Latest news with #CathalCrotty
Irish Times
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
TV guide: The Bear returns, and the other best new shows to watch on RTÉ, Disney+, and Netflix this week
Pick of the week Natasha Wednesday, RTÉ One, 9.35pm In 2022 Natasha O'Brien was violently assaulted on a street in Limerick, in a random attack that left her bleeding and unconscious. The attacker, Cathal Crotty , was a serving soldier in the Defence Forces, and there was a public outcry when he received a suspended sentence for his cowardly and brutal act. This documentary follows O'Brien's subsequent refusal to stay silent about her treatment at the hands of a deeply flawed Irish legal system, and her subsequent battle to get justice for the trauma which was inflicted upon her. Thanks to her relentless campaigning, the DPP appealed Crotty's sentence and he was sentenced to two years in prison. With help from other women who shared their stories of facing their attackers in court, and from politicians including Labour leader Ivana Bacik and expert criminologist Dr Ian Marder, O'Brien looks at ways the system can be reformed to take ensure that victims' voices are heard. Highlights From that Small Island: The Story of the Irish Sunday, RTÉ One, 6.30pm From that Small Island: Marion Casey in New York Nigel Farage can't seem to understand why Ireland would not want to join with the UK and leave the European Union; perhaps he should watch this third episode of this landmark historical series, as it might explain why his Irexit idea went down like a lead balloon. The 17th century saw mass migration of Irish to continental Europe, displaced by the brutal conquest by Oliver Cromwell, and this episode tracks the first diaspora as they set up new lives in various European countries. The programme also follows the Irish who signed up to French, Spanish and Austrian armies in the wake of the Williamite wars at the end of the 17th century, and became known as the Wild Geese. It marked the beginning of centuries-long ties between Ireland and Europe that will take more than a few bellowing Brexiteers to break. The programme, narrated by Colin Farrell, also looks at the life of anti-slavery campaigner Daniel O'Connell, known as the Liberator, and how he influenced black abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass. Aistear an Amhráin Monday, RTÉ One, 7pm This series looking at the stories behind well-known songs ends with one of Ireland's most beloved bangers, An Poc ar Buile. The song was recorded in 1962 by Seán Ó Sé, and became an instant classic, but there's a tale to the tune that dates from the 17th century. The song about a mad billy goat was written in the 1940s by Donal Ó Mulláin and became associated with Puck Fair in Killorglin, Co Kerry, but the original poem it was based on has a darker meaning. An Boc ar Buile, written in the 1600s, was about a local landlord trying to exercise his right to have sexual relations with a tenant's bride on her wedding night. Given recent stories about landlords demanding sex from tenants as payment for rent, maybe the original version is due a revisit. The Gilded Age Monday, Sky Atlantic & Now, 9pm The Gilded Age Long before Sex and the City, New York was ruled by an elite coterie of well-got women, all vying for power and position in the upper echelons of high society in Upper East Side Manhattan of the 1880s. The Gilded Age is set during a period of huge transformation, when old money is under attack from a new generation of upwardly mobile industrialists and entrepreneurs, all hoping to buy their way into privilege. Louisa Jacobson stars as Marian Brook, a newcomer in New York society who arrives in the midst of a social war between the old-money Van Rhijn-Brooks and the new-money Russell family. Marian must quickly learn the rules of the game – and make up a few of her own – if she is to survive in this cut-throat world. Cynthia Nixon from SATC and Christine Baranski costar, and series three takes up the story in the aftermath of the so-called Opera War, which has given the Russells the social advantage. How will the old-money crowd hit back? This could turn into an epic confrontation. READ MORE Death in the Desert: The Nurse Helen Mystery Monday, Channel 4, 9pm Helen Smith was a young nurse working in Saudi Arabia in 1979, enjoying her adventure and making new friends in a culture very different from her own. At just 23 years old, however, Helen died in mysterious circumstances. The official story was that she fell from a balcony at a party, and her death was ruled an accident, but questions lingered over the lack of a thorough police investigation and whether her death really was accidental. This documentary looks back on Helen's life in Saudi Arabia and the political and cultural climate of the time, and tries to uncover what really happened on that balcony more than 45 years ago. Amol Rajan Goes to the Ganges Wednesday, BBC One, 9pm Amol Goes to the Ganges The Maha Kumbh Mela Festival in northern India is the world's largest religious festival, and the biggest gathering of human beings on the planet, attended by almost 500 million people from around the globe – more than the combined populations of the US and UK converging on an area the size of Manhattan. Joining them for this special documentary is journalist and presenter Amol Rajan, and he's visiting for personal reasons – to help him come to terms with the death of his father three years ago, and to reconnect with the land of his birth. The Kumbh festival happens only every dozen years, and this year's festival coincides with a rare alignment of the planets, making it extra special for pilgrims. Amol meets many of these pilgrims, all here to purify themselves in the polluted waters of the Ganges, but he also comes close to tragedy as a huge crowd surge results in the deaths of 30 people. Murder on the Doorstep: The Killer Clown Wednesday, Sky Crime & Now, 9pm Dan Reimer, who features in Murder On The Doorstep: The Killer Clown In the 1990s, a young woman, Marlene Warren, was shot dead on the doorstep of her own house in Florida by a mystery assailant. The killer had dressed as a clown to disguise their identity, but police immediately suspected Marlene's husband, Michael Warren, of his wife's murder. Their marriage was in trouble, and there were rumours of extramarital affairs, but Michael had a rock-solid alibi and the police had no proof, so he was eliminated as a suspect. Nearly 30 years later, though, police make an apparent breakthrough, charging Michael's alleged mistress Sheila Keen with Marlene's murder. But is there more to this murder than meets the eye? This three-part docuseries looks back at the investigation, interviewing investigators, witnesses, friends and family members in an attempt to unravel a very tangled web of lies and betrayal. Glastonbury 2025 Live Thursday, BBC One, 10pm The BBC's live coverage of this year's Glasto in Pilton, Sussex, kicks off on Thursday, but all this week the Beeb will be airing programmes in anticipation of the big weekend, beginning with three half-hour specials featuring Glastonbury legends from the 1970s (Monday, BBC Two, 10pm), 1980s (Tuesday, BBC Two, 10pm) and 1990s (Wednesday, BBC Two, 10pm). Clara Amfo and Lauren Laverne will be on hand at Worthy Farm to look forward to the fun in store for the weekend, which will see headline performances on the Pyramid stage by The 1975, Neil Young & the Chrome Hearts and Olivia Rodrigo. If you haven't got tickets for the festival, the BBC's coverage of the onstage action will be almost as good as the real thing – and a lot less mucky. Streaming Countdown From Wednesday, June 25th, Prime Video Countdown: Amber Oliveras and Mark Meachum A dead Homeland Security agent, a secret taskforce and a terror plot that could end in millions of deaths: maybe I won't have another consonant after all, Rachel, thank you very much. Jensen Ackles from The Boys heads the cast of this action-thriller series created by Derek Haas, the mind behind the FBI series and all its variants. Ackles is the LAPD cop Mark Meachum, who is recruited into the taskforce after the Homeland Security guy is murdered in broad daylight. The murder is just the tip of the iceberg, and soon Ackles and the team are racing to stop the bad guys from turning the citizens of LA into DOA. The Bear From Thursday, June 26th, Disney+ The Bear Chef-patron Carmy Berzatto is back in kitchen hell in the fourth series of the foodie dramedy, and he's still in pursuit of excellence in the former sandwich shop in Chicago that he inherited after the suicide of his brother, Michael. Carmy, a Michelin-star chef, has turned the dive into a fine-dining restaurant, but success is far from a done deal. Money is running out, and the kitchen is still in chaos and turmoil. Can Carmy create a calmer atmosphere in this culinary crucible? Jeremy Allen White stars as Carmy, with Ayo Edebiri, Oliver Platt and Jamie Lee Curtis among the cast. Squid Game From Friday, June 27th, Netflix How much of a gaming junkie do you have to be to go back into a game that could end in your death? In series two of the hit Korean series – Netflix's most successful non-English-language series – Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) went back into the game with a clear mission to take down the faceless organisation behind this murderous, macabre theme park, but in this third and final series he finds himself back in the Squid Game dorm after the failure of his attempted rebellion – and this time the games have been taken to even deadlier levels. Gi-hun must survive this last round and also outwit his treacherous adversary the Frontman as the tournament reaches its bloody, adrenaline-pumping climax. Smoke From Friday, June 27th, Apple TV+ The Rocket Man star Taron Egerton heads a strong cast in this new crime series about an arson investigator in pursuit of two serial pyromaniacs. Joining Egerton in the series – based on a true story – are Rafe Spall, Jurnee Smollett, Anna Chlumsky, Greg Kinnear and John Leguizamo. Egerton plays the investigator, with Smollett as the detective who becomes his reluctant partner; they'll have to find common ground if they are going to stop the firestarting spree before it gets completely out of control.
The Journal
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
New Defence Bill: Suspensions of military personnel and raft of provisions for foreign missions
THE BILL FOR new defence legislation allowing for the suspensions of military personnel under investigation by gardaí and the scrapping of the Triple Lock has been published. The General Scheme of the new Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 was published last week by the Government. The 41 page document outlines the changes to the statute governing how Defence Forces personnel are deployed on foreign missions, interact with international organisations and how discipline is dealt with across the military. The proposed legislation will begin its legislative scrutiny this Thursday and it is expected to be passed through the Oireachtas by the summer recess. Suspensions One of the key measures to be introduced is around how military members can be suspended from service by the Chief of Staff if they are under investigation. This solves an issue around enlisted members and officers who are in trouble with civilian authorities – including in cases where they are charged, but not yet convicted of a serious criminal offence. It also obliges personnel to tell their commanding officer if they are under investigation in connection with a criminal offence. They must also keep that officer informed of the progress of the investigation. The law provides for the Minister for Defence to make regulations around suspensions. The lack of a legal basis for suspensions was identified in the Ward Report . A temporary fix was identified in which soldiers would be placed on leave. This new power, similar to that of the garda commissioner, would be used by the leader of the military. Peter Ward, a senior counsel, was commissioned by the Government in the wake of the Cathal Crotty case . Crotty was a soldier who was convicted of a serious assault on Limerick woman Natasha O'Brien. Advertisement There was another case identified by The Journal in which a naval service member was not dismissed after an assault conviction . The Ward report identified that there was a problem of military personnel not telling their commanding officer that they were before the courts or under criminal investigation. The Ward report had identified that there was a problem of data sharing between State entities such as gardaí and the courts service. Triple Lock axed The new Bill would also codify how Irish troops are deployed – removing the so-called Triple Lock measure which only allows deployment of troops if the UN Security Council makes a resolution and that this must be matched by Government approval and a vote of the Dáil. It would end that and introduce a new system where the Government decides if the mission fits the UN Charter and in general international law. It would then be sent to the Dáil for a vote. A number of provisions look at the Defence Forces involvement with foreign operations, training missions and liaisons with military orientated foreign groups such as the United Nations, European Union and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The Bill defines an 'international force' as a body established, led or controlled, the UN, OSCE, EU or other regional groups. While NATO isn't specifically identified in the Bill there is a subsection which states 'any other regional arrangement or body'. One of the key provisions is that it will increase automatic despatches of troops from 12 personnel to 50. The Journal understands one example of this is the deployment of a team of Army Ranger Wing (ARW) operators and their support staff on hostage rescues or close protection duties. In the past the ARW has provided security at embassies and there is a provision in Head Seven which makes this possible – it is understood that Military Police are also being considered in the military for this role. The Bill also said that Irish troops can take part in counter narcotics operations and participation in training or in sporting events. The Bill states that any international force the Defence Forces is participating in would be for the 'purposes of peace-keeping, conflict prevention, and strengthening international security' – it would have to be consistent with the principles of the UN Charter. The force, the Bill states, will 'contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security'. 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
Irish Times
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
The judges who train peers on sentencing: ‘Not everyone has to be sent to jail'
Judges 'will not be influenced by public reaction' when it comes to sentencing. This is the view of Supreme Court judge Mr Justice Peter Charleton , director of the judicial studies programme run by the judiciary for the judiciary, despite the views of victims' groups that claim that some sentences handed down can be lenient. 'It's basic: you have taken an oath to try and give a just verdict, not a verdict that might be lauded in a newspaper,' he said. He dismissed the influence of social media, saying: 'I doubt if any judge is going to be reading social media. You would be mad to.' READ MORE 'The whole notion of the process is not to make people happy or unhappy. The judge is objective, experienced and tries to give the right result,' said Charleton. 'Can it ever be a perfect result?' People must remember the system is 'self-correcting' through appeals against severity or undue leniency of sentences. 'Not everyone has to be sent to jail. In the District Court and Circuit Courts, offending is at a lower level, you are trying to divert people away from overcrowded jails, looking at, say, community sanctions,' said the judge. 'Obviously, if a crime falls into a very high level of seriousness, what can you do? That is just the way it is. The guidelines are there.' Court of Appeal judge Ms Justice Nuala Butler, chair of the Judicial Council's judicial studies committee (JSC), which oversees the education and training of judges, said judges accepted that their decisions were open to scrutiny. 'Justice has to be administered in public – your decisions are going to be in public and dissected by the public. That comes with the territory,' she said. Judicial training and education in the State was informal until it was placed on a statutory footing for the first time under the Judicial Council Act 2019. The JSC was established in early 2020 by the Judicial Council and a director of judicial studies was appointed in July that year. In October 2023, Charleton succeeded Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty as director. He has placed a strong focus on sentencing training. Both Charleton and Butler said they could not discuss particular sentencing decisions or controversies. Those include the outcry over a three-year suspended sentence imposed on former soldier Cathal Crotty for a brutal physical assault on Natasha O'Brien in May 2022 in Limerick. Natasha O'Brien: A suspended sentence imposed on former soldier Cathal Crotty for a brutal assault on her in May 2022 in Limerick was successfully appealed by the DPP. Photograph: Collins Courts The DPP successfully appealed the sentence as unduly lenient and a two-year jail term was imposed last January on 22-year-old Crotty, from Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha. Earlier this month, the family of nine-year-old Ronan Wilson, from Kildress, Co Tyrone, who died after being struck by a car in a hit-and-run incident in Bundoran, Co Donegal, urged the DPP to appeal the 'truly pathetic' five-year prison sentence imposed on Sergee Kelly (24), of Upper Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, who admitted dangerous driving causing death. Kelly was also disqualified from driving for 20 years. Ronan Wilson: The family of the nine-year-old who died in a hit-and-run described as 'truly pathetic' the sentence imposed on Sergee Kelly (24), of Upper Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, who admitted dangerous driving causing death. Photograph: PA The pattern of sentencing has changed since the Supreme Court's 2007 judgment in the case of 'WD', Charleton said. That case involved a man convicted of raping a third-level student. The decision addressed rape sentencing bands and sentencing precedents and has since been taken up in many cases. Since WD, the prosecution has to set out the sentencing band into which it considers a particular offence falls and the defence will also set out its view, said the judge. The superior courts, particularly the Supreme Court, have restated the general principles of sentencing in several cases 'so that nobody is going to make a mistake'. 'A crisis occurs very occasionally and the rest of it tends to get a little bit ignored – how people are happy with the outcome,' said Butler. Several victims, particularly of sexual offences, 'waive their anonymity and talk about how pleased they are that the accused got a particular sentence and that they wanted to, and did, address the court'. Judges are more conscious of the language they use when sentencing, she said. 'Judges are much more careful now to explain that they are required to take account of the fact the accused pleaded guilty and has no previous convictions, as opposed to language used a decade ago which victims found difficult, that the accused was being 'credited'.' Judge Nuala Butler: 'A crisis occurs very occasionally and the rest of it tends to get a little bit ignored – how people are happy with the outcome.' Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill A 500-page sentencing guide is a new and valuable sentencing tool. Prepared by Charleton and a judicial researcher for the exclusive use of judges, it sets out potential sentences for a wide range of offences, what the superior courts have said about sentences and the precedents to inform sentencing decisions. Asked where all this leaves judicial discretion, both judges agreed there is much less discretion. A sentencing decision is not a discretionary decision 'in the round'; the process involves going through stages, including identifying the appropriate headline sentence and what to deduct for mitigation, said Butler. [ How sentencing works: judges consider law, gravity of offence and circumstances of offender Opens in new window ] In many cases involving serious offending, 'maybe the time for chances has passed', she adds. Where there is public concern about a decision, the system has 'a built-in correction', with appeals at every level, she said. Charleton said a High Court colleague had told him that judging 'has become much easier because no matter what the point is, there will be a decision of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal on it; you just follow that.' In addition to written guidance, training involves exercises including where judges are asked to decide the sentence in a sexual violence case and have their responses assessed by appeal court judges. Judges sitting in the criminal courts generally have 'a good grasp' of what is required and the structure through which the decision is made, said Butler. The judicial studies action plan for 2025 has three key elements: the first – 'judgecraft' – includes management of the court and the framing and writing of judgments. 'Striving for clarity is the main principle of judgment writing,' said Butler. You are trying continuously to be conscious of the fact that other people's perspectives and experiences can be so vastly different to, not just your own, but what you think more broadly is Irish society — Ms Justice Nuala Butler The second – 'black letter law' – involves seminars and lectures on sentencing decisions, the content and application of important judgments, and what the personal injury guidelines mean. The third – 'our society' – is about making judges aware of the rights and experience of atypical court users. This has included online presentations from representative groups, including Travellers, the LGBTQ community, the Association of Africans in Ireland and the Muslim community. The judicial studies committee is also considering how to manage court users who are neurodivergent or have developmental or mental health issues, said Butler. 'Being a judge is probably more complex these days. There is a much wider range of court users. You are trying continuously to be conscious of the fact that other people's perspectives and experiences can be so vastly different to, not just your own, but what you think more broadly is Irish society,' she said. Other training initiatives include the preparation of a judge's 'model' charge to the jury concerning offences including murder, manslaughter, rape and theft. The idea is to provide judges with a template they can use, although they are not obliged to, said Charleton. He regards route to verdict (RTV) documents, which have begun to be provided to juries in some serious criminal trials, including the trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan who was acquitted last January of the murder of a trespasser on his farm, as a positive development. An RTV is a written aid containing questions, focusing on the law, issues and evidence in the case, aimed at leading the jury to a legally justified verdict. A presentation on how RTVs can assist juries was part of the judges' training. Diarmuid Phelan, who in January was found not guilty of the murder of a trespasser on his farm. Photograph: Collins Courts Participation in training events is 'generally satisfactory', although a 'systemic' problem, particularly for judges in the District and Circuit Courts, is getting time to attend training sessions, said Butler. All newly appointed judges have two days of compulsory training, including workshops on topics including ethics, courtroom management and awareness of victims. They also shadow and are mentored by more senior colleagues. Turning up for training and listening inspires confidence in judges and the administration of justice 'because it means you are taking your job seriously', Charleton said. 'If you are not rising and falling on whatever storm is going around, if you are forging ahead and doing what you ought to be doing based on what you hear, that inspires confidence.'
