George Gibney remanded pending sentencing after conviction for indecent assault and attempted rape of four girls
Former swim coach George Gibney, 78, was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape of four girls, aged eight to 13, who were abused between 1971 and 1981 at various locations in south Co Dublin, including two swimming pools and his home. Gibney had been charged with 79 counts and pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault at the outset of the trial, while the jury acquitted him of one further indecent assault count. Judge Mícheál O'Higgins remanded Gibney in custody pending sentencing in October 2026, and his counsel confirmed no appeal would be taken. At the sentencing hearing, four survivors gave victim-impact statements, one describing decades of psychological intervention, nightmares and self-harm.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted27 Jul
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Four girls aged eight to 13 were sexually abused by former swim coach George Gibney, with assaults including French kissing, inappropriate touching, digital penetration and forced oral sex.
- Some abuse occurred in Gibney's car during lifts to swimming, and further abuse of two sisters happened at his home while they were babysitting his children.
- Where
- The offences took place at various locations in south Co Dublin, including two swimming pools, and the attempted rape occurred in a changing room at Newpark Sports Centre in Blackrock, Dublin.
- When
- The offences occurred on dates between 1971 and 1981.
- Charges
- Gibney was charged with 79 counts and pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault at the outset of the trial.
- In court
- A jury at the Central Criminal Court found Gibney guilty of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape, and acquitted him of one indecent assault count.
- Judge Mícheál O'Higgins remanded Gibney in custody pending sentencing in October 2026.
- Other details
- Gibney's counsel confirmed no appeal would be taken, and four survivors gave victim-impact statements at the sentencing hearing.
- One survivor said she needed psychological intervention from the age of nine, had nightmares, isolated herself and self-harmed.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatFour girls were abused by the coach as girls between the ages of eight and 13 (irishtimes.com)
- whatGibney gave some of the girls lifts to swimming and abused them in his car (irishtimes.com)
- whatFurther abuse of two sisters happened in his home when they were babysitting his children (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe assaults included French kissing, inappropriate touching, digital penetration and forced oral sex (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe offences took place at various locations including two swimming pools in south Co Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe attempted rape took place in a changing room at Newpark Sports Centre in Blackrock, Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences occurred on dates between 1971 and 1981 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeGibney had been charged with 79 counts (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault at the outset of the trial (irishtimes.com)
- courtGibney was found guilty by a jury of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury acquitted Gibney of one indecent assault count (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Mícheál O'Higgins remanded Gibney in custody pending sentencing in October (irishtimes.com)
- otherOne survivor said she needed psychological intervention from the age of nine, had nightmares, isolated herself and self-harmed (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Jul2026‘I watched George Gibney be hero-worshipped while knowing the truth,’ says abuse survivor
Sentencing hearing with victim-impact statements from four survivors; Gibney remanded in custody pending sentencing in October; counsel confirms no appeal; judge to consider statements before sentencing.
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