Garda who carried out 'protracted assault' on former wife awaits sentencing
Trevor Bolger arriving at the Central Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to assaulting Margaret Loftus in 2012. Picture: Collins Courts
A garda who carried out a “protracted assault” on his then wife, who was also a member of the force, is to be sentenced later at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Trevor Bolger, aged 48, who was previously attached to Ballymun Garda Station, pleaded guilty to assaulting Margaret Loftus on October 25, 2012.
Ms Loftus read a victim impact statement to the court in which she described the effects the assault had on her.
She said Bolger violently assaulted her that night. “I lost everything,” she said. She said she had a strong sense of truth and justice.
“After this assault it also impacted personal relationships I had within the guards — there was a stigma attached to me — for standing up for myself.”
She said it was “used against me while I tried to seek justice for myself” and was as “damaging as the assault itself”.
Ms Loftus also thanked the members of gardaí who investigated the case.
“It has taken 13 years of my life to get to where we are today but truth and justice must prevail,” she added.
She said as a victim of domestic violence she would like to encourage others to come forward.
Detective Garda Rioghnach O’Sullivan told the court that in October 2012 the then couple had travelled to her home county in Balla, Co Mayo, for a family event.
Bolger was irate because Ms Loftus spoke to her family and did not stay by his side and he sat at the bar drinking for the night, the court was told.
When they returned home to her childhood bedroom in which they were staying, he hit her in the back and grabbed her by the hair while she begged him not to hurt her.
She described it as a “protracted assault” which was “terrifying” and she feared that if she had stayed with him she would have been killed, so ended the marriage the next day.
Det Gda O’Sullivan told the court that the following afternoon “she had her father stand beside her while she told him [Bolger] that their marriage was over”.
Bolger was interviewed voluntarily in December 2018 and twice denied he had engaged in an assault on Ms Loftus.
Cathleen Noctor SC, defending, said her client had been treated for anxiety and depression and had entered a psychiatric hospital following the event. He had brought €6,000 in compensation which he handed over to the court.
The court heard that Bolger remarried in 2021. A number of testimonials were before the court including one from a retired inspector.
Counsel said Bolger had made a positive contribution to society over his 20-year career. She also asked the judge to have regard to his own circumstances and that his mental health difficulties are ongoing.
Bolger was promoted to the rank of detective and was attached to Howth Garda Station in August 2018. He was suspended in December 2018 and was sent forward for trial on indictment in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Bolger has no previous convictions.
Judge Martina Baxter described it as an egregious assault. She said because it is spousal abuse she was going to ask for the assistance of the Probation Service. Bolger is to be sentenced in October.
She remanded him on continuing bail noting Ms Noctor’s submission that custody was harder for Bolger because of the role he had at the time and the responsibility that comes with that.
The court heard the maximum penalty for the assault, under Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act which is normally dealt with summarily in the district court, is six months imprisonment or a fine.
Judge Baxter said she would disagree with Ms Noctor’s assertion that the Circuit Court rarely deals with summary offences. She told Ms Noctor that there would be more weight on her submissions on the passage of time since the offence.
Ms Noctor asked the court to have regard to her client's apology, his expression of remorse, and testimonials before the court including one from a retired Garda Inspector, Nick Mulligan, who Ms Noctor said “has known my client for the whole time he had a career in An Garda Síochána".
Judge Baxter queried whether those who had provided testimonials knew why they were asked to do so.
“I have instructions that they do all know,” said Ms Noctor.
My name is Margaret Loftus and I was born and had a great childhood on our family farm in Co Mayo. I am the 3rd eldest of 7 born to my parents, Michael and Martina Loftus.
I joined An Garda Síochána in 2004 and was stationed in Ballymun Garda Station in 2006.
This is where I first met Trevor Bolger, who was also a member of An Garda Síochána. We had a relationship, got married, and I gave birth to my two beautiful children. The two most beautiful souls you could ever wish for. Our marital home was in Sandford Woods, Swords, Co Dublin.
This particular assault which is before the courts today took place in my family home, my childhood bedroom in Pollavaddy, Co Mayo. The one place that I would have called the safest place on earth, with my parents' bedroom right next door. My two children, who were aged 2 and 8 months, were also present in my bedroom on that night. They were babies. I was still breastfeeding my eight-month-old.
Throughout the assault, their safety was my main concern. I would have taken any type of battering once they were safe. The fear I felt during the assault was heightened by the knowledge that my children were present.
This assault on this fateful night was so violent and terrifying, it ended our marriage. I felt if I didn't end the marriage my life would be at risk.
With the support and strength of my father, I told Trevor the following morning our marriage was over and I would never allow him assault me ever again.
The violence he had shown the night before was terrifying. My head was still aching. I was aching all over.
I knew I couldn't live in fear... I was not going to be the ad on the telly for domestic violence where my children and I would have to live in silence, in a world domineered by Trevor, and the fear he would be violent again. I chose to be the voice for my children and for myself.
Trevor eventually fell asleep after what I felt was a long protracted assault. I spent the entire night praying to God. I made him a promise that if we made the morning I would never ever put us in this position again.
Apart from the trauma of the assault itself, my whole life and the lives of my children were completely upheaved when I ended the marriage.
In order to ensure the safety of the children and I, I made the decision to relocate back to Mayo to be closer to my family for help, support, and security. These are the people I trust most in this world.
This assault, that destroyed my marriage and my self-esteem, also impacted professional relationships I had with An Garda Síochána.
As a guard, you are supposed to protect the vulnerable, not be the vulnerable.
I felt that colleague knew what had happened that night in Mayo and treated me differently and there was stigma attached to me.
I felt people kept their distance from me for standing up for myself. I felt shame when he was the one who needed to hang his head in shame.
How could he continue to protect the vulnerable, when he, as a member of An Garda Síochána who took an oath, violently assaulted me that night?
I lost everything I had worked so hard for while I was stationed in Ballymun because of Trevor Bolger.
I joined An Garda Síochána as I had a strong sense of truth and justice. Being a victim and, on the other side of the fence, has been a very difficult experience for me.
The protracted process I have been put through by Trevor Bolger to escape from an abusive relationship with him has been as damaging as the assault itself.
It has taken 13 years of my life to get to where we are here today.
But truth and justice should always prevail in the end.
It has taken a toll on me and every single person in my family.
I would like to thank the prosecution and investigation team, specifically Det Garda Rioghnach O'Sullivan, Det Inspector Denise Donegan, Det Inspector Ann Ellis and all of the backroom team who followed this investigation through.
If every member of An Garda Síochána does their jobs as you have done, this country would have one of the best police forces in the world.
Your commitment to professionalism, hard work, and impartiality has saved my life. Thank you for doing your job.
Your work matters and never underestimate the impact you make to the life of someone who has been the victim of a crime.
To my husband, Hugh, who found me shattered and broken with Trevor Bolger, you built me right back up to the strongest version of myself I have ever been. You are my backbone and you are the reason I am able to stand here today.
Trevor Bolger, you did your level best to break me and my children, you made me suffer every single day since I left you after this assault but I want you to know you haven't broken me.
The person standing here today is a much stronger person than the one who left you 13 years ago.
In your assault and your attempts to destroy me, you inadvertently made me stronger.
I am blessed with all the love and goodness around me here today. I will cherish it forever.
Thank you, judge, for letting my voice be heard today. As a victim of domestic violence, I would like to urge all other victims to come forward.
No matter how much someone like Trevor Bolger tries to abuse you, there is always a better life waiting if you can find your voice.
By your own admission here, Trevor Bolger, you are an abuser and a perpetrator of domestic violence.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
