George Gibney Found Guilty of Sexually Abusing Four Girls
The 77-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to five counts while denying 73 others involving four complainants, court records show.
- On Monday, a Central Criminal Court jury convicted former Irish swimming coach George Gibney, 77, of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape involving four girls abused between 1971 and 1981.
- Gibney's extradition from Florida last year followed decades evading prosecution, though jury selection faced obstacles after a 2020 BBC podcast publicized his case, requiring courts to identify 12 jurors unfamiliar with his name.
- Convictions included 12 of 13 counts for the first complainant abused from age 13, two counts for her younger sister assaulted at ages 11 and 13, and all 25 counts for the third victim abused over four years starting at age 8, culminating in attempted rape at age 12 in August 1975.
- After deliberating over seven hours, the jury rejected defence arguments about investigation gaps; Judge Mícheál O'Higgins praised jurors' 'great attention, diligence and tremendous care' as three complainants embraced in emotional courtroom scenes.
- Gibney faces sentencing on July 29, with the court ordering preparation of governor's reports, medical evaluations, and victim impact statements before the hearing.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Brave Swimmers Help Convict Ex-Irish Coach George Gibney in Historic Child Sex Abuse Trial
Former Irish national swimming coach George Gibney has been found guilty in Dublin of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape against four young swimmers, for offences dating back to the 1970s and 1980s. A jury at the Central Criminal Court returned the convictions on Monday afternoon after more than seven hours of deliberation in what campaigners have called a landmark child sex abuse case. Years Of Allegations Finally Rea…
Extra: Former swimming coach George Gibney convicted of sexually abusing four girls more than 50 years ago
For more than 30 years, the name George Gibney has haunted Irish swimming.The former national swimming coach left Ireland in the 1990s after a prosecution against him was halted, leaving many of those who said they were abused by him without the day in court they had waited for.Today, after decades of investigations, legal battles, failed hopes and unanswered questions, Gibney has been convicted of sexually abusing young girls more than 50 year…
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