ALERT: Parents could be hit with €320 fine on school run over major mistake
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05 Sept 2025
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05 Sept 2025
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Cathal Crotty, aged 22, pleaded guilty to assaulting Natasha O'Brien
THE DEFENCE Forces have officially confirmed that Private Cathal Crotty, based at Sarsfield Barracks in Limerick city, will be discharged at 23.59pm this Thursday.
In a statement to Limerick Live, a spokesperson said: “The Defence Forces unequivocally condemns any actions by serving personnel that are contrary to military regulations or that do not reflect our values.”
Mr Crotty, aged 22, of Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court last month for assaulting Natasha O’Brien in Limerick city centre in May of 2022.
Hours later he boasted about it to friends on Snapchat, saying, “Two to put her down, two to put her out”.
Judge Tom O’Donnell imposed a fully suspended three year sentence with one of the mitigating factors being the prospect of Mr Crotty losing his job if he received a custodial sentence.
Ms O’Brien told Limerick outside the court sitting on June 19 that it was “not justice”. A planned farewell event for retiring judge, Mr O’Donnell, on the following Wednesday in Limerick Courthouse was cancelled.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has lodged an appeal against the sentence on the basis that it was unduly lenient.
The story has dominated news cycles for the past month, attracting a maelstrom of publicity. There have been a number of protests across the country, some attended by Ms O’Brien who has been a vocal voice for change.
The case was addressed by Taoiseach Simon Harris in the Dail where Ms O’Brien received a standing ovation from TDs.
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Last week, Limerick Live revealed that gardai are investigating after an anonymous threatening letter was sent to the family home of Cathal Crotty.
The handwritten letter, which was addressed to Cathal Crotty’s father, had a Dublin postmark, and was received at his home in Ardnacrusha on Wednesday.
It is purportedly from an organisation with “members in Dublin and Limerick” and threatens to kidnap the soldier and make him “suffer”. The author of the letter wrote, “Leave now or else”.
“Time is running out fast - two weeks or we’re coming down Mr Crotty, night or day,” it read.
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