George Gibney Guilty Of Sexual Crimes Against Four Girls Aged 8-15
After years on the run in the United States, the Irish former head coach of his national swim team is found guilty in Ireland of 39 out of 40 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape. Sentencing has been set for July 29
George Gibney, who once led the Irish swim team and who was arrested in the United States last July after being on the run for many years, has been been found guilty at the Irish Central Criminal Court of sexually abusing four girls in the 1970s and 1980s.
The arrest on July 2 last year and the background to a torrid tale:
Craig Lord
The 77-year-old former swimming coach is reported to have sat motionless as the court jury of six men and six women found him guilty of 39 out of 40 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape.
The jury also acquitted him on one count of indecently assaulting one of the complainants on a date between 1976 and 1977.
Mr Justice O’Higgins remanded Gibney in continuing custody until a sentencing hearing, which was set for July 29.
Some of the complainants hugged family members and members of the gardaí (police) when the verdicts were read out in the Dublin court.
Gibney could not be named until today in connection with the cases, but he lost his legal right to anonymity the moment the guilty verdict was announced.
Originally charged with 78 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape, he pleaded guilty before the jury to five counts of indecent assault, and not guilty to the remaining 74 counts.
All the offences took place between 1971 and 1981 at various locations, and when the four complainants were aged just eight to 15 years.
For the full details of the case, read Jane Moore's report from the court in The Journal"
Jane Moore
