The Garda Commissioner has apologised to a former member of the force who was threatened with dismissal after she became pregnant after having a baby with a garda recruit in 1984.
Drew Harris issued an apology to Majella Moynihan on Saturday night after she broke silence about how she was investigated by gardai when she became pregnant with a male member of the force.
In a statement on Saturday night Commissioner Harris said: "On behalf of An Garda Síochána, I fully apologise to former Garda Majella Moynihan for the manner in which she was treated and the subsequent lifelong impact this had on her."
Majella's story remained untold until Saturday when an RTÉ documentary revealed how she was pressurised into giving up her baby.
Directly after his birth, Majella’s son was initially placed in foster care before being legally adopted in December 1984.
In April 1985, Majella was then summoned to a sworn hearing on the conduct of the recruit garda, who was the father of her child.
She was forced to testify about her sexual relationship with him, and her sexual history.
The father of her child was fined £90 for his conduct.
Traumatised by the loss of her child and by the treatment she had received within the Force, Majella remained a member of An Garda Síochána for a total of fifteen years but, in 1998, eventually sought early retirement.
