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17th Jun 2025

Natasha O’Brien documentary to air on RTÉ next week

Kat O'Connor

Natasha O’Brien’s RTÉ documentary is a must-watch

Natasha O’Brien has become a leading voice for women’s rights in Ireland.

The activist has never shied away from fighting for justice and for ensuring the women of Ireland are heard.

Natasha has encouraged great change, but has also helped many see that using your voice does make a difference.

In a new RTÉ documentary, Natasha discusses her violent assault and why she will always use her voice.

She will also highlight the fight for structural justice reform in a new RTÉ documentary.

NATASHA is set to be an emotional watch as the activist discusses the violent attack that changed her life forever.

The synopsis reads:

‘After surviving a violent assault by a serving soldier—who was convicted but walked free with a suspended sentence—Natasha O’Brien, a young Irish woman, refuses to stay silent. 

‘Her public outcry against the lenient ruling ignites national protests and forces a reckoning with how the Irish justice system treats survivors of gender-based violence.

‘This powerful, intimate documentary follows Natasha and is a portrayal of how the aftermath of a violent attack and the subsequent strain of the flawed justice system affects a young woman’s life and how she attempts to transform her trauma into activism. 

‘Along the way, she meets other women—Bláthnaid Raleigh, Maev McLoughlin Doyle,—who each share harrowing stories of how the system failed them too. Together, their voices form a chorus demanding change.

‘Natasha also meets policymakers such as Ivana Bacik and experts in Criminology such as Dr. Ian Marder to understand how the system can be reformed as well as other activists and academics to understand the power of “taking up space” and being vocal about your experiences and the affect this can have on other victims who wish to speak out.’

The RTÉ documentary will follow the subsequent appeal of the sentence by the DPP and document the final verdict.

It will also include the behind-the-scenes emotional reactions of Natasha and her family. 

NATASHA is both a very personal journey of a young Limerick woman and a call for structural justice reform.

The documentary is directed by Kathleen Harris and produced by Laura Burns and Stephen McCormack.

NATASHA airs on RTÉ 1 on Wednesday, June 25th at 9.35 pm.