Natasha O'Brien exclusively spoke to Her.ie this week

The activist has been hit with waves of hate online for looking happy and confident on camera when retelling her story, whether that's at a protest or on TV, but any person who has been in a similar situation sees just how strong Natasha is.

However, she has stressed that even though using her voice and raising awareness is important to her, she never expected things to reach this level. The media exposure, public attention, and online scrutiny would be difficult for anyone to deal with, but Natasha has handled it all with such grace.

Speaking to Her.ie's Jody Coffey, Natasha admitted that being in court felt like another attack because of how she was treated.

Rather than prioritise the victim, the hearing focused on Crotty's future, his supposedly gleaming reputation, and how good it was that he pleaded guilty.

"The commanding officer who gave a character reference and told the judge how much of an exemplary soldier my violent attacker was, how mannerly and courteous he was, that felt like an attack on me."

Natasha had to face her attacker for the very first time during that overwhelming hearing. She had to relive the attack and then deliver her victim impact statement.

Natasha admitted she felt hopeless and lost following the hearing because the focus wasn't on what happened to her, but more so on Crotty's future.

"I went home alone and I felt like I've actually got no hope now"

The judge told Natasha that she was lucky Crotty pleaded guilty which was the most shocking part of the hearing for her because she didn't feel like the victim, she felt like she was being interrogated.

"I'm a victim here. I'm not the criminal at all and I'm the one being interrogated and attacked."

The Natasha we see on camera isn't the girl who stood in the courtroom or the one who went home alone after the defeated sentence. She isolated herself and didn't want to be around her loved ones because the way she was treated made her lose hope.

"I went home alone and I felt like I've actually got no hope now, I don't care anymore. I don't care what happens to my life. I'm so done with human beings and I have no faith."

However, as Natasha's story started to spread so did the public support for her which has given her the strength to campaign, to make change, and to ensure victims are seen and heard.

READ MORE:

• Natasha O’Brien welcomes appeal of Cathal Crotty’s suspended sentence
• Cathal Crotty reportedly to be discharged from the Defence Forces next week
• Natasha O’Brien opens up about how she learned of Cathal Crotty’s Snapchat documenting the attack