Mayo TD hosts Margaret Loftus at Leinster House to push for Justice reform

Margaret Loftus, originally from Mayo, was hosted on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) by Sinn Féin TD for Mayo, Rose Conway-Walsh, and Senator Pauline Tully, where she detailed her 14-year fight for accountability following what she described as a “vicious” assault by her then husband, Garda Trevor Bolger, in 2012.

Ms Loftus broke her silence publicly last month after her former husband received a three-month suspended sentence in connection with the assault. She addressed lawmakers at Leinster House, calling for urgent reform of how the justice system handles domestic violence cases involving serving gardaí.

The Mayo woman was joined at the Oireachtas by Sarah Benson, CEO of Women’s Aid, who continues to campaign for stronger protections and systemic reforms for victims of domestic abuse across Ireland.

Speaking after the presentation, TD Conway-Walsh said Ms Loftus had shown “extraordinary bravery and courage” in coming forward.

“After 14 years of navigating silence and systemic failure, she chose to stand up not just for herself, but for every woman who has been failed by the system,” the Mayo 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.”

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Deputy Conway-Walsh said that no victim should have to endure a 14-year legal battle involving 58 court dates in pursuit of justice.

“Margaret’s journey highlighted the devastating impact of domestic violence and the immense resilience it takes to seek justice in this country,” she added.

Senator Pauline Tully said domestic violence victims must be able to trust the 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,” she said.

She added that Ms Loftus’ trauma had been compounded by a system that was “weaponised against her from within”.

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In a joint statement, the Sinn Féin representatives said they stand with Ms Loftus in her call for “systemic reform, transparency and victim-centred justice”.

While acknowledging the “dedicated work of the vast majority” of gardaí, they said Ms Loftus’ testimony highlighted “blatant flaws and failures within the force when dealing with cases of domestic violence involving one of their own”.

Ms Loftus is now campaigning for reforms to ensure greater accountability and oversight in cases where members of An Garda Síochána are accused of domestic abuse.

Her appearance before members of the Oireachtas was described as an important opportunity for legislators to hear first-hand about the realities of the barriers faced within the legal process and the personal toll of prolonged court proceedings.

Deputy Conway-Walsh said Ms Loftus’ courage in breaking her silence “demands a response and meaningful action from government”.

“Her fight for justice must now lead to lasting change,” she said. “It cannot be for nothing – it has to count.