PICTURES: Protesters gather outside Limerick Courthouse to call out ‘misogynistic’ system

The socialist feminist movement ROSA organised the protest following the decision by Judge Tom O'Donnell last week to hand down a suspended sentence to soldier Cathal Crotty who pleaded guilty to assaulting Limerick woman Natasha O'Brien in the city centre in 2022.

A number of A number of protests were held at the weekend over the leniency of the sentence handed down to Crotty for the assault on Ms O’Brien, including in Limerick, where the gathering was addressed by her. over the leniency of the sentence handed down to Crotty for the assault on Ms O’Brien, including in Limerick, where the gathering was addressed by her.

There has been a maelstrom of publicity surrounding the long-serving judge's decision not to jail the soldier for viciously assaulting Ms O'Brien, and then boasting about it hours after the attack on social media.

This Wednesday was due to be Judge O'Donnell's last court sitting before his retirement after 50 years of service, with a number of speeches expected to take place inside the court chamber to mark the event.

The protest was organised to coincide with Judge O'Donnell's last day on the bench. The organisers, ROSA, called for the protest "against the misogynistic judicial system". 

However, Limerick Live learned on Monday evening that the judge would not be in the Mulgrave Street court on Wednesday and planned speeches would also not go ahead.

Limerick Live has since learned that there were low-key speeches and tributes to Judge O'Donnell in the courthouse on Tuesday instead. 

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The protest at the city courthouse went ahead as planned this Wednesday and was attended by over 50 people, including the assault survivor Natasha O’Brien. Many of the protesters held placards aloft which were emblazoned with messages directed at the justice system.