Ireland Garda Trevor Bolger to be sentenced for 2012 'protracted assault' on then-wife Margaret Loftus
Trevor Bolger, a 48-year-old garda, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in June 2025 to a protracted assault on his then-wife Margaret Loftus, also a member of the Garda Síochána, on 25 October 2012 in County Mayo, during which he hit her in the back and grabbed her by the hair. Bolger was suspended in December 2018 after a voluntary interview in which he twice denied the assault, and was sent forward for trial on indictment. Judge Martina Baxter described the assault as egregious and adjourned sentencing to October 2025, with Bolger remanded on continuing bail. Ms Loftus, who ended the marriage the day after the incident, told the court the assault took 13 years of her life to resolve.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted18 Jun
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Bolger pleaded guilty to a protracted assault on his then-wife Margaret Loftus on 25 October 2012, during which he hit her in the back and grabbed her by the hair while irate that she spoke to her family.
- Where
- The assault took place in County Mayo.
- When
- The incident occurred on 25 October 2012.
- Investigation
- Bolger was interviewed voluntarily in December 2018 and twice denied the assault.
- In court
- At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in June 2025, Judge Martina Baxter described the assault as egregious.
- Bolger was remanded on continuing bail and sentencing was adjourned to October 2025.
- Other details
- Bolger was suspended from the Garda Síochána in December 2018 and sent forward for trial on indictment.
- Bolger was promoted to detective and attached to Howth Garda station in August 2018 and had no previous convictions.
- Ms Loftus ended the marriage the day after the assault and told the court it took 13 years of her life to resolve.
- Bolger brought €6,000 in compensation to the court and was treated for anxiety and depression following the event.
- Bolger remarried in 2021.
16 statements extracted from the articles
- whatBolger pleaded guilty to assaulting Margaret Loftus on 25 October 2012. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBolger was irate because Ms Loftus spoke to her family and did not stay by his side. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBolger hit Ms Loftus in the back and grabbed her by the hair. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMs Loftus ended the marriage the day after the assault. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMs Loftus had her father stand beside her while she told Bolger their marriage was over. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMs Loftus said the assault took 13 years of her life to resolve. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationBolger was interviewed voluntarily in December 2018 and twice denied the assault. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Martina Baxter described the assault as egregious. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBolger is to be sentenced in October 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBolger was remanded on continuing bail. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBolger was treated for anxiety and depression and entered a psychiatric hospital following the event. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBolger brought €6,000 in compensation to the court. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBolger remarried in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBolger was promoted to detective and attached to Howth Garda station in August 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBolger was suspended in December 2018 and sent forward for trial on indictment. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBolger has no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 18 Jun2025Former wife of garda ‘lost everything’ after he carried out ‘protracted assault’ on her
Reports the sentencing hearing at which Bolger pleaded guilty, the victim read her impact statement, and Judge Baxter adjourned sentencing to October 2025.
victim, Margaret Loftus, female, irish (judged from name)Margaret Loftusconvicted, Trevor Bolger, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Trevor Bolger