Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 4064Assault (domestic violence) · Co. Mayo · 25 Oct 2012

Garda Trevor Bolger given suspended sentence for 2012 domestic violence assault on wife

Garda Trevor Bolger, 48, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting his then-wife Margaret Loftus in her childhood family home in Co Mayo in 2012, and was given a three-month sentence, fully suspended. A separate Garda investigation was launched into how Irish Times reporter Conor Lally learned of the charges in 2020.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced20 Jan
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatBolger was charged over domestic violence directed at his wife, who was also a serving member of the force. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBolger received a three-month sentence, fully suspended, after pleading guilty to assaulting his then-wife. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe assault took place in Margaret Loftus's childhood family home in Co Mayo. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe assault occurred on 25 October 2012. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe Garda initiated inquiries into how Conor Lally, Security and Crime Editor of The Irish Times, learned Bolger was before the courts. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationLally was contacted and invited for interview as part of the inquiry but refused to disclose any information about sources. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtBolger pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge Martina Baxter gave Bolger a three-month sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBolger was previously attached to Ballymun Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBolger had been charged more than six months before the first media coverage and had appeared in court several times. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGarda Headquarters did not reply to queries about why the investigation was launched in 2020 or what its conclusion was. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Jan2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Gardaí investigated how Irish Times reporter learned of domestic violence charge against member

    Provides details of the sentencing (three months, fully suspended, by Judge Martina Baxter) and the Garda investigation into how the Irish Times learned of the charges, including that reporter Conor Lally was interviewed but refused to disclose sources.

    victim, Margaret Loftus, female, irish (judged from name)Margaret Loftusconvicted, Trevor Bolger, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Trevor Bolger