Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-27
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Paul Lawless (AON), Mayo

The case of Margaret Loftus exposes very deep structural problems in An Garda Síochána but also in the judicial system. Her story shows how a victim has been failed, in the first instance by An Garda Síochána and then by the judicial system with regard to how slow and opaque it has been and how that system was weaponised, particularly with regard to the disclosure that was consistently sought by the perpetrator. She stated recently that the judicial system was as traumatising as the abuse itself. Margaret endured over 50 court hearings before a plea was eventually offered - a process that was incredibly difficult for her, her family and her ability to move forward. It is crucial that the process be expedited in these cases to ensure that a victim can begin to live again and move on with their lives.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-27/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:01+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-27