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A Guarded Life: My story of the dark side of An Garda Síochána
A GARDA, A FORCED ADOPTION, A FIGHT FOR JUSTICE
In 1984, Majella Moynihan was a fresh-faced young garda recruit when she gave birth to a baby boy. Charged with breaching An Garda Síochána's disciplinary rules - for having premarital sex with another guard, becoming pregnant, and having a child - she was pressured to give up her baby for adoption, or face dismissal. It forced her into a decision that would have devastating impacts on her life.
Majella left the force in 1998 after many difficult years and, in 2019, following an RTÉ documentary on her case, she received an apology from the Garda Commissioner and Minister for Justice for the ordeal she endured as a young garda. Here, for the first time, she tells the full story.
From an institutional childhood after the death of her mother when she was a baby, to realising her vocation of becoming a guard only to confront the reality of a police culture steeped in misogyny and prejudice, A Guarded Life is both a courageous personal account of hope and resilience in the darkest times, and a striking reflection on womanhood and autonomy in modern Ireland.
In 1984, Majella Moynihan was a fresh-faced young garda recruit when she gave birth to a baby boy. Charged with breaching An Garda Síochána's disciplinary rules - for having premarital sex with another guard, becoming pregnant, and having a child - she was pressured to give up her baby for adoption, or face dismissal. It forced her into a decision that would have devastating impacts on her life.
Majella left the force in 1998 after many difficult years and, in 2019, following an RTÉ documentary on her case, she received an apology from the Garda Commissioner and Minister for Justice for the ordeal she endured as a young garda. Here, for the first time, she tells the full story.
From an institutional childhood after the death of her mother when she was a baby, to realising her vocation of becoming a guard only to confront the reality of a police culture steeped in misogyny and prejudice, A Guarded Life is both a courageous personal account of hope and resilience in the darkest times, and a striking reflection on womanhood and autonomy in modern Ireland.
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First published September 3, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
September 18, 2020
I finished this book inside one day. I ended the book crying my eyes out at the treatment Majella received. I truly hope Ireland will never go back into those dark dark days of the past.
September 15, 2020
A great but sad story. I stayed up all night reading it. I couldn’t put it down. Majella is a courageous woman and the story is incredible. If you like life stories you will be inspired and appalled all at the same time.
There are parts of this book where I cried for her and the little girl that she was, and then for the woman that she became. There were many monsters in Majellas life and most of them human. She has overcome so much, most of us would have stayed broken but she has survived and told us her story and it will inspire people and give them hope to go on.
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5 stars from me
There are parts of this book where I cried for her and the little girl that she was, and then for the woman that she became. There were many monsters in Majellas life and most of them human. She has overcome so much, most of us would have stayed broken but she has survived and told us her story and it will inspire people and give them hope to go on.
Read it
5 stars from me
November 23, 2020
Jesus!
This damned country.
Yes, Ireland has come a long way but the way the institutions of the state (including the Catholic church) have treated women continues to shock.
This book illustrates, through the life story of Majella Moynihan, the intrinsic misogyny of our history. From her childhood in an industrial school to the chronic psychological, emotional, callous, sexist abuse meted out by the Gardaí to one of their own....and don't forget the demand by the church to give up her child.
This is heartbreaking.
Thankfully, Majella is a strong and courageous woman who has spoken out, amazing considering the attack on her worth all her life.
This damned country.
Yes, Ireland has come a long way but the way the institutions of the state (including the Catholic church) have treated women continues to shock.
This book illustrates, through the life story of Majella Moynihan, the intrinsic misogyny of our history. From her childhood in an industrial school to the chronic psychological, emotional, callous, sexist abuse meted out by the Gardaí to one of their own....and don't forget the demand by the church to give up her child.
This is heartbreaking.
Thankfully, Majella is a strong and courageous woman who has spoken out, amazing considering the attack on her worth all her life.
January 9, 2021
This was an interesting read. The treatment Majella was given by the Gardai while typical of the time in Ireland was very poor.
Majella had an institutional childhood which led to her early adult life and the lack of any support structures around her when when she was pregnant and dealing with the might of An Garda Siochana.
I feel there was alot more to Majella's life and her father that was not discussed within the book.
It is obvious that Majella had/has significant mental health problems which she says she has addressed in recent years. I wish her well in her life
Majella had an institutional childhood which led to her early adult life and the lack of any support structures around her when when she was pregnant and dealing with the might of An Garda Siochana.
I feel there was alot more to Majella's life and her father that was not discussed within the book.
It is obvious that Majella had/has significant mental health problems which she says she has addressed in recent years. I wish her well in her life
December 28, 2020
Infuriating. What happened to Majella was barbaric.
April 9, 2021
I was touched by this woman's bravery and resilience. This book serves as powerful reminder for us all- we need to keep moving ever forward. As an Irish person, this really hit home for me.
October 23, 2020
Excellent book. Heartbreaking and bleak to yet again be reminded of the level of institutional abuse in this country. A triumph against adversity, coercion and a battle for justice which is still ongoing, a real and visceral account of one woman against all the odds
October 7, 2020
Horrific treatment of a young girl by an garda siochana . May they hang their heads in shame.
February 28, 2025
It's almost hard to believe, and yet, believable that this happened a little over 40 years ago. A young bheangarda (Irish policewoman) falls pregnant during her training with a fling with another trainee and decides to give up her child to continue her career and then be subjected to harrowing behaviour by her fellow officers and superiors.
Its a brave memoir, a very uncomfortable read and a testament to Ms Moynihan's determination, resilience and downright guts to get the justice she deserved.
a reminder that Ireland was held in the thrall of the Catholic Church and that the state's law enforcement too acted at times as the blunt instrument on its behalf.
Its a brave memoir, a very uncomfortable read and a testament to Ms Moynihan's determination, resilience and downright guts to get the justice she deserved.
a reminder that Ireland was held in the thrall of the Catholic Church and that the state's law enforcement too acted at times as the blunt instrument on its behalf.
January 26, 2024
Crushing account of how women were treated in society and in the workforce in Ireland not that long ago. All because of organised religion and deep rooted Gardai mysogeny. That she still hasn't been financially compensated tells us that little has changed.
February 16, 2022
Could’ve been a newspaper article
December 26, 2020
I started reading this book one night, expecting to take in a few chapters a day for the next few days, but I could not put it down. I read the entire book in one sitting. It has generated a slew of emotions. What former Garda Majella Moynihan went through is shocking.
December 26, 2020
Such a sad book. This woman has been through so much but is amazingly strong and courageous. A book that will stay with me for a long time
January 19, 2021
This is a very good book. It is incredibly shocking the control and the hypocrisy the church influenced among Irish society. It is high time the Vatican are forced to pay compensation to the victims of their abuse of unmarried mothers, their clergy members that beat children in schools and their sexual abuse of children.
It is sickening to read about how many male members of the force subjected Majella to such cruel treatment. As a man I ashamed that my gender harbours these thoughts and think there is nothing wrong.
Fair play to you for your story and your help to women.
It is sickening to read about how many male members of the force subjected Majella to such cruel treatment. As a man I ashamed that my gender harbours these thoughts and think there is nothing wrong.
Fair play to you for your story and your help to women.
September 30, 2020
A very upsetting story
This is a very upsetting story that in this day and age should not be tolerated. Sadly, this sort of treatment seems to be alive and thriving even up to 2020. I'm wondering will she get her pension back. I recall what happened to the Whistle Blower and how he was treated. I'm not sure you can ever win in a case like this despite nearly being driven to suicide. Very sad. I wish her the very best and relate to a lot that's happened to her.
This is a very upsetting story that in this day and age should not be tolerated. Sadly, this sort of treatment seems to be alive and thriving even up to 2020. I'm wondering will she get her pension back. I recall what happened to the Whistle Blower and how he was treated. I'm not sure you can ever win in a case like this despite nearly being driven to suicide. Very sad. I wish her the very best and relate to a lot that's happened to her.
October 28, 2020
A sad story. Everyone in Ireland should read this but I actually preferred the RTE documentary Doc on One which unfortunately I’d listened to before reading the book. That spoilt the book for me.
February 27, 2022
A really enjoyable read of a bygone Ireland steeped in misogyny. Reading this book you'd think it was a foreign country a hundred years ago. Hopefully Ireland as a whole and our police force have reformed and changed for the better. My heart goes out to the harrowing physical and emotional trauma endured on Majella.
January 7, 2021
A bleak reminder of the misogyny in Ireland at this time, my heart goes out to Majella for all she endured. Very well written and extremely brave of her to share her heartbreaking story, couldn't put it down!
February 16, 2022
A Guarded Life tells the terrible but moving life story of Majella Moynihan, who was forced to give up her newborn son for adoption because she wasn't married to the father. Ireland was a reprehensible and misogynistic country back then. This is a tragic book, but definitely a must-read.
July 1, 2022
Heartbreaking account of a female guard in Ireland during the early 80s. I heard Majella on the radio before and was very keen to read her story. She comes across as a very genuine voice. The police force in Ireland continues to modernise this is a black mark on their history.
August 25, 2022
Such a disturbing story of everyday misogyny in the 1980s, a time when I thought things had changed. What I find really upsetting is the parallels with recent stories of the Met, and wonder whether these views still prevail, but are just less likely to be voiced in public.
February 26, 2023
Vaguely knew this story but not the details before starting this book. Ended up reading the whole thing in one sitting and have never felt so angry reading someones story before. Really well written and really brave of Majella to tell her story.
January 15, 2021
Finished this book in just under two hours couldn't put it down. The way this woman was treated is just horrific. The father of her child should also be ashamed of himself.
January 17, 2021
One of the most heartbreakingly honest stories I've ever read
January 21, 2021
Read in a day. Unbelievably written. Horrible how Ireland and groups that are supposed to protect people and care for them treated her.... Along with many many women and children
February 9, 2021
I read this book in one sitting. Such a well told, harrowing story.
February 9, 2021
So heartbreaking, but a great read. Couldn't leave the book down. Horrendous treatment. A brave brave woman
March 13, 2021
The story of oppression of women
A crushing account of how women were treated in society and in the workforce,
Dominated by male bosses and influenced. By church and state.
A crushing account of how women were treated in society and in the workforce,
Dominated by male bosses and influenced. By church and state.
May 1, 2021
It's terrible the pain Majella went through all through her life.l think she is a remarkable woman for putting her side down on paper.
January 6, 2022
Very sad story. Couldn't stop reading once I started, read in less than a day.
Heart breaking to read and glad to hear Majella found the courage to write this story.
Heart breaking to read and glad to hear Majella found the courage to write this story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews