Thousands Rally in Support of Young Woman Attacked by Soldiers
Dublin: Thousands gathered in Dublin to express solidarity with Natasha O’Brien (24), a young woman who was brutally attacked by an Irish soldier. The solidarity rally and protest, organised in the capital, demonstrated strong community support for O’Brien.
The soldier involved in the assault, Cathal Crotty, is currently under suspension. He pleaded guilty in court and was sentenced to three years in prison by Limerick Circuit Court.
Protest demonstrations were also held in Cork, Limerick, and Galway. Natasha O’Brien attended the protest in Limerick, describing the assault as a terrible experience. However, she found comfort in the deep solidarity and support provided by the community. She noted that without such incidents coming to light, many similar cases might remain unknown.
O’Brien emphasised that the brutal attack was carried out by a soldier entrusted with the duty to protect.
Rosalyn O’Callaghan, a representative of Women of Honour, attended the protest at Cork’s Grant Parade. She recounted her own horrific experience of being sexually assaulted while serving abroad. She revealed that she was raped during her first deployment at the age of 21 in 1998. Despite reporting the incident, the accused was never charged with rape.
In Dublin, hundreds marched to the Department of Justice in protest. The demonstration was organised by ROSA International Socialist Feminists. ROSA’s Ruth Coppinger stated that those who publicly stand against criminals need comprehensive support and that justice must be ensured for them.
Coppinger highlighted the massive participation in the protest as an indication that the public stands firmly against such crimes. She stressed that such incidents continue to occur within the army and called for a united fight against them.
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