Judge at centre of Cathal Crotty controversy to retire this week

Protesters gathered in Dublin at the weekend in solidarity with Natasha O'Brien, who was attacked by Defence Forces member Cathal Crotty. Photograph: Cate McCurry/PA Wire

The date was confirmed some weeks ago as Judge O’Donnell has reached retirement age and the development is not connected to the controversy that followed his decision in the Crotty case.

In 2022, the last year for which figures are available, there were 37 appeals by the DPP for a sentence to be reviewed by the Court of Criminal Appeal on grounds of undue leniency. Of these, the DPP’s appeal was successful in 30 cases – an 81 per cent success rate. Legal sources say an appeal must show that the original sentence is outside the margins of discretion properly available to the sentencing judge.

Speaking at the event, she said: “I am absolutely overwhelmed by your solidarity and your support. Without your outrage, your fear, your horror this would not have been looked at.

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