Cathal Crotty will spend two-years in prison for attacking Natasha O’Brien, the Court of Appeal has decided. 

The former soldier of Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha, County Clare, attacked Ms O’Brien in 2022 after she called him out for shouting homophobic slurs in Limerick. 

Last year, he was convicted of assault but the judge wholly suspended his three-year sentence. 

At the time, Ms O'Brien said she felt "there was no true regard given for the seriousness of his violent crimes, nor the lifelong trauma I am now forced to suffer".

Limerick assault survivor Natasha O’Brien. Image: Supplied.

In July, the DPP indicated its intention to appeal that sentence on the grounds of undue leniency.

Today, they argued that far too much weight was given to the potential consequences for Crotty’s career in the army.

It was also submitted that the original sentence did not take into account the principle of general deterrence.

Crotty’s barrister accepted it was lenient, but argued it was not unduly lenient.

But in the end, the judges decided it didn’t meet the case and felt Crotty must be punished in a meaningful way.

Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy noted his discharge from the army, but said it came about by his own conduct, and wasn’t enough to avoid a custodial sentence.

He was then re-sentenced to three years in prison with the final year suspended.

Main image: File photo of Defence Forces soldier Cathal Crotty.