Limerick mayor references case of soldier who beat woman at inauguration

The country's first directly-elected mayor, John Moran, vowed to work to help make his adoptive Limerick city a safer place in his speech

Mayor of Limerick John Moran at the inauguration ceremony at St Mary's Cathedral where he was vested with Chains of Office. Picture: Don Moloney

Ireland’s first directly-elected mayor John Moran has vowed to work to help make his adoptive Limerick city a safer place, citing a court case which heard a local woman was beaten unconscious in the city by a serving member of the Defence Forces.

Cathal Crotty, aged 22, of Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha, Clare, beat Natasha O’Brien, aged 24, unconscious in a random street attack, and boasted about it afterwards on social media. He walked free from a court on Wednesday after getting a fully suspended sentence.