Margaret Loftus brings her campaign for justice system reform to Leinster House
Margaret Loftus travelled to Leinster House this week to speak directly with the Minister for Justice as she continues her campaign for reforms to assist survivors of domestic violence.
Ms Loftus was hosted by Mayo TD Rose Conway-Walsh and Senator Pauline Tully, with Women’s Aid CEO Sarah Benson also in attendance.
Originally from Balla in County Mayo, Ms Loftus broke her silence last month in an interview with RTÉ Prime Time, where she recounted her story and her 14‑year fight for accountability and justice.
A former Garda, Ms Loftus is the survivor of a 2012 assault carried out by her ex-husband, Garda Trevor Bolger.
On October 24, 2012, Bolger attacked Ms Loftus after they attended a family party in Mayo. He later pleaded guilty to a Section 2 assault and received a three‑month suspended sentence.
Following the case, Ms Loftus spoke publicly about her years navigating the Irish legal system – a process she has said “caused as much damage and as much trauma as the abuse itself.”
She explained that her lived experience was “made extremely difficult for me by the very organisation that was tasked with the protection of life.”
Throughout the investigation, Bolger continued to serve as a member of An Garda Síochána. He was suspended only on the day formal charges were brought against him and remains suspended more than six years later.
Ms Loftus delivered a presentation in Leinster House outlining her experience and campaigning for the reforms she knows are urgently needed.
Speaking afterwards, Deputy Conway-Walsh praised Ms Loftus for her “bravery and courage” in coming forward.
“She chose to stand up not just for herself, but for every woman who has been failed by the system,” the Sinn Féin TD said.
“Her harrowing experience exposes serious flaws in how victims of domestic abuse are treated within our justice system when their abusers are serving members of An Garda Síochána, and we must now ensure meaningful reform follows.”
Deputy Conway-Walsh added that Ms Loftus’ journey demonstrated the profound impact domestic violence has on survivors and the immense resilience required to pursue justice in Ireland.
“No victim should have to endure a 14-year battle and 58 court dates in their pursuit of justice and accountability,” she said.
Sinn Féin Senator Tully said she admired Ms Loftus’ strength and resilience, noting that the trauma she carries “was compounded by a system that was weaponised against her from within.”
She stressed the importance of survivors having confidence in both the Gardaí and the wider system designed to protect them.
“Domestic violence victims need to have the confidence that when they are at their most vulnerable, the Gardaí they trust to protect them are not perpetrators of domestic violence themselves,
“Today was about listening to Margaret, acknowledging where the system failed her and committing to change so that no other victim is retraumatised by the very system meant to protect them,” Senator Tully said.
Both representatives reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ms Loftus in her mission to secure systemic reform, greater transparency and a survivor-centred approach to justice.
While acknowledging the dedicated work of the majority of An Garda Síochána, Deputy Conway-Walsh and Senator Tully said it was clear from Ms Loftus’ testimony that there are “failures within the force when dealing with cases of domestic violence involving one of their own.”
They added that the visit to Leinster House provided an important opportunity for legislators to hear directly from a survivor about the barriers within the legal process and the urgent need for reform.”
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.