The victims of child abuser George Gibney have received justice - more than half a century since he began offending.
Yesterday in Dublin’s Central Criminal Court, the paedophile was convicted of attempting to rape a young girl and abusing three others.
The offences dated to between 1971 and 1981. At the time, Gibney was one of Ireland’s best known swimming coaches, coaching at an elite level.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Courts Correspondent Frank Greaney described him as holding “positions of incredible and considerable influence” within the swimming world.
“These women came forward after listening to the hugely popular BBC and Second Captain's podcast Where Is George Gibney?, which aired a few years ago,” Mr Greaney explained.
“On foot of what they told Gardaí after coming forward, a total of 79 charges were brought; 78 of those were for indecent assault and there was one count of attempted rape.”
After allegations were raised against him, Gibney left Ireland in the 1990s and was extradited back to Ireland once charges were filed.
Now 77, he requires a wheelchair to get around and was pushed into court by a prison officer.
“He appeared frail in court, a stark contrast to the man who abused his position to prey on these women when they were young girls,” Mr Greaney described.
“He didn't give much away as the verdicts were delivered; there were no tears in the dock, no signs of emotion at all.
“He just sat with his back to the public gallery, so the survivors of his abuse weren't in his direct line of vision.
“When the verdicts were eventually delivered, there were very emotional scenes behind us on the press bench where the survivors and the supporters were seated, sobs and a huge display of emotion when they finally got to the end of a very long issue paper - some 50 years after he committed those dreadful crimes.”
In 1990s, Gibney was charged with 27 counts of child abuse, but those charges were never heard by a jury because the High Court prohibited the trial from proceeding.
It meant that his victims would have to wait decades for justice.
“That's because they ruled following arguments made by his lawyers that the delay in bringing the case meant that he couldn't receive a fair trial,” Me Greaney explained.
“Now, thankfully, the law in that area has since changed and if the same argument was made nowadays, it would fall on deaf ears.
“It wasn't the case back then; he avoided the dock in relation to those charges, he left Ireland.
“He fled; he moved to Scotland initially.
“He then moved on to the US where he lived for decades, largely out of the public eye, until he was arrested in Florida in relation to these charges.”
A sentencing hearing will take place on 29th July and has been remanded in custody until then.
Survivors will be given the opportunity to read victim impact statements.
Anyone who has been impacted by domestic violence can contact Women’s Aid’s National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Main image: George Gibney. Picture by: INPHO / Billy Stickland.
