RTÉ to air powerful new documentary chronicling story of Natasha O'Brien

RTÉ is set to air a powerful new documentary next week chronicling the story of Natasha O'Brien.

In May 2022, Natasha O'Brien was assaulted by an off-duty Irish Defence Forces soldier after she confronted him over using homophobic slurs. The attack left her with permanent nerve damage and emotional trauma.

In 2023, her attacker was handed a disappointing suspended sentence which sparked public outrage and raised serious questions about how Ireland's legal system handles gender-based violence.

The Court of Appeal then overturned the fully-suspended prison sentence handed down to former soldier Cathal Crotty and jailed him for two years for beating Natasha O'Brien unconscious on a public street.

Crotty was also ordered to pay €3,000 in compensation to Ms O'Brien.

"I think it's important that we see the spectrum of a human," Natasha says in the documentary. "It's really harmful because it's turning me into something other than human...I don't want to be on a pedestal.

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NATASHA, directed by Kathleen Harris, provides an intimate and deeply human portrait of a woman navigating the personal aftermath of trauma while also becoming a reluctant figure. The documentary explores the emotional cost of public scrutiny and the impact of being thrust into a national debate.

The documentary will feature contributions from fellow survivors, legal experts, and prominent voices such as Ivana Bacik, painting a broader picture of the systemic issues faced by victims of violence in Ireland.

Thus powerful film offers an unfiltered look into O'Brien's experience as a survivor of a violent assault, the justice system's controversial response, and her evolution into a national voice for reform.

NATASHA will premier on Wednesday, June 25, on RTÉ One at 9.35pm.