Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 5446Rape; indecent assault

Former swim coach Derry O’Rourke convicted of rape and indecent assault of teenage girl

Derry O'Rourke, a 78-year-old man and former international swimming coach, was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl aged 13 or 14 at a school between October 1989 and June 1990, about 35 years before the trial. He had pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and 15 counts of indecent assault at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. After legal argument the judge directed the jury to acquit him of four charges, and on July 18, 2024 the jury convicted him on 12 counts. He was remanded into custody for sentencing on July 30, and no sentence has been reported yet.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court17 Jul
  5. Convicted18 Jul
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Derry O'Rourke, a former international swimming coach, was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl.
Where
The offences were alleged to have taken place in a school.
When
The offences were alleged to have happened between October 1989 and June 1990, about 35 years before the trial.
Charges
  • O'Rourke pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and 15 counts of indecent assault.
  • After legal argument the trial judge directed the jury to acquit him of four charges, leaving one rape count and 11 indecent assault counts.
In court
  • The trial was held at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin before Ms Justice Melanie Greally.
  • The jury began deliberating on July 17, 2024 and returned its verdict on July 18 after five hours and 27 minutes on the fifth day of the trial.
  • O'Rourke was convicted on 12 counts.
Sentence
O'Rourke was remanded into custody for sentencing on July 30.
Other details
  • The complainant was 13 or 14 at the time, and O'Rourke had begun as her sports coach while she was a student in secondary school.
  • One report gives the complainant's age as 48, while the articles say she was 13 or 14 at the time of the offences.
  • The accused man is 78 years old and is listed as being of Virginia Road, Cavan.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe man was accused of raping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatFormer Irish international swimming coach Derry O’Rourke was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe offences were alleged to have taken place in a school. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged offences were said to have happened about 35 years before the article. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe date of the offences was changed from October 1989 to June 1990. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offences were alleged to have happened between October 1989 and June 1990. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe accused pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and 15 counts of indecent assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe jury is left to consider one offence of rape and 11 charges of indecent assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeO’Rourke had pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and 15 counts of indecent assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is taking place at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial judge directed the jury to acquit the man of four charges after legal argument. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial continues before Ms Justice Melanie Greally, with the jury expected to return on Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury was directed to acquit O’Rourke of four of the charges. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury returned its verdict after five hours and 27 minutes of deliberations on the fifth day of the trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtO’Rourke was convicted on 12 counts. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceO’Rourke was remanded into custody for sentencing on July 30th. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused man is 78 years old. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe complainant was 13 or 14 at the time of the offences. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe complainant was between 13 and 14 years old at the time. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherO’Rourke had begun as the complainant's sports coach while she was a student in secondary school. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Jul2024
    Convictedirishtimes.com, first report
    Former swim coach Derry O’Rourke guilty of raping and sexually assaulting teenage girl 35 years ago

    Reports the jury verdict (one count of rape and 11 counts of indecent assault), the directed acquittals on four charges, and the sentencing date of July 30th.

    convicted, Derry O'Rourke, 78, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derry O'Rourkevictim, 48, female
  2. 17 Jul2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Jury begins deliberations in trial of sports coach accused of raping teenage girl more than 30 years ago

    Reports that the jury has begun deliberating and that the trial judge directed acquittal on four charges. The jury is considering one count of rape and 11 counts of indecent assault, and the offence dates were amended to June 1990.

    accused, 78, malevictim, 13 to 14 at the time, female