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Former Olympic swim coach George Gibney to land in Ireland to face assault & attempted rape charges after US arrest
FORMER Olympic swim coach George Gibney is expected to land in Ireland tomorrow to face 78 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape against four girls aged between eight and 15.
The 77-year-old was arrested in Florida in the
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George Gibney is expected to land in Ireland tomorrow
Credit: Independent NewsHe had been held in custody in the US but is being flown to
Before moving to the US in 1995, he spent time in Scotland.
He faced charges after a number of alleged victims came forward and made complaints after a BBC podcast — entitled Where is George Gibney — was produced in 2020.
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The Irish Sun
We understand Gibney is in 'good
' and only took a day before agreeing to the extradition
, the decision on which emerged on July 10.
On July 11, he appeared before an American court in a wheelchair where he agreed to the extradition.
Judge Daniel C Irick at the US Middle District Court in
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The judge went through each line of the document with Mr Gibney, who was wheeled into
wearing a navy Orange County jumpsuit, to confirm that he understood what he had signed.
After confirming under oath his name, Mr Gibney responded: "Yes", when asked by the judge: 'Do you admit you are the individual whom charges are pending against?'
He also told Judge Irick that he did not have any
His US Assistant Public Defender Aisha Nash said Mr Gibney was 'in desperate need of glasses' but that he understood he was waiving his right to a hearing and consenting to extradition.
When asked by the judge if he understood that he could challenge the request to have him extradited and face the charges, Gibney replied: 'Oh, I will.'
His attorney clarified to her client that while he could challenge the case against him in Ireland, he could not do so in the US, to which Gibney confirmed that he understood.
One source told us recently: 'His decision to return to Ireland is a welcome development.
'If he had fought against the legality of the extradition in a US court, the process could have taken until next year."
A former associate of the
