Case No. 0664Rape, sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child · Co. Dublin · 1 May 2019
Man jailed for 11 years for raping 10-year-old niece while babysitting her in Dublin
A 35-year-old man, the uncle of a 10-year-old girl, was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment in July 2026 for raping and sexually assaulting her while babysitting her at the family home in Dublin. The offending took place between May 2019 and April 2021, when the girl was aged 10 to 11, and included kissing, inappropriate touching, digital penetration, and forced oral sex. He was convicted at the Central Criminal Court in May 2026 of two counts of rape, 10 sample counts of sexual assault, and one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. The sentence was backdated to May 13, 2025, when he went into custody. The girl, who experienced suicidal ideation and self-harm, told gardai her uncle raped her two or three times.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted6 Jul
- Sentenced6 Jul
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 35-year-old man, the girl's uncle, raped and sexually assaulted his 10-year-old niece while babysitting her.
- The abuse included kissing, inappropriate touching, digital penetration, and forced oral sex.
- Where
- The offending took place at the girl's family home in Dublin.
- When
- The offending took place between May 2019 and April 2021, when the girl was aged 10 to 11.
- Investigation
- A report was made to gardai in August 2025.
- Charges
- The man was convicted of two counts of rape, 10 sample counts of sexual assault, and one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.
- In court
- The conviction followed a Central Criminal Court trial in May 2026, and Mr Justice Sean Gillane imposed the sentence.
- A separate Central Criminal Court jury in July 2026 found George Gibney guilty of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape relating to four girls abused between 1974 and 1981, with sentencing set for 29 July 2026.
- Sentence
- The man was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment, backdated to May 13, 2025.
- Other details
- The man has no previous convictions.
- The girl experienced suicidal ideation and self-harm.
- The facts identify the suspect as George Gibney, described as a man aged 77, while another fact states the man is originally from Romania and has lived in Ireland for many years.
43 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGeorge Gibney is a former Irish national swimming coach (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe abuse took the form of kissing, inappropriate touching, digital penetration and forced oral sex (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man is originally from Romania and has lived in Ireland for many years. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man had some difficulties with drug use. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man would invite the girl to sit with him, often on the pretext of watching a film. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe abuse started with inappropriate touching over her clothing and progressed to touching of her vagina under her clothing. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAfter the abuse, the man would smoke a cigarette and then take her to the shop to get sweets. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe girl told gardai her uncle raped her two or three times. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man is isolated from family as a result of his wrongdoing. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man is doing well in custody and is engaging in education. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe offending took place at the girl's family home in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whereGibney lives at Breakwater Drive, Altamonte Springs, Florida (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe abuse took place at various locations including Glenalbyn swimming pool in Stillorgan and Trojans swim club in Newpark Sports Centre, Blackrock, Co Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe attempted rape took place in a changing room at Newpark (irishtimes.com)
- whereGibney also abused some girls in his car, in his home, and in two complainants' own homes (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe abuse occurred at the girl's family home in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe girl was aged between 10 and 11 when the offending took place. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe offending took place between May 2019 and April 2021. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whenHe first abused the first complainant at a club disco when she was aged around 13 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGibney was extradited from Florida the previous year to face the allegations (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA report was made to gardai in August 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe man complied with his bail conditions and co-operated with the investigation but made no admissions when interviewed voluntarily. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe man was convicted of two counts of rape, 10 sample counts of sexual assault and one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was convicted of two counts of rape, 10 sample counts of sexual assault and one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe conviction followed a Central Criminal Court trial in May 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice Sean Gillane imposed the sentence. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtA Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury acquitted him of one count of indecent assault on a date between 1976 and 1977 (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe went on trial on 23 June 2026 (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe pleaded guilty to five counts of indecently assaulting one complainant at the outset of the trial (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury deliberated for more than seven hours after an 11-day trial (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe will face a sentence hearing on 29 July 2026 (irishtimes.com)
- courtGibney was found guilty of 12 out of 13 counts of indecently assaulting the first complainant between 1975 and 1977 (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was found guilty of two counts of indecently assaulting the second complainant between 1974 and 1979 when she was aged 11 and 13 (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was convicted of all 25 counts in relation to the third complainant (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was convicted of the sole count of indecently assaulting the fourth complainant between 1980 and 1981 when she was aged 13 (irishtimes.com)
- courtGibney was on trial for 74 charges which were reduced to 41 counts by direction of the trial judge (irishtimes.com)
- courtGibney was remanded in continuing custody until his sentence hearing (irishtimes.com)
- courtDominic McGinn SC was defending and Jane Horgan Jones BL was prosecuting. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe man was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to May 13, 2025, when the defendant went into custody after his conviction. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man has no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe girl experienced suicidal ideation and self harm. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 6 Jul2026Man who sexually abused and raped 10-year-old niece while babysitting jailed
Sentencing report including victim impact statement, judge's remarks on the predatory nature of the offending, and background on the accused's homelessness and drug difficulties.
victim, 10, femaleconvicted, 35, male, non-irish (judged from name) - 6 Jul2026Former swimming coach George Gibney found guilty of sexually abusing four girls over 50 years ago
Reports the jury verdict: Gibney convicted of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape, acquitted of one count, with sentencing set for 29 July 2026. Details the locations, ages of complainants, and forms of abuse.
accused, George Gibney, 77, male, named, irish (judged from name)George Gibneyvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female - 6 Jul2026Man who raped niece (10) while babysitting her jailed for 11 years
Reports the sentencing of an unnamed 35-year-old man to 11 years for raping and sexually assaulting his 10-year-old niece over a two-year period while in loco parentis at the family home in Dublin. The judge noted the predatory nature of the offending and the abuser's attempts to use rewards to silence the victim.
victim, 10, femaleconvicted, 35, male