'I knew I was telling the truth' says Gibney survivor as swim coach is jailed 

The jailing of former Olympic swimming coach George Gibney for more than 15 years for the sexual abuse of four girls 50 years ago has put his guilt beyond all doubt, a Cork survivor of his attacks has said.

Gibney, 78, was sentenced yesterday in the Central Criminal Court to 15-and-a-half years in prison.

In July, a jury found him guilty of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape of children.

The jury acquitted him of one count of indecently assaulting one of the complainants five decades ago.

Trish Kearney, who was assaulted by Gibney multiple times when she was a child, said the sentence publicly established his guilt.

“There can be no doubt in anyone’s mind what this man was and what he did,” the Cork-based author said.

George Gibney was a “manipulative predator” who insinuated himself into the lives of children under his care and some of their parents, Mr Justice Mícheál O’Higgins told the Central Criminal Court on Monday.

The 78-year-old former Olympic swimming coach’s campaign of sexual abuse was part of a “pattern of systemic offending which violated the rights of four young children over a lengthy period”, the sentencing judge said.

“It was predatory in nature and a gross breach of trust of his position of authority as a swim coach.

“He used his coaching role to access and assault defenceless children under his care.” 

The abuse took place in Glenalbyn swimming pool, Stillorgan, and Newpark Sports Centre, Blackrock, both in Co Dublin.

Sentencing Gibney, Mr Justice O’Higgins imposed an aggregate sentence of 16 years and eight months, with 14 months suspended. This amounted to a sentence of 15 years and six months in prison.

The judge said he took note of the young ages of the victims, and the predatory context whereby Gibney took advantage of his authority to assault children in his care.

Mitigating factors included Gibney’s age, his failing health, the fact that he did not oppose extradition from the United States and his guilty plea, the judge said.

Speaking on RTÉ's Liveline, Ms Kearney said she was grateful that "this particular chapter" was at an end.

"I'm delighted that he was finally found guilty, publicly," she said.

"We all knew he was guilty, I knew I was telling the truth."