Ex-Olympic swimming coach sentenced to 16 years in jail over assault on four girls and rape attempt
Judge Michael O'Higgins sentenced him to 16 years and eight months, with the final 14 months suspended
TL;DR
- George Gibney, a former Irish Olympic swimming coach, received a sentence of 16 years and eight months.
- He was found guilty of indecently assaulting four girls and attempting to rape one.
- Gibney coached Ireland's national team at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games.
- He pleaded guilty to five charges and was found guilty on 40 other charges involving assaults between 1974 and 1981.
- Gibney was arrested in Florida on an Irish extradition warrant after living in the US for years.
- A 2020 BBC podcast series reignited scrutiny of the case, leading to new formal statements from survivors.
- His victims had faced previous legal setbacks due to time limitations on prosecutions.