George Gibney expected to return to Ireland to face criminal charges

By Cate McCurry, PA

Former Irish Olympic swimming coach George Gibney is expected to return to Ireland as early as Tuesday to face criminal charges.

The 77-year-old was arrested on foot of an Irish extradition warrant in Florida earlier this month.

Mr Gibney has been charged with 78 counts of indecent assault and one charge of attempted rape against four minor females aged between eight and 15 years at the time of the alleged offences.

It is understood that Mr Gibney will be flown back to Ireland tonight and is expected to arrive in Ireland on Tuesday. He is being accompanied by gardaí on the flight.

He will be brought before Dublin District Court once he arrives back in the state.

It comes almost two weeks after a US judge ordered the extradition of Mr Gibney.

US magistrate Judge Daniel Irick made the order at a hearing in Florida earlier this month.

The decision came after Mr Gibney had agreed to be extradited from the US to stand trial over multiple sex offence charges.

In court documents, it stated that Mr Gibney is sought by the Irish Government, which has filed charges against him and obtained a warrant for his arrest.

Mr Gibney, who had sex offence charges against him dismissed in the 1990s, has lived in the US for years.

In 2020, the podcast Where Is George Gibney, produced by Second Captains and the BBC, highlighted allegations of abuse against Mr Gibney and prompted new complainants to come forward.