Case No. 0134Indecent assault, attempted rape · Co. Dublin
Gardaí given Orla Poole's name 28 years ago in George Gibney investigation
George Gibney, 78, an Irish man and former Olympic swimming coach, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury in July 2026 of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape of four girls, including Orla Poole, an Irish woman whom he abused from the age of eight and attempted to rape at 12, for offences committed between 1971 and 1981 at swimming pools in Stillorgan and Blackrock, Co Dublin, and in his car, home, and complainants' homes. After being extradited from Florida in 2025, Gibney was sentenced on 12 October 2026 to 15 years and 6 months' imprisonment. Carolyn Brown, another Irish woman victim, gave Orla Poole's name to gardaí in 1998, but they never contacted her, and the DPP directed no charges on Brown's complaint. Separately, Graham Carey, 42, an Irish man and truck driver, was convicted in April 2026 of incitement to hatred for a 2023 Instagram livestream in which he referred to refugees as 'rape-ugees' and sentenced in October 2026 to two years' imprisonment with the final year suspended.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced12 Oct
6 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The abuse, which took the form of kissing, inappropriate touching, digital penetration and forced oral sex, occurred between 1971 and 1981.
- Graham Carey, 42, a truck driver, made a 2023 Instagram livestream in which he referred to refugees as 'rape-ugees' and threatened to throw 'their bleeding corpses into the sea'.
- Where
- The abuse took place at Glenalbyn swimming pool in Stillorgan and Trojans swim club in Newpark Sports Centre, Blackrock, Co Dublin, as well as in Gibney's car, his home, and two complainants' own homes.
- Other details
- Orla Poole was abused by Gibney starting when she was eight years old, and he attempted to rape her when she was 12.
- Gibney was a former Irish Olympic swimming coach who left Ireland after a 1993 case was halted, moved to Edinburgh, then to the US, settling in Florida.
- Investigation
- Carolyn Brown gave Orla Poole's name to gardaí in 1998 as a possible victim, but they never contacted her, and the DPP instructed no charges be brought for Brown's complaint.
- Gibney was arrested on foot of an Irish extradition warrant in Florida and extradited to Ireland in 2025.
- Charges
- Gibney was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape of children, and pleaded guilty to a further five counts of indecent assault.
- Carey was charged under the 1989 Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act with using words likely to stir up hatred and distribution of recordings likely to stir up hatred.
- In court
- A Central Criminal Court jury acquitted Gibney of one count of indecently assaulting one complainant on a date between 1976 and 1977.
- A jury unanimously found Carey guilty on both counts at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in April 2026.
- Sentence
- Gibney was sentenced on 12 October 2026 to an aggregate of 16 years and 8 months, with 14 months suspended, resulting in 15 years and 6 months' imprisonment.
- Carey was sentenced in October 2026 to two years' imprisonment, with 18 months on each count running consecutively and the final year suspended on strict conditions.
78 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe abuse took the form of kissing, inappropriate touching, digital penetration and forced oral sex. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatGraham Carey is a truck driver (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCarey referred to refugees as 'rape-ugees' (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCarey threatened to throw 'their bleeding corpses into the sea' (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCarey called on members of the public to gather at Finglas Garda Station (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOrla Poole was abused by Gibney starting when she was eight years old (irishtimes.com)
- whatGibney attempted to rape Orla Poole when she was 12 years old (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe abuse took place at Glenalbyn swimming pool in Stillorgan and Trojans swim club in Newpark Sports Centre, Blackrock, Co Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereGibney also abused some of the girls in his car, in his home, and in two complainants' own homes. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe abuse took place in Glenalbyn swimming pool, Stillorgan, and Newpark Sports Centre, Blackrock, both in Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whereCarolyn Brown and Orla Poole attended Newpark Comprehensive School in Blackrock, Dublin in the mid-1970s (irishtimes.com)
- whereOrla Poole's mother Fiona Poole has lived in the same house in Leopardstown since 1969 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences occurred between 1971 and 1981. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenCarey made a livestream on Instagram in 2023 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe sexual abuse of four girls occurred in the 1970s and 1980s (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe livestream followed an allegation by a local woman that she had been sexually assaulted by a refugee (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGibney was arrested on foot of an Irish extradition warrant in Florida and extradited from America the previous year. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí are appealing to anyone who has experienced historical sexual abuse to come forward. (garda.ie)
- investigationCarolyn Brown gave Orla Poole's name to gardaí in 1998 as a possible victim (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí never contacted Orla Poole after being given her name in 1998 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe DPP instructed that no charges be brought against Gibney for Carolyn Brown's complaint (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA second man associated with Gibney was put on trial for abusing Carolyn Brown separately, declared a mistrial (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was found guilty by a jury of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to a further five counts of indecent assault of one complainant at the outset of the trial. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeThe conviction was for the sexual abuse of children. (garda.ie)
- chargeCarey was charged with using words that were threatening, abusive and insulting, and intended to or likely to stir up hatred (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeCarey was charged with distribution of recordings of images or sound likely to stir up hatred (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe offences are contrary to the 1989 Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe sentence was imposed at the Central Criminal Court. (garda.ie)
- courtA Central Criminal Court jury found Gibney guilty of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape of children. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury acquitted him of one count of indecently assaulting one complainant on a date between 1976 and 1977. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA Central Criminal Court jury found Gibney guilty of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape of children in July (irishmirror.ie)
- courtCarey pleaded not guilty to both offences (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA jury unanimously found Carey guilty on both counts (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial was at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in April 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMs Justice Patricia Ryan described the offence as a serious crime and as planned and premeditated (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe defendant refused to go into the dock during his sentencing hearing (irishmirror.ie)
- courtGibney was found guilty in the Central Criminal Court of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape of children (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe headline sentence for the attempted rape was 12 years, reduced to 10 years taking his age and health into account. (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceA combined sentence of six years and eight months for the indecent assaults was ordered to run consecutive to the 10-year sentence. (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceGeorge Gibney was sentenced to 15 and a half years' imprisonment. (garda.ie)
- sentenceThe indecent assault charges resulted in a collective sentence of 6 years and 8 months to run consecutively to the attempted rape sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge backdated the sentence to when Gibney first went into custody in July 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceGibney was jailed for 15 and a half years for the sexual abuse of four girls in the 1970s and 1980s (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceCarey was jailed for two years for incitement to hatred (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge handed down an 18-month sentence on each count to run consecutively (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge suspended the final year of the three-year sentence on strict conditions (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceGibney was jailed for more than 15 years (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe maximum sentence for indecent assault is two years and the maximum for attempted rape is life. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe four complainants are now aged in their 60s. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherGibney is of Breakwater Drive, Altamonte Springs, Florida. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherGibney was a former Irish Olympic swimming coach. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherGibney showed no emotion as the sentence was handed down and was taken out of court in a wheelchair. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe complainants cried and embraced each other. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherGeorge Gibney was in a position of trust when the offences were carried out. (garda.ie)
- otherParents had entrusted their children in the expectation of care and safety. (garda.ie)
- otherThe children had their childhood and adult lives forever changed. (garda.ie)
- otherPeople can report historical sexual abuse to their local Garda Station or via a specialist reporting service. (garda.ie)
- otherReports can also be made by email to [email protected]. (garda.ie)
- otherGibney was in court in a wheelchair for the sentencing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAfter a previous case was halted in 1993, Gibney left Ireland, took a role at a swimming club in Edinburgh, then moved to the US, first to Colorado, before settling in Orlando, Florida. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA 10-part podcast series called 'Where is George Gibney?' made by Second Captains in conjunction with the BBC put his name back in the spotlight. (irishtimes.com)
- otherFour complainants not involved in the early 1990s case subsequently came forward and made complaints to gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAfter 30 years in the US, Gibney was extradited to Ireland to face charges the previous year. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSome victims, aged between 8 and 13 at the time, were abused in Gibney's car when he gave them lifts to swimming practice. (irishtimes.com)
- otherFurther abuse of two sisters happened in his home when they were babysitting his children. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe abuse included kissing, inappropriate touching and forced sex acts. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAfter the verdict, Gibney indicated he would not appeal against his conviction. (irishtimes.com)
- otherRachel Morrogh is Chief Executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe Second Captains podcast series 'Where is George Gibney?' was released in 2020 (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe sentence was a validation for those who came forward in the early 1990s, including young swimmers whose statements led to Gibney facing indecent assault charges (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe alleged sexual assault was carried out by a white local man (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defendant prefers to be called 'Graham' (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defendant does not want to instruct a solicitor (irishmirror.ie)
- otherOrla Poole now lives in the US (irishtimes.com)
- otherGibney was living in Florida at the time of the 1998 complaint (irishtimes.com)
- otherGibney was 78 years old when sentenced (irishtimes.com)
- otherOrla Poole waived her right to anonymity after the sentencing (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 16 Oct2026‘All those years wasted’: Gardaí investigating George Gibney were given Orla Poole’s name 28 years ago
Reveals that Carolyn Brown gave Orla Poole's name to gardaí in 1998 but they never contacted her; details the history of five successive investigations into Gibney dating back to 1992, the DPP's 1998 decision not to charge, and the 2015 investigation established by the Garda Commissioner.
convicted, George Gibney, 78, male, named, irish (judged from name)George Gibneyvictim, Carolyn Brown, female, irish (judged from name)Carolyn Brownvictim, Orla Poole, female, irish (judged from name)Orla Poole - 15 Oct2026Truck driver who went on 'rape-ugees' rant jailed for incitement to hatred
Reports the sentencing of Graham Carey to two years (18 months on each of two counts, consecutive, with the final year suspended) for incitement to hatred under the 1989 Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act, following his April 2026 conviction at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
convicted, Graham Carey, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Graham Carey - 13 Oct2026DRCC says Gibney sentence delivers long-awaited justice for survivors
DRCC chief executive Rachel Morrogh commented on the significance of the sentence, validated early-1990s complainants, and credited the 2020 Second Captains podcast series for keeping the case in public view.
victimvictimvictimvictimsuspect, George Gibney, 78, male, named, irish (judged from name)George Gibney - 12 Oct2026Former swimming coach George Gibney jailed for 15½ years for abusing four girls
Provides full sentencing details: aggregate sentence of 16 years 8 months with 14 months suspended (net 15 years 6 months), breakdown of 10 years for attempted rape and 6 years 8 months for indecent assaults running consecutively, judge's reasoning, mitigating factors, and post-sentence statement by Det Chief Supt Thelma Watters.
convicted, George Gibney, 78, male, named, irish (judged from name)George Gibneyvictim, 8-13, femalevictim, 8-13, femalevictim, 8-13, femalevictim, 8-13, female - 12 Oct202612/10/2026 Statement by An Garda Síochána on the conviction and sentencing of George Gibney
Official Garda statement acknowledging the conviction and sentencing, praising survivors' courage, and appealing for others with historical sexual abuse to come forward.
convicted, George Gibney, male, named, irish (judged from name)George Gibney - 12 Oct2026George Gibney sentenced to over 16 years for indecent assault of four girls
Reports the full sentencing details: headline sentence of 12 years for attempted rape reduced to 10 years, combined 6 years 8 months for indecent assaults running consecutively, final 14 months suspended; judge's reasoning on consecutive sentences and the two-year maximum for indecent assault; Gibney's extradition from Florida; and the judge's characterisation of the offending as a 'pattern of systemic offending'.
convicted, George Gibney, 78, male, Irish, named, irishGeorge Gibneyvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female