Former Irish Olympic swimming coach and child abuser George Gibney jailed for 15 years
Gibney has been jailed for 15 years for sexually abusing children in his care during the 1970s and 1980s. He was 78 when he faced sentencing.
Judge Micheál P O’Higgin said Gibney had exploited his coaching position and betrayed the trust of young swimmers. He said the sentence reflected the seriousness of the crimes.
Gibney was a prominent figure in Irish swimming, leading the national team at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics and establishing the Trojan club in south Dublin. He later left Ireland and lived in several US states.
Victims, police, journalists and others spent decades trying to locate and extradite him from the United States. A BBC podcast released in 2020 brought renewed attention to the case.
After Gibney’s conviction in July, four victims described the effects of the abuse in court. Survivor Orla Poole also encouraged others affected to seek support; the article does not report further legal steps.
Key points
- Gibney received a 15-year prison sentence for abusing children under his care.
- He coached Ireland’s Olympic swimming team in 1984 and 1988.
- Victims and others pursued him for decades before his conviction.