Latest news with #TrevorBolger
Irish Times
8 hours ago
- Irish Times
Former wife of garda ‘lost everything' after he carried out ‘protracted assault' on her
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 (48), who was previously attached to Ballymun Garda station, pleaded guilty to assaulting Margaret Loftus on October 25th, 2012. Ms Loftus read a victim impact statement to the court in which she described the effects the 'protracted assault' had on her. She said Bolger violently assaulted her that night. 'I lost everything,' she said. READ MORE 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 the Garda 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. 'Trevor Bolger, you have done your level best to destroy me ... every day you have broken me,' she said. 'By your own admissions here today ... you are an abuser and a perpetrator of domestic violence.' She said as a victim of domestic violence she would like to encourage others to come forward. Det Gda Rioghnach O'Sullivan told the court that in October 2012 the then couple had travelled to Balla, Co Mayo, Ms Loftus's home county, 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'. [ Garda detective pleads guilty to assaulting his then wife, who was also an officer Opens in new window ] 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 continuing. 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.
BreakingNews.ie
11 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Garda (48) who carried out 'protracted assault' on his then wife to be sentenced later
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 (48), who was previously attached to Ballymun Garda Station, pleaded guilty to assaulting Margaret Loftus on October 25, 2012. Advertisement Ms Loftus read a victim impact statement to the court in which she described the effects the 'protracted 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'. Advertisement 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. 'Trevor Bolger, you have done your level best to destroy me …every day you have broken me,' she said. 'By your own admissions here today .. you are an abuser and a perpetrator of domestic violence,' she said. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement The court heard that Bolger remarried in 2021. A number of testimonials were before the court including one from a retired Inspector. Mental health difficulties 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. Ireland Teen (13) posted images of himself sexually abusin... Read More 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.
Irish Times
30-04-2025
- Irish Times
Garda detective pleads guilty to assaulting his then wife, who was also an officer
A detective garda has pleaded guilty to assaulting his now former wife, who was also a serving member of An Garda Síochána at the time. Trevor Bolger, who has spent most of his policing career in the north Dublin region, was at the city's Circuit Criminal Court on Monday more than five years after he first appeared before the courts. The 48-year-old father, with an address in Dublin, was a uniformed garda when allegations about him were first made by the woman, who is now his former wife. He subsequently became a detective. The Irish Times understands he still holds that position. He remained a member of An Garda Síochána when he appeared in court on Monday. READ MORE Bolger was suspended from duty over five years pending the outcome of the investigation and subsequent court process, though his remuneration has continued during his suspension. Bolger was charged with assault, contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. His case had been listed for trial, but he entered a guilty plea. The assault occurred in 2012. Though Bolger appeared before the courts related to the case previously, he has not been named. Bolger has more than 20 years of service in the Garda and has worked on a number of criminal investigations including drugs cases. He is due to be sentenced on June 18th when evidence setting out the nature of the offence is expected to be heard. It is standard practice for details of a case to be set out at a sentencing hearing after an accused person has entered a guilty plea. Bolger's bail was on Monday extended by Judge Patricia Ryan pending his sentencing hearing. The victim, who was married to Bolger at the time of the assault, has since left her job in the Garda, where she was a frontline member for 15 years before leaving. In response to queries, Garda headquarters said: 'A garda based in Dublin remains suspended pending judicial proceedings.' It said it was precluded from commenting on matters still before the courts and said it 'does not comment on named individuals'.
