Minister assures Margaret Loftus review into Garda misogyny will happen

By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

A “systemic review” of misogyny within An Garda Síochána will be carried out, domestic abuse campaigner Margaret Loftus has said.

Speaking in Leinster House on Wednesday, she said she had a meeting with the Minister for Justice earlier in the day and he, alongside the Garda Ombudsman Fiosrú, had “assured” her that they have “funded and resourced” an entire systemic review of misogyny within the gardaí.

Addressing members of the Oireachtas, Loftus spoke of her experience of the legal system after an assault at the hands of her ex-husband, Garda Trevor Bolger in 2012.

He was convicted of assault earlier this year and received a suspended sentence.

She said her 14-year fight for justice “caused as much damage and as much trauma as the abuse itself”.

Adding her journey was “made extremely difficult for me by the very organisation that was tasked with the protection of life.”

She said her meeting with the Minister for Justice was “very productive”, and said “the last time I had meeting with Minister for Justice, the resolution I was offered at the end, it was a hug.

“So I was very glad that today there’s a more measured, actionable response being taken to the situation.”

She added: “I think it is being treated with the importance it should be treated with right now.”