Former Irish Olympic swimming coach George Gibney to appear before Florida court next week
Gardaí have been investigating fresh allegations that Gibney sexually abused multiple children in his care while working as a swimming coach in Ireland decades ago. He
was arrested by US Marshals on foot of an Irish extradition warrant yesterday.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the arrest shows the importance of judicial cooperation with the United States this morning. He paid tribute to gardaí for diligent police work.
A specialist unit within the Garda National Protective Services Bureau launched a detailed inquiry after a garda probe was reopened in 2020 when several people made allegations on a
BBC and Second Captains podcast titled 'Where is George Gibney?'
.
Speaking to reporters during a trade mission to Japan, Martin said: 'I think we all listened to the podcast. I think it's important that we have an agreement with the US – gardaí have been working very diligently and in a detailed way, I have no doubt.
'We will await the next step now,' he added.
After a three-year investigation, a file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who recommended charging Gibney. Gardaí said that they are aware of the arrest of a male aged in his 70s in the United States on the foot of an international warrant.
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'As this is currently a matter for the US authorities, An Garda Síochána will not be commenting further at this time,' a spokesperson said.
Gibney was the founder of the Trojan Swimming Club in Blackrock in Dublin, where he also worked as a coach. He was also the Irish national swimming coach until 1991.
Now aged in his 70s, he was previously charged with 27 sexual offences in 1993, which were dropped in 1994 after Gibney a High Court injunction, preventing the DPP from prosecuting him.
Gibney then left Ireland for Scotland, where he continued to work as a swimming coach. He has lived in the United States since 1995.
In 1997, a garda investigation into Gibney was opened after fresh allegations were made against him. A probe was reopened in 2020 following the BBC and Second Captains' ten-part investigative podcast series.
The series centred on the survivors of sexual abuse by Gibney and gardaí commenced a new investigation after its publication. A number of alleged victims came forward following an appeal was issued for people with any information to come forward.
The DPP would be free to seek Gibney's extradition from the US if it were to proceed with charges.
With reporting by Andrew Walsh and Christina Finn in Japan
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