Mayo TD 'deeply concerned' by level of alleged gardaí domestic and sexual abuse misconduct cases under investigation
Mayo Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh has said the revelation that Fiosrú is already investigating 12 cases involving allegations of domestic and sexual abuse linked to serving members of An Garda Síochána is deeply concerning.
Equally as shocking, she stated, is that there are also 23 separate investigations underway where a garda is alleged to have failed to properly deal with a report of domestic or sexual abuse.
Speaking following reports in the media today highlighting the scale of the issue, she said the recent establishment of a dedicated unit within Fiosrú, Office of the Police Ombudsman, to investigate allegations of this nature was a welcome step forward, but now victims need to see meaningful action and reform of a system they often feel is stacked against them.
Deputy Conway-Walsh said: “Today it is being reported that a growing number of complaints involving allegations of coercive control, misuse of protection orders and failures in how victims’ reports were handled by gardaí are being examined by a specialist unit within Fiosrú.
"These all point to systemic issues that cannot be ignored.
“For many months now I have been working closely with Margaret Loftus who has shown immense courage in speaking out about her own experience of domestic violence at the hands of her former husband, who was and still is member of An Garda Síochána.
"Margaret’s long fight for justice exposed deeply troubling failures within the system that have since been echoed by many other women who have come forward.
“Margaret has sought to ensure that victims, particularly those whose abuser is a member of An Garda Síochána, are not silenced, retraumatised or disbelieved when they speak up.
"The establishment of a dedicated unit within Fiosrú is a step forward, but it is only the beginning. Survivors have said clearly that the system feels stacked against them.
“I have raised Margaret Loftus’ case repeatedly in the Dáil over recent months calling for accountability, transparency and reform.
"In February, Senator Pauline Tully and I hosted Margaret Loftus and Sarah Benson from Women’s Aid in Leinster House to speak to members of the Oireachtas about coercive control, institutional failure and the weaponisation of legal processes.
"Margaret Loftus will be before the Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration tomorrow with others to discuss tackling gender-based violence in our society – a discussion I look forward to participating in myself also.
“The cases now under investigation by Fiosrú underscore what survivors have been telling us for years. There are serious inconsistencies in how domestic abuse is handled, and that power imbalances, particularly where the alleged perpetrator is a serving garda, can lead to devastating consequences for victims.
“We must now see full transparency in the outcome of these investigations, independent oversight that victims can trust, reforms of family court processes, specialist training and accountability within An Garda Síochána and proper supports for victims and survivors.
“No one should feel that the system meant to protect them is instead being used against them, and every victim should be assured that when they come forward and make a call to the gardaí about domestic or sexual violence, the garda who responds is not under investigation themselves for these very same crimes.
“I will continue to stand with Margaret Loftus and all survivors of domestic violence in demanding justice, transparency, accountability and meaningful reform.”