Courts / Dublin / Report
Garda detective is 'abuser and perpetrator of domestic violence', ex-wife tells court
Summary
Trevor Bolger (48), a former garda detective, pleaded guilty to assaulting his former wife, Margaret Loftus, on October 25, 2012. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the validated procedural stage being sentence. Ms Loftus, who is also a garda, described the assault as a 'protracted assault' that had a significant impact on her personal and professional life. She stated that she lost everything and faced a stigma within An Garda Siochana for standing up for herself. Bolger admitted to the charges and was found to have assaulted Ms Loftus 13 years ago. The court heard that the maximum penalty for the assault, under Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, is six months imprisonment or a fine. Judge Martina Baxter described the assault as 'egregious' and said she would seek the assistance of the Probation Service before adjourning the case for sentencing in October. Bolger was remanded on continuing bail, and the matter was adjourned.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Garda detective is 'abuser and perpetrator of domestic violence', ex-wife tells court. Charges or matters: assaulting her 13 years ago; assaulting Margaret Loftus on October 25, 2012. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 25, 2012 Incident
- October 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 2018 Incident
- August 2018 Incident
- 2025-06-18 Publication
Why: Bolger was irate because Ms Loftus spoke to her family and did not stay by his side, so he reacted by sitting at the bar drinking for the night, the court was told. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: assaulting her 13 years ago; assaulting Margaret Loftus on October 25, 2012 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: 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.; She said because it is spousal abuse, she was going to ask for the assistance of the Probation Service and adjourned the case for sentencing in October.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- previously attached to Ballymun Garda Station
- Ballymun
- was attached to Howth Garda Station
Topics
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