Soldier beats a woman unconscious, gets a great reference from his CO. Jailed after appeal

Yes defending the rights of a vulnerable class of fellow citizen , the lgbt, is now considered a provocation. We must be living in the handmaids tale.

Is that what they teach in the defence forces? How to beat up women?

Apparently he was a exemplary soldier.

The more you think about it you wonder does the judge get a kick out of causing this type a outrage? Knowing the power he yields, and the god-like complex he may feel. Even his comments to the victim stank of almost contempt. Weird. He knew the damage this scumbag caused, the pain, terror and lasting impact, and still he decides to suspend the sentence, and his reasoning lies with the pepetrator and what about his career and future….

It's great to hear this young woman retort and tell us how bad this affair is. To stick it to this judge and to the perp

Many may not agree with this, but I would even go as far as to suggest that the law (laughable in this country) should be applied even more harshly to those in uniform. Members of the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána should be held to a higher standard.

I absolutely agree with it, hence when I hear of Gardai colluding with criminals, I want serious sentences….these people are in such powerful and responsible positions. Their "badness" can cause caranage for wider society

Bunch of cos playing muppets acting the hard men after watching platoon, would sh*t themselves in a real war. That this piece of vermin is still walking the streets in uniform is a stain on our legal system and defence forces.

No no no….to some he was just doing his job……

Other thng is that if he comes from even a half decent family, it must be awful as a parent to know your child could do that to another person, and particularly a woman. And now your son, brother is all over pubic media as a woman-beater. Sad all around……

Or Judge O'Donnell, if he has a wife and children….and them to know this is how their father treated such a nasty piece of work

Absolute disgrace,.I'm at least glad to see this getting a lot of coverage but something needs to be done about the sentencing in this country

OK got you. You and I tend to see eye to eye on other threads, so was confused what you meant.

Yes a suspended sentence should be a second chance. "You did wrong, you have admitted it" etc. Unfortunately it's the go-to sentence for everything including Anto with his 64 previous convictions.

That needs to change.

Imagine how awful it feels for the parents and siblings of the victim.

Also agree with this and I believe generally it is the case.

That female guard who stole 70euro of cannabis. She was rightly prosecuted by her colleagues. She received 9 months prison.

For a person with no previous convictions, I've seen many headlines where people have been actively selling drugs, for example this couple selling 14k worth of cannabis and both getting fully suspended sentences https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/couple-caught-growing-cannabis-plants-in-home-shared-with-their-baby-1432303.html

One case involved 70euro worth and they'll see the inside of a cell even if it's for a few months out of the 9 given. The other involved 14k and neither saw the inside of a cell.

So it would seem there is a higher standard there when convicted, at least for gardai. I'm amazed at this DF person though.

Sorry but a person in a defence forces uniform should not be drunk, either in public or behind army gates.

Where is the upholding of the honour the uniform brings?

I read about this case yesterday and was completely shocked and disgusted. To think that someone could be beaten almost to death by a complete stranger in a public street only for the brave man who thankfully stopped the attack. Then to read that the attacker was a soldier and had actually boasted about his actions online. Then to read what was said to the lady in court by the judge did she understand the attacker had done her a favour by pleading guilty and then having to listen to the ridiculous character reference. Then to top it all off she had to watch him walk away a free man. It is just completely unbelievable.

I’m not quite sure we can conclude just yet, that the defence forces “voluntarily” supported the defendant - it’s still unclear how or why this statement was read out.