by the press before a story ran, not by the authorities.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Cathal Crotty pleaded guilty to assaulting Natasha O'Brien.
- Where
- The assault happened on O'Connell Street in Limerick city.
- When
- The assault happened in May 2022.
- Cause
- The attack followed O'Brien asking Crotty to stop shouting homophobic abuse.
- Investigation
- Hours after the attack, Crotty boasted on Snapchat about striking O'Brien.
- Other details
- Crotty was a serving member of the Defence Forces at the time of the attack and was discharged in July 2024.
- O'Brien said she was told about Crotty's release by the press before a story ran, not by the authorities.
- O'Brien criticised the lack of restorative justice and how victims are informed.
- O'Brien said she has thought about what she would say if she met Crotty, and would like the chance to hear why he did it.
- In court
- In 2024 Limerick Circuit Criminal Court imposed a fully suspended three-year sentence, which the DPP appealed as unduly lenient.
- Sentence
- In January 2025 the Court of Appeal jailed Crotty for two years.
- Crotty is due to be freed from Limerick Prison next week after serving a year and seven months.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCathal Crotty pleaded guilty to assaulting Natasha O’Brien. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe assault happened on O’Connell Street in Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe assault happened in May 2022. (limerickleader.ie)
- causeThe attack followed O’Brien asking Crotty to stop shouting homophobic abuse. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtA Limerick Circuit Criminal Court imposed a fully suspended three-year sentence in 2024, which the DPP appealed as unduly lenient. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceThe Court of Appeal jailed Crotty for two years in January 2025. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceCrotty is due to be freed from prison next week after serving a year and seven months. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherCrotty was a serving member of the Defence Forces at the time of the attack. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherCrotty was discharged from the army in July 2024. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherHours after the attack, Crotty boasted on Snapchat about striking O’Brien. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherO’Brien said she was told about Crotty’s release by the press before a story ran, not by the authorities. (limerickleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 17 Jul2026'I’ve thought about what I’d say if I met him’: Natasha O’Brien on attacker’s release
Follow-up on the release of Cathal Crotty, already sentenced for the 2022 assault. Gives O’Brien’s reaction, her criticism of the lack of restorative justice and of how victims are informed, and the release timing.
victim, Natasha O'Brien, female, irish (judged from name)Natasha O'Brienconvicted, Cathal Crotty, male, named, irish (judged from name)Cathal Crotty