Ireland Case No. 8762Indecent assault; attempted rape
Jury to resume deliberations in trial of former sports coach
George Gibney, a 77-year-old former swimming coach (one report gives his age as 78), was tried at the Central Criminal Court on charges that he indecently assaulted four girls and attempted to rape one of them. The alleged offences took place between 1971 and 1981 at locations in south county Dublin and elsewhere in the State, and gardaí received a complaint from one complainant's sister in 2020. He pleaded guilty to five counts and not guilty to the rest, and on 6 July 2026 the jury found him guilty of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape, acquitting him on one count. He is in custody awaiting sentencing, with one report giving 29 July as the hearing date and another giving 12 October.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court1 Jul
3 reports - Convicted1 Jul
3 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- George Gibney, a former swimming coach aged 77 according to most reports (one gives 78), was tried for sexually abusing four girls.
- The alleged abuse included kissing, inappropriate touching, digital penetration, forced oral sex and, for one complainant, attempted rape.
- Other details
- The four complainants were aged between eight and 15 at the time, and Gibney was their swimming coach.
- Where
- The offences are alleged to have occurred at several locations in south county Dublin, including Glenalbyn swimming pool in Stillorgan and Newpark Sports Centre in Blackrock, and at other locations in the State.
- When
- The offences are alleged to have occurred on dates between 1971 and 1981.
- Investigation
- A complaint about Gibney was made to gardaí by one complainant's sister in 2020.
- Charges
- He was originally charged with 78 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape, later reduced to 41 counts before the jury.
- He pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault and not guilty to the remaining counts.
- In court
- The trial judge, Mr Justice Mícheál O'Higgins, directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts on 33 counts of indecent assault relating to two complainants.
- The trial was held in Court 20 at the Central Criminal Court and lasted 11 days, with evidence from the four complainants and other witnesses.
- Gibney did not give evidence and no defence witnesses were called.
- Sources differ on deliberation time: one says the jury deliberated for about five hours in total, and another says seven hours and 40 minutes.
- On 6 July 2026 the jury, six men and six women, found Gibney guilty of 39 of 40 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape, and acquitted him on one count of indecently assaulting a complainant between 1976 and 1977.
- Sentence
- Gibney's defence said he accepts the verdicts and will not appeal, and that he has no previous convictions; sentencing is set for 29 July in one report and 12 October in another, and he remains in custody.
65 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGibney was found guilty of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe abuse included kissing, inappropriate touching, digital penetration, forced oral sex and, for one complainant, attempted rape. (thejournal.ie)
- whatGeorge Gibney, aged 77, faced 78 counts of indecently assaulting four girls and one count of attempting to rape one of them. (thejournal.ie)
- whatGeorge Gibney has been found guilty of sexually abusing four girls in the 1970s and 1980s. (thejournal.ie)
- whatA former sports coach is on trial accused of sexually abusing four girls in the 1970s and 1980s. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe alleged abuse included kissing, inappropriate touching, digital penetration, forced oral sex and, in relation to one complainant, attempted rape. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe man is accused of sexually abusing four girls in the 1970s and 1980s. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe offences took place at several locations in south county Dublin, including Glenalbyn swimming pool in Stillorgan and Newpark Sports Centre in Blackrock. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe abuse was alleged to have taken place in several locations in south county Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe offences took place at a number of locations within the state. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe offences are alleged to have occurred at a number of locations within the state. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe alleged offences took place at a number of locations within the state. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe offences are alleged to have occurred in various locations in the State. (rte.ie)
- whenThe offences occurred between 1971 and 1981. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe alleged offences took place on dates between 1971 and 1981. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe offences are alleged to have occurred between 1971 and 1981. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- whenThe alleged offences occurred between 1971 and 1981. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationA complaint about Gibney was made to gardaí by one complainant's sister in 2020. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeGibney was originally charged with 78 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe 78 counts were later reduced to 41 counts. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe man was originally charged with 78 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe man pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault and not guilty to the remaining 74 counts. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeHe was originally charged with 79 counts and pleaded guilty to five of them. (rte.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded not guilty to 73 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape of four girls. (rte.ie)
- courtGibney pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault and not guilty to the remaining 74 counts. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe jury were directed to return not guilty verdicts on 33 counts of indecent assault relating to two complainants. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe sentence hearing took place at the Central Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtGibney's defence said he accepts the verdicts and will not appeal his conviction. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial was held in Court 20 at the Central Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtGibney did not give evidence and no defence witnesses were called. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial lasted 11 days. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe jury delivered its verdict at the Central Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe jury found Gibney guilty of 39 of 40 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe jury acquitted Gibney on one count of indecently assaulting one of the complainants between 1976 and 1977. (thejournal.ie)
- courtGibney pleaded guilty before the jury to five counts of indecent assault. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts on 33 counts of indecent assault relating to two complainants. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe jury deliberated for over seven hours on the remaining 41 counts. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial heard evidence over seven days from the four complainants and other witnesses. (thejournal.ie)
- courtHe pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault and not guilty to the remaining 74 counts. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial judge directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts on 33 counts of indecent assault relating to two complainants. (thejournal.ie)
- courtSome 41 counts remain before the jury. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe jury deliberated for over four hours on the day, and about five hours in total. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe jury requested and received transcripts of the complainants' evidence and other witnesses' evidence. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge asked the jury to return on Monday morning to continue deliberations. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtClosing speeches were delivered to a jury of six men and six women. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe jury deliberated for just over an hour before being sent home and asked to return the next afternoon. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe jury is expected to resume deliberations in the trial of the former sports coach. (rte.ie)
- courtThe jury has been directed to return not guilty verdicts on 33 counts relating to two complainants. (rte.ie)
- courtThe jury did not resume deliberations the previous afternoon because one juror was unavailable. (rte.ie)
- courtMr Justice Mícheál O'Higgins asked the jurors to return to continue their work. (rte.ie)
- sentenceGibney was remanded in custody for sentencing on 12 October. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceGibney was taken into custody of the Irish Prison Service to await sentencing. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceGibney was remanded in continuing custody until a sentencing hearing set for 29 July. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe four complainants were aged between eight and 15 at the time of the offences. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe defence said Gibney had no previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe defence said Gibney is not in the fullness of his health. (thejournal.ie)
- otherGibney was the swimming coach of the girls. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe girls were aged between eight and 15 at the time. (thejournal.ie)
- otherGibney pleaded guilty to some counts on the first day of the trial after his legal team asked for a moment with him. (thejournal.ie)
- otherGibney consented to being extradited to Ireland at a Florida court hearing in July 2025. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe jury deliberated for seven hours and 40 minutes before finding Gibney guilty of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape. (thejournal.ie)
- otherGibney is a 77-year-old former swimming coach. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe four complainants were aged between eight and 15 when the offences occurred. (thejournal.ie)
- otherGibney lost his anonymity upon being found guilty. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 3 Jul2026Jury to resume deliberations in trial of ex-sports coach
Reports that the jury is due to resume deliberations on 3 July 2026, after one juror was unavailable the previous day. Sets out the counts he pleaded guilty and not guilty to and the directed not guilty verdicts.
accused, 77, male - 1 Jul2026Jury in trial of former sports coach accused of sexually abusing four girls begins deliberations
Reports that closing speeches were made on 1 July 2026 and the jury began deliberating. The judge directed not guilty verdicts on 33 counts, leaving some 41 counts. The accused had pleaded guilty to five counts. No verdict is reported.
accused, 70s, malevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female - 1 Jul2026Jury sent home for weekend in trial of former sports coach accused of sexual abuse
Reports the state of the trial on 3 July 2026: the jury has been sent home until Monday, which counts were withdrawn, and the plea position. No verdict is given.
accused, 70s, malevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female - 1 Jul2026George Gibney found guilty of sexually abusing four girls in the 1970s and 1980s
Jury verdicts at the Central Criminal Court; sentencing hearing set for 29 July.
convicted, George Gibney, 77, male, named, irish (judged from name)George Gibneyvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female - 1 Jul2026For the first time, an Irish courtroom heard the full details of how George Gibney preyed on young girls
Reports the verdict after the 11-day trial, the complainants' evidence, Gibney's guilty pleas on some counts on the first day, and that he is awaiting sentencing. Adds details of the trial and the extradition from Florida.
convicted, George Gibney, 77, male, named, irish (judged from name)George Gibneyvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female - 1 Jul2026World will know George Gibney as 'convicted, serial paedophile', survivor tells court
Reports the sentence hearing, the four complainants' victim impact statements, and that sentencing is set for 12 October. Gibney accepts the verdicts and will not appeal.
convicted, George Gibney, 78, male, named, irish (judged from name)George Gibneyvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female