A former member of the defence forces who represents colleagues from Cavan and Monaghan has spoken out about the furore surrounding the Cathal Crotty case. Cathal Crotty is the serving member of the forces who was convicted for beating unconscious Natasha O'Brien in Limerick two years ago.
There has been public outcry after a judge sentenced him to a suspended three-year sentence for the attack. The public's anger has been directed at the legal system because the Judge in Crotty's case said he did not sentence him to prison because he would lose his job in the military.
The public's attention has also turned to the defence forces and if the system protects violent offenders. Colm Mahoney is the chairperson of the 29th Infantry Battalion Association which covers Cavan, Monaghan and Cootehill. He told the Joe Finnegan Show the Irish Defence Forces does not shy away from dismissing members who bring disrepute to the army and that the public must allow the process to run its course: "The defence forces cannot - and will not - get involved until the court case has run its course," Colm Mahoney told the Joe Finnegan Shoe, "When the court has run its course the army steps in then and that, again, is a long process. The military is a chain of command and everything must go up and down in the proper way; there's no shortcuts through it. It has to go to legal departments for opinions and then, eventually you'll be discharged. I'm sure the army - and I've been involved in this myself - the army is more than happy to dismiss anyone who brings the army into disrepute. It just takes time."
