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. 4095Assault · Co. Mayo · 25 Oct 2012

Garda Trevor Bolger given suspended sentence for assaulting wife Margaret Loftus in Balla, Co. Mayo

Trevor Bolger, 48, a former Ballymun Garda Station officer, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 16 January 2026 to a three-month term suspended in full for assaulting his then-wife Margaret Loftus, also a Garda, in Balla, Co. Mayo, on 25 October 2012.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced16 Jan
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
25 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTrevor Bolger, 48, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Margaret Loftus on 25 October 2012. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBolger hit Loftus in the back and grabbed her by the hair while she begged him not to hurt her. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatLoftus described the incident as a 'protracted assault' which was 'terrifying'. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBolger pleaded guilty to assaulting Margaret Loftus on 25 October 2012 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBolger hit her in the back and grabbed her by the hair in her childhood bedroom (irishtimes.com)
  • whereBolger has an address in Swords, Co. Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe couple had travelled to Balla, Co. Mayo, for a family event when the assault occurred. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe couple had travelled to her home in Balla, Co Mayo, for a family event in October 2012 (irishtimes.com)
  • causeBolger was irate because Loftus spoke to her family and did not stay by his side. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge Martina Baxter gave Bolger a three-month sentence suspended in full on strict conditions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Martina Baxter gave him a three-month sentence suspended in full on strict conditions (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBolger was previously attached to Ballymun Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe maximum penalty under Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act is six months' imprisonment or a fine. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherBolger sat at the bar drinking for the night. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherLoftus feared she would have been killed if she had stayed with Bolger and ended the marriage the next day. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe following afternoon Loftus had her father stand beside her while she told Bolger their marriage was over. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMargaret Loftus is also a member of An Garda Síochána. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherLoftus ended the marriage the day after the assault (irishtimes.com)
  • otherIt took 14 years and 58 court appearances to reach the sentencing (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBolger is still a member of An Garda Síochána but was suspended in 2018 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe was promoted to detective and attached to Howth Garda Station in August 2018 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBolger has no previous convictions and has not come to adverse attention since (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBolger engaged with the Men Overcoming Violent Emotions programme and was accepted into a course beginning in February (irishtimes.com)
  • otherJudge Baxter said the assault was aggravated by Bolger's use of alcohol (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBolger has been alcohol-free for six years (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 Jan2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    ‘Justice was never going to be delivered’: Woman’s Garda ex-husband avoids jail for assault

    Reports the sentencing after 14 years and 58 court appearances; Bolger received a fully suspended three-month sentence with conditions including engagement with the MOVE programme.

    suspect, Trevor Bolger, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Trevor Bolgervictim, Margaret Loftus, female, irish (judged from name)Margaret Loftus
  2. 16 Jan2026
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Garda who assaulted wife - a fellow member of An Garda Siochana - avoids jail

    Reports the sentencing: Judge Martina Baxter imposed a three-month sentence suspended in full on strict conditions after Bolger pleaded guilty to the 2012 assault.

    convicted, Trevor Bolger, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Trevor Bolgervictim, Margaret Loftus, female, irish (judged from name)Margaret Loftus