Sarah Harte: ‘Good guys’ hide behind their status to commit domestic abuse

It's hard to report domestic violence when the perpetrator is in a position of authority

Meav McLoughlin-Doyle thanked gardaí for their support after her husband was jailed. But, tellingly, she also said it had taken her time to disclose the domestic violence ‘because of his job’ as a garda. Picture: Collins Courts

Another week, another domestic abuse case but this case dominated the headlines because it involved a former garda. When you call 999 to report an incidence of domestic violence a key assumption is that the gardaí will make you safer. If you are married to a garda who is also your abuser, disclosure of abuse is not so straightforward.

Last week, 38-year-old Mark Doyle, who resigned from An Garda Síochána last year, was jailed for six years having admitted five counts of assault causing harm to his wife Meav and two counts of assault causing harm to his stepsons between 2007 and 2019.  Over 12 years, he subjected his family to what was described as torture.