Latest news with #NatashaO'Brien
The Journal
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Military union warns 'vague' Defence Bill could lead to 'unreasonable suspensions' for soldiers
A MILITARY GROUP has told an Oireachtas committee that new 'vague' Defence legislation could breach soldiers' rights to fair procedure and lead to 'unreasonable and protracted suspensions'. The Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) is appearing before the Joint Committee on Defence and National Security which is carrying out pre-legislative scrutiny of the proposed Defence Bill. So far invited speakers have focused on neutrality and new measures to deploy troops abroad, RACO is the first to address the changes to the workplace which will include powers of suspension and the summary dismissal of personnel. The group said, in its opening remarks this morning, that they have significant concerns about the drafting of the bill and a lack of consultation with them. It told the committee members that a conciliation and arbitration mechanism to raise their concerns is not fit for purpose and is 'unproductive' due to lack of resourcing and long delays in resolving issues. RACO said that it has 'little accountability' and has an 'inability to address the issue it was created to resolve'. The military group examined three draft heads of the Bill, dealing with suspensions of members, the dismissal of soldiers and how soldiers will be compelled by law to tell their commanding officers they are under investigation. These measures were introduced following high profile cases, including that of former soldier Cathal Crotty, who was found guilty of assaulting Natasha O'Brien in Limerick city. He was initially not imprisoned at Limerick Circuit Court but he was later jailed when the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the case in the wake of it being raised in the media. Crotty was not suspended from the military as the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces did not have powers of suspension. A report by Peter Ward, which was commissioned by then Minister for Defence Micheál Martin, found that there was an urgent need for a clear suspension policy to allow the military to impose suspensions in certain circumstances. The Bill proposes that it will grant powers to a 'designated authority' to suspend soldiers under the rank of Major General. This includes for reasons of in the public interest, national security or serious misconduct. This measure was introduced to the Bill after it emerged that there was no real power of suspension for the RACO in its address today said that it welcomes a suspension policy but has called for a greater degree of clarity in the provisions as set out in the Bill. Advertisement It said that: 'we remain very concerned by the loose, vague and subjective language in the current drafting'. 'Such phrasing lacks the thoroughness and rigour needed to protect members' rights to the presumption of innocence and opens the door to interpretation without robust oversight or even an appeal mechanism,' the group added. The garda use of suspensions has been heavily criticised by the Garda Representative Association and the Workplace Relations Commission, in a finding against An Garda Síochána, said that its process was a 'rubber stamp' exercise . RACO told the committee that the suspensions in advance of due process would carry 'real consequences' for an individual's mental health and professional reputation. 'The principle of 'innocent until proven guilty' must be protected—not just legally, but through fair process and proper supports. A balance must be struck between operational discipline and the dignity and safety of those who serve. 'We note that suspension is an embedded feature of many other public sector organisations and are aware of a concerning reported trend of seemingly endless, elongated suspensions without regular review or due process, where the suspension in fact becomes the punishment,' the group added. Dismissal RACO raised the issue of dismissal of officers by the President 'for any prescribed reason' – it said again this was too vague and wide ranging drafting which lacked precision. The group told the committee that it 'lacks the clarity and safeguards necessary to protect members from arbitrary or disproportionate action'. RACO also called for redrafting in regard to the new measure in which military personnel will be compelled to inform their commanding officer if they are under garda investigation. The issue is centred around the measure which would require them to keep that officer up to date on progress. It said there was no formal or informal data sharing mechanism between gardaí and the courts martial system. RACO warned that this meant there was no obligation on the investigating garda to keep the Defence Forces updated on the probe. It has recommended that the Head of the Bill be updated so that it is only necessary where a military member finds themselves arrested, interviewed under caution or charged by the gardaí. 'We respectfully contend that the draft Heads as they currently stand are overly vague (even for primary legislation), and lack crucial detail on appeals mechanisms, checks or balances which could lead to a wave of unnecessarily unreasonable and protracted suspensions. 'We suggest that more detail is required to ensure clarity and support for our members who will be required to operate and administer a suspension policy, and that essential safeguards are necessary for all Defence Forces members who may be the subject of suspension or indeed dismissal into the future, in keeping with the principles of natural justice and fair procedures,' RACO conclude. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Irish Sun
28-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Teen, 19, arrested over ‘hate crime' after slurry spread in Antrim town hours before first Pride parade
A TEENAGER has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after slurry was sprayed on a road in an Irish town in Co Antrim - hours before the town's first Pride parade. The The suspect was arrested on "suspicion of criminal damage" and possession of a blade/point. He remains in police custody at this time. The cops reported that the matter is "being treated as a hate The shocking incident occurred just hours before READ MORE ON LGBT+ The parade will kick off at 2pm and finish an hour later at Greenvale Street, among the affected areas. The route takes in Waveney Road, Galgorm Road, Lower Mill Street, Wellington Street, Broughshane Street, William Street and Ballymoney Street. The PSNI confirmed there will be an increased police presence to ensure everyone's safety during the event and urged everyone to follow the instructions of officers and respect others. They added: "We want members of our Most read in Irish News SDLP Councillor Seamas de Faoite has condemned the teen's "shameful" actions after the slurry was deliberately spread along the route of the parade. He said: "Let's be absolutely clear: this was a calculated attempt to intimidate the LGBTQ+ community and spoil what should be a day of joy, visibility and solidarity in Ballymena. Natasha O'Brien calls for hate crime legislation to be enacted at Dublin's Pride festival "But they failed. The hundreds of people who will turn out to support Mid & East Antrim Pride showed that love and inclusion will always outshine hate." 'FIGHTING FOR A SOCIETY THAT'S SAFE' Cllr de Faoite praised parade organisers and volunteers for their leadership and determination to ensure the parade continues, despite efforts to disrupt it. He added: "Today was a historic first for Ballymena, and the SDLP stands shoulder to shoulder with the LGBTQ+ community here and across the North, and we'll keep fighting for a society that's safe, equal and proud." Posting on social media, "Solidarity to all at Ballymena Pride. It's a frightening time but love will always triumph over hate." Eoin Tennyson MLA said: "Sending my support and solidarity to everyone attending Ballymena Pride today, after bigots spread slurry on the parade route. "At a time when hard-won rights are under attack, vigilance and visibility matter more than ever. Love will always trump hate." INFO PLEA The cops have urged people with information to come forward to assist their ongoing probe into the hate crime. The spokesperson said: " Anyone with information can contact police on 101, quoting reference number 191 of 28/06/25. " Alternatively, they can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form on their official website. They can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at 1 PSNI has arrested a 19-year-old man for his 'shameful' actions hours before the Pride parade Credit: Niall Carson/PA Wire
RTÉ News
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
RTÉ's Summer Slate of Documentaries Unveiled
Showcasing Unique Irish Stories and Exploring Irish Life Natasha O'Brien, the young Limerick woman featured in the documentary Natasha, now streaming on RTÉ Player RTÉ has today announced details of its summer line-up of home-grown documentaries airing across RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, showcasing both modern and historical stories which are uniquely Irish. From the harrowing journey of assault survivor Natasha O'Brien, to exploring the fate of Ireland's dwindling missionaries, to a deep dive into NORAID, and an in-depth look at the lives of Buddhists in Beara, a broad range of intriguing one-off documentaries and documentary series will air on RTÉ across the summer months. Natasha Wednesday 25 June 9.35pm Having survived a violent assault by a serving soldier—who was convicted but walked free with a suspended sentence—Natasha O'Brien, a young Limerick woman, refuses to stay silent. Her public outcry against the lenient ruling ignites national protests and forces a reckoning with how the Irish justice system treats survivors of gender-based violence. This powerful, intimate documentary follows Natasha and is a portrayal of how the aftermath of a violent attack and the subsequent strain of the flawed justice system affects a young woman's life and how she attempts to transform her trauma into activism. The Phone Box Babies Wednesday 2 July, 9.35 pm The Phone Box Babies reveals new insights into the lives and identities of three newborn babies abandoned in the 1960s in different parts of Ireland. The babies were discovered by random passersby in phone boxes, and in a car, without any identifying information or clue to their origins. David McBride, born in 1962, was left in a car in a Belfast driveway. John Dowling, born in 1965, was found in a Drogheda phone box. Helen Ward, born in 1968, was discovered in a Dundalk phone box. Each was adopted and raised in different parts of Ireland. This new documentary uncovers details about the babies' parents, where they came from, and why they were given up. Fifty years later, as adults, they discover their connection to each other and embark on an emotional journey to uncover their identities. NORAID: Irish America & The IRA Begins on Wednesday 9 July, 9.35 pm A gripping new two-part documentary that tells the astonishing story of the role played by Irish Americans during the conflict in Northern Ireland: fundraising, propagandising and gun-running. NORAID: Irish America & the IRA, tells of a body of Irish Americans who acted as the Republican movement's voice in the United States of America throughout that period. Told through first-hand accounts and using exclusive archive sources, the series looks at how Irish-America went from collecting money in bars in the Bronx to pressing the Presidential Candidate, Bill Clinton, during the 1992 primaries - lobbying which led to a key turning point in the nascent Peace Process: a US Visa for the then President of Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams. Listen to the Land Speak Listen to the Land Speak sees Manchán Magan reveal the profound knowledge and wisdom contained in our landscape and myths and explore how they have shaped the way we look at the world. Filmed over four seasons, the film unfolds from Winter Solstice to Bealtaine through Reek Sunday to Samhain. Along his journey, he meets respected archaeologists, mythologists, writers and shamans that offer different perspectives on how our ancestors related to the land and landscape around them. It also becomes an unexpectedly personal story - as he seeks to help heal society's relationship with nature - Manchán also realises that there is a serious illness within himself that makes him see these ancient sites and beliefs in a whole new light. Don't Forget to Remember This unconventional documentary from Ross Killeen (Love Yourself Today) is an emotive human story featuring the artist Asbestos and his journey through the slow decay of his mother's memories as they disintegrate due to her advancing Alzheimer's disease. His work represents the fragility of memory in images, which are themselves fragile and transient. Together Killeen and Asbestos consider the brittleness of memory and find that even though Alzheimer's brings elements of disintegration and destruction, the memories we have of our loved ones will endure and last, even if they've disintegrated in the mind of the sufferer. The work is at once a moving portrait of one woman's memory loss, but also a celebration of a loving family coming together in the face of this condition. The Last Irish Missionaries Bryan Dobson and Dearbhail McDonald chart the unique evolution of the Irish missionary movement, from religious colonialism to heroic acts of self-sacrifice and philanthropy; from a flourishing of Irish 'soft power', to tawdry scandals of abuse and cover-up. Today, the Irish missionary chapter is drawing to a close. Ireland's last missionaries are nearly all elderly - what will be their legacy? And who, if anyone, will take their place? Dearbhail and Bryan explore why so many Irish priests, nuns, lay people and other religious felt called to spread the Gospel to the farthest reaches of the world. They also hear firsthand about their experiences and the impact of those individuals worldwide. The Last Irish Missionaries is produced with funding from Coimisiún na Meán's Sound & Vision Fund. The Breaking Wave - The Buddhists of Beara This feature-length film tells the remarkable story of Dzogchen Beara, a spiritual haven perched amidst the stunning landscape of West Cork's Beara peninsula. Founded by Peter and Harriet Cornish in 1973, the Centre appointed an internationally renowned Buddhist teacher, Sogyal Rinpoche, as its spiritual director, in 1994. Over 20 years later, the community was rocked by revelations that Rinpoche was a serial sexual predator. With unique access over five years, Maurice O'Brien's film captures the community's efforts to come to terms with this scandal and with the death of Peter Cornish, while constructing Ireland's first Tibetan Buddhist Temple. Produced with funding from Coimisiún na Meán's Sound & Vision Fund and Screen Ireland. Home: The Story of Zak Moradi Home: The Story of Zak Moradi tells the story of Zak, born in a camp in war-torn Iraq on the day the Gulf War began. Zak and his family share their experiences from fleeing their home to building a new life in Ireland, where he finds a community and his passion through the local GAA and playing hurling. 20 years since leaving Iraq, Zak returns to reconnect with his past on an emotional journey, in what is a poignant and inspiring story of resilience and hope, that explores the importance, meaning and feeling of a home. The documentary premiered at last year's Galway Film Fleadh. Mrs Robinson Mrs Robinson tells the story of Mary Robinson - in her own words, for the very first time - illuminating battles for justice and equality over half a century; on the streets, in the courts, at the ballot box, and in backroom corridors of power. A reforming constitutional lawyer and Senator in her early career, Mary Robinson detonated an electoral earthquake by winning the Irish Presidential vote in 1990. Later, as a crusading UN High Commissioner, she built a lasting legacy; fearlessly challenging perpetrators of human rights abuses all over the world. To this day, she exerts leadership as the Chair of The Elders; the independent group of global leaders (founded by Nelson Mandela) who work for peace, justice and human rights. Pray for our Sinners Pray for Our Sinners documents Sinéad O'Shea's return to her hometown, Navan, to explore the impact of the Catholic Church on the community in decades past. Through first hand testimonies, the film reveals the plight of unmarried mothers; the horrors of mother and baby homes and the prevalence of violence against children in Catholic schools. A handful of extraordinary figures chose to resist the pervasive power of the church: a woman who refused to give her baby up for adoption, a 9-year-old boy who dared to speak out against his teachers' physical abuse; and a couple who established a family planning service and campaigned for the abolition of corporal punishment Football Families Football Families is a high-action entertaining three-part series featuring some of Ireland's best young soccer talent as they chase the dream of making it in the dog-eat-dog world of professional football, filmed behind-the-scenes with the rising stars of league of Ireland champions Shelbourne F.C's soccer academy. The series was filmed as the 2024 league reached its climax with Shelbourne being crowned champions under manager Damien Duff. Delving behind the scenes, the series highlights how this sport for the masses is a profession for the few. Hard-working and determined, these teenagers from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities train together and bond as teams who want to win. Their stories reveal the pressure and scrutiny they're under as they cope with the brutal reality of elite level football. North Circular North Circular is a multiple award-winning documentary which travels the length of Dublin's fabled North Circular Road. This is a place where local characters share their powerful and emotive stories, accompanied by traditional ballads and folk music, all adding to the narrative. Conjuring the ghosts of the past, while engaging with the conflicts and celebrations of today, North Circular also features some Dublin humour thrown in. The film includes musical performances from local artists including John Francis Flynn, Séan Ó Túama, Eoghan O'Ceannabháin, Ian Lynch & Gemma Dunleavy. Breaking Out Fergus O'Farrell was the charismatic voice of Interference, one of the most compelling and influential bands to emerge from the Irish music scene in the 1990s, best-known for his timeless song Gold which featured in the soundtrack to Once. Despite being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at a young age, through it all, Fergus had to keep singing. His unique talent and love for life inspired a generation of songwriters. Oscar-winner Glen Hansard was one, and in one of the many incredible moments in Breaking Out, he performs the ultimate duet as Fergus' greatest gift was failing. Winner of Best Irish Documentary at the Galway Film Fleadh 2019 , this intimate journey into the heart and soul of Fergus O'Farrell was filmed over ten years by director Michael McCormack. Sightless Cinema A year in the life of the Sightless Cinema audio drama network, as they embark on their biggest show to date. The Sightless Cinema network is a group of blind and visually impaired people who create audio dramas for performance in theatres and cinemas. Founded in 2015 by theatre director Ciarán Taylor, and sound artist Rachel Ní Chuinn, Sightless Cinema has grown from a tiny group to a nationwide community. Director Gareth Stack followed Sightless Cinema as they rehearsed and performed their new show across Ireland. Members of the group candidly discuss their sight loss and how their lives have been shaped by blindness. We watch their creative process in action. As Sightless Cinema turn their lived experiences of blindness into compelling audio theatre. The Graceless Age - The Ballad of John Murry Feature documentary on American singer songwriter John Murry who was on the cusp of greatness after the release of his album Graceless Age (2013) when his world fell apart. He found solace in Ireland where he had washed up creatively exhausted and depressed and where, he said, the landscape and the people revived him. This haunting film sees John retrace his steps back to Mississippi to a neglected childhood, explore his family links to the Nobel Prize winning author William Faulkner, and ultimately find understanding and redemption through his love for music. Further documentary and scheduling details will be announced in due course. The TX dates for upcoming RTÉ documentaries will be finalised across the summer and will be available on RTÉ Presspack. For Further Information: Jennifer O'Brien, RTÉ Communications
The Irish Sun
25-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
I was viciously beaten by ex-soldier in the street – but same unsettling question plagued me after he was finally jailed
ASSAULT victim Natasha O'Brien says she never intended her attacker to be so vilified, telling us: 'That wasn't fair.' The Advertisement 5 Natasha O'Brien says she never intended for her attacker to be so vilified Credit: AYESHA AHMAD/RTE 5 The Limerick woman was viciously beaten by former soldier Cathal Crotty Credit: Collect 5 Brave Natasha admits Crotty's jailing left her conflicted He was The DPP But Natasha admits Crotty's jailing left her very conflicted. She told The Irish Sun: 'A year ago I never felt listened to. My physical and mental scars were not considered by the court and handing him a suspended sentence completely compounded everything for me. Advertisement Read more in News 'Then the DPP appealed it and for the first time in an Irish court I felt listened to and the court decided to send him to jail. But I took no pleasure in seeing a young man being led away to prison. In fact, I found the experience quite unsettling. 'He made a mistake. Yes, it was a very bad mistake but he's not the only person who's done something like this and so many others don't get punished at all. 'He was so vilified and became this poster boy for gender-based violence and that wasn't fair because he's not the only one. 'And who knows what effect all of this has had Advertisement Most read in Irish News Exclusive She added: 'If the courts had done its job in the first place then maybe he wouldn't have been so vilified in its aftermath or become this poster boy for the whole movement. 'So I think in many ways he became a second victim of this very flawed justice system.' Natasha O'Brien bravely opens up on horror attack by Defence Forces soldier Cathal Crotty Natasha was attacked after finishing a shift at a Limerick pub. She had asked Crotty to stop using homophobic language. He grabbed her by the hair and pushed her to the ground, before punching her in the face until she lost consciousness. Advertisement Vile Crotty later boasted on Natasha was attacked just months after 'COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT' And ahead of a documentary on Natasha airing on 'And it came so soon after Ashling Murphy died so it made me very aware that things could have been very different. Advertisement 'But 'If one small thing came from my case, it's that maybe it has helped others to be able to speak out or come forward. And if that has happened then everything has been so worth it.' 5 Natasha said: 'I had to be a voice for so many others who didn't have one' Credit: Liam Burke/Press 22 5 A documentary on Natasha is airing on RTE 1 Credit: AYESHA AHMAD/RTE Advertisement
Irish Daily Mirror
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Natasha O'Brien says online trolls called her 'professional victim' after attack
Campaigner Natasha O'Brien has told how social media trolls described her as a "professional victim" after she was attacked by a former Irish soldier. In 2022, the Limerick native was viciously attacked by Cathal Crotty, who was then a member of the Irish Defence Forces. He was given a three-year suspended sentence in June 2024. An appeal was lodged the following month, and the sentence was overturned by the Court of Appeal in January this year, and he was sentenced to two years in jail. Speaking ahead of her documentary, Natasha, which airs tonight on RTE One, she opened up about the horrendous online hate she received after Crotty was sentenced, with one troll labelling her "a professional victim". She told The Irish Mirror: "I've been relentlessly trolled in everything I do in every post I post, every video or media interview. Anything and everything, there's just always so much negativity. "There was a really interesting comment – 'she is a professional victim'. I don't even know what that means but apparently, I'm a professional victim. "Or I hope she's going to donate all the money she makes from the documentary? What money? This has been out of my time. I've been doing this for the cause." She also saw posts discussing her LinkedIn credentials with Natasha saying it wasn't even her page. "That's not even my LinkedIn. We don't even look similar," she said. Natasha also wants to make it clear that she was paid a "minor fee" for helping make her documentary, which airs tonight at 9.35pm. "There was a minor fee, and it wouldn't even cover 30 hours of work, and I put in 10 months of this. It's not even a week's wages and I've put months into this. "It's not about the money and these film projects and their subjects, they do it because it's an important story and message that needs to be heard and seen. It was important for me to do it because I suppose I've been judged in so many ways, and I thought it was time to tell people this is who I am. "Of course it's a personal journey. I invited the cameras into very vulnerable moments." Natasha said she hopes when people watch her documentary, they will stop judging victims on how they look. "I just think that it is 2025 and the time for judging a victim on how they looked is absolutely insane. "If you actually think that how someone looks is going to give you any indication of what they are going through, you're away with the fairies. "You haven't a clue if you're seriously going to judge someone's appearance over the bucket load of trauma and all the struggles they've gone through and you're going to look at their appearance and judge them by that. "I totally couldn't care less about that. It's time we stop judging books by their covers." Natasha also spoke about the hurt her own family went through as they tried to help her heal from the heinous crime. She said: "I really lost a part of myself, and my mam was just always so desperate to support me and help me to find myself again but there were lots of pieces of me that were just destroyed. They weren't coming back and when I was filming, I got an insight into what it was like for my mam to have a daughter going through this and how it really affected her and impacted her. "It wasn't just me suffering, there were others around me suffering too. We forget that." Speaking about her documentary, she said it was important that the programme explored the leniency of the justice system and not just her own story. "It was really important to me at the start, that when we got my director on board… I said that I had told my story so many times, I'm sick of telling my story and I'm sure lots of people are sick of hearing my story so I don't want to waste an hour of prime-time television telling the same thing over again. "I don't want to waste this opportunity to talk about the past. It's not me. "We wanted to show that while something that happened to us can affect us, it doesn't define us and that was really important when we were filming this documentary." Natasha added that she finally feels like she is embarking on a "new chapter and journey." "It has been an emotional rollercoaster but I'm slowly starting to heal now and I'm finally on a new chapter and journey. "I feel like my own personal fights for justice are now over so now it's trying to go onto bigger things and trying to use this case as a great example of what shouldn't happen again. "I'm really passionate about trying to continue along to make sure this doesn't happen again for others. "I wanted to bare my soul. I'm really happy with how it turned out. "There is massive potential to do more and work on another project exploring restorative justice and going down that route and how do we really achieve a sense of justice for anyone in the system. I'd love to potentially explore that too," she added. Natasha airs tonight on RTE One at 9.35pm
