“I kept it secret for so many years, because I had so much shame.”
Majella Moynihan has said that she is “overwhelmed” by the response to her story on RTE’s Documentary on One.
The former Garda had been threatened with dismissal in 1984 for having pre-marital sex with another recruit Garda and subsequently becoming pregnant.
Moynihan, who was 22 at the time, gave birth to a baby boy who she then had adopted. The following year, she attended a hearing where she had to provide information about her own sexual history and her sexual relationship with the recruit Garda.
The former Garda remained on the force for 15 more years until taking early retirement in 1998. She was traumatised by the adoption and the treatment she received on the force during and after her pregnancy.
Moynihan told her story in Doc on One, which aired over the weekend. She said that she now feels an immense relief to share what happened to her.
In February 1985 a story in The Irish Times reported that An unnamed Bangharda, was being threatened with dismissal from An Garda Síochana, for having pre-marital sex with another Garda. For the full story Listen here: https://t.co/pzfFHbM9lu @RTE_Culture | @RTEdoconone pic.twitter.com/Jdn5QFQraT
— RTÉ (@rte) June 17, 2019
“I kept it secret for so many years, because I had so much shame, and now it’s no longer my story of shame, it’s their shame,” she told RTE. “And I feel so vindicated.”
“I’m so grateful that I had the courage, and I just hope that it will empower other women, that have been through similar situations to come out and tell their story.”
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan have since issued apologies to Moynihan, however she said that she would like a face-to-face meeting with Harris to receive an apology in person.
“It is of vital importance that I meet Commissioner Harris and that he meets me, and he apologises to me, and he also gives me a written apology,” she said,
“Yes I would be happy and content with that.”
Commissioner Harris is due to meet with Moynihan as soon as possible.
You can listen to Majella Moynihan’s Doc on One programme here.
