High Court places stay on dismissal of garda who carried out 'terrifying, protracted assault' on then-wife

A High Court stay of proceedings has temporarily halted the dismissal of a Dublin-based garda convicted of assaulting his then-wife in County Mayo. Mr Justice Sara Phelan approved the suspension on 20 May 2026, extending until 14 July the period during which dismissal proceedings remain on hold. The garda, Trevor Bolger, aged 48 and formerly attached to Ballymun Garda Station, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in April 2025 to assault committed in October 2012. Judge Martina Baxter imposed a three-month sentence in January 2026, suspended in full on strict conditions. The offence occurred during a family visit when Bolger became angry that his wife, also a serving member of An Garda Síochána, engaged in conversation with her family rather than remaining at his side. The victim subsequently described the incident as terrifying and protracted, and ended the marriage the following day. Following Bolger's conviction, the Garda Commissioner issued a notice of dismissal in February 2026, citing the necessity to maintain public confidence in the force under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. Bolger's legal representatives mounted a challenge by judicial review, contending the Commissioner acted without lawful authority and that standard disciplinary procedures remained available as an alternative to dismissal. They argued also that their client had been denied access to comparator cases for assessment purposes. The High Court granted leave to pursue the judicial review challenge. Bolger remains a regular garda under suspension pending the outcome of proceedings. The stay permits both parties to prepare submissions ahead of the July deadline, when the court will consider the substantive issues raised regarding the lawfulness of the dismissal decision and the proportionality of the Commissioner's action.