Ireland Case No. 3779Sexual exploitation of children, production of child abuse materials · Co. Dublin · 26 Feb 2022
Swim coach released from Dublin prison after child exploitation sentence
Matthew Coward, a 32-year-old man from Santry, Dublin, pleaded guilty in November 2023 to sexually exploiting three young girls and producing child abuse material after secretly filming them changing in his poolside office at a Dublin swimming pool between September 2021 and February 2022. The former Swim Ireland coach was arrested in May 2022 after a girl told her father she believed she had been recorded, leading to a Garda investigation that found nearly 80 videos on his devices. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in November 2023 to four years in prison with the final 12 months suspended. Coward is set to be released from Arbour Hill Prison in February 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court19 Dec
- Convicted10 Nov
3 reports - Sentenced21 Nov
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Matthew Coward, a former Swim Ireland coach, set up cameras in his poolside office in Dublin and secretly recorded three young girls changing into swimwear over a 12-month period.
- Where
- The offences took place at a swimming pool in Dublin; Coward lives at Shantalla Drive, Santry, Dublin.
- When
- The offences occurred between September 1, 2021 and February 26, 2022, though some reports give the end date as September 2022.
- Cause
- The offending came to light when a girl told her father she believed she had been recorded while changing, prompting the father to contact Swim Ireland's safeguarding officer, who alerted Tusla and the gardaí.
- Investigation
- Blanchardstown detectives put Coward under observation and secured search warrants; nearly 80 videos were found on two phones, two of which were categorised as child abuse material and seven deemed inappropriate.
- Charges
- Coward was charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of three girls and three counts of production of child pornography, with one report citing seven charges of production.
- In court
- Coward pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on November 10, 2023, and victim impact statements from two of the three girls were read to the court.
- Sentence
- Judge Orla Crowe sentenced Coward on November 21, 2023 to concurrent sentences of four and three years, with the final 12 months of the four-year term suspended.
- Other details
- Coward was arrested on May 3, 2022, and was on bail with conditions including passport confiscation and twice-daily sign-on at Santry Garda station.
- Coward is set to be released from Arbour Hill Prison in February 2026.
81 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCoward faces seven charges of production of child pornography (gript.ie)
- whatCoward pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children and producing child abuse images and videos. (rte.ie)
- whatCoward was a coach for Swim Ireland. (rte.ie)
- whatCoward secretly recorded three children changing in his office. (rte.ie)
- whatCoward pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of three girls and a number of counts of production of child pornography. (thejournal.ie)
- whatA former swimming coach pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation and producing child abuse material. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA former swimming coach set up a camera in his office to film young girls changing. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMatthew Coward is 35 and lives at Shantalla Drive, Santry, Co Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was a former Swim Ireland coach who set up cameras at his poolside office in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo videos retrieved by gardaí were categorised as child abuse material and seven were deemed inappropriate. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatYoung girls tried on swimming skins in the poolside office during which their genital areas were visible. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCoward's internet search history showed searches synonymous with teenage pornography. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereCoward lives at Santalla Drive, Santry, Dublin (gript.ie)
- whereThe plea was entered at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
- whereCoward set up cameras in an office in a pool in Dublin. (rte.ie)
- whereCoward used chairs to section off part of his office for the girls to change in. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- whereCoward set up cameras in a pool in Dublin. (rte.ie)
- whereThe accused is from Shantalla Drive, Santry, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences occurred between September 1, 2021 and February 26, 2022 (gript.ie)
- whenThe offences took place between September 2021 and September 2022. (rte.ie)
- whenThe offences were committed on dates between 1 September 2021 and 26 February 2022. (thejournal.ie)
- whenCoward was arrested on 3 May 2022 for child exploitation. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe offences were committed on dates between September 1st, 2021, and February 26th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offending took place between September 2021 and September 2022. (rte.ie)
- whenThe offences took place between September 2021 and February 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences occurred on dates between 1 September 2021 and 26 February 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeOne girl told her father she thought she had been recorded while changing into her swimwear. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe offending came to light after a father dropped his daughter off at the pool in the early hours in February 2022. (rte.ie)
- investigationCoward has been out on bail since his arrest in August 2022 (gript.ie)
- investigationA girl found an iPad propped up beside a camera and told her father. (rte.ie)
- investigationDetectives from Blanchardstown put Coward under observation and secured search warrants. (rte.ie)
- investigationNearly 80 videos were found on two phones. (rte.ie)
- investigationSwim Ireland contacted Tusla and the gardaí after speaking with the father of the first victim. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí obtained three search warrants. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationCoward's electronic devices were analysed and nearly 80 videos were found. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationTwo of the videos were categorised as child abuse material, with a further seven deemed as inappropriate. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationCoward was arrested on May 3rd, 2022, for child exploitation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationNearly 80 videos were found on the electronic devices, two of which were categorised as child abuse material. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe child's father contacted Swim Ireland's safeguarding officer, who contacted Tusla and gardaí. (rte.ie)
- investigationDetectives put Coward under observation and secured search warrants. (rte.ie)
- investigationOne of the girls told her father she thought she had been recorded while changing, which led to a Garda investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationTwo of the videos were categorised as child abuse material and a further seven were deemed inappropriate. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeCoward pleaded guilty to three counts of the sexual exploitation of three girls. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeCoward pleaded guilty to a number of counts of production of child pornography. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of three girls and three counts of production of child pornography. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of three girls. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to three counts of production of child pornography. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtVictim impact statements were read out in court on behalf of two of the children. (rte.ie)
- courtCoward was remanded on bail for sentencing. (rte.ie)
- courtThe court was told the guilty plea was of value to the three complainants. (thejournal.ie)
- courtJudge Orla Crowe said she would have to consider the matter as there was a lot of material to consider. (thejournal.ie)
- courtCoward was remanded on continuing bail. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned for finalisation to 21 November. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge remanded Coward on continuing bail and adjourned the case for finalisation to November 21st. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge said the offence was a considerable abuse of trust. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Orla Crowe sentenced him at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Orla Crowe will sentence Coward on Tuesday 21 November. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe maximum sentence for child exploitation is life in prison. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceCoward was sentenced to four years in prison with the final 12 months suspended. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge said a headline sentence of six years was warranted for the sexual exploitation charges and five years for the production charges. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceAfter considering his guilty plea and remorse, the judge imposed concurrent sentences of four and three years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe final 12 months of the four-year sentence was suspended on strict terms. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe was handed a three-year sentence in November 2023 after pleading guilty. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceHe was sentenced to a total of four years in custody with the final 12 months suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherCoward's passport was confiscated as a bail condition (gript.ie)
- otherCoward is required to sign on twice daily at Santry Garda station (gript.ie)
- otherCoward was ordered to have no contact directly or indirectly with any witnesses (gript.ie)
- otherCoward's defence counsel said he has regret, remorse and insight into his offending. (rte.ie)
- otherThe prosecution said the maximum sentence for child exploitation is life in prison, with 14 years the maximum for production of child pornography. (thejournal.ie)
- otherCoward has one previous conviction. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defence argued Coward is living with his wife and children and has gained employment. (thejournal.ie)
- otherCoward was a swimming coach for Swim Ireland for almost four years. (rte.ie)
- otherJudge Orla Crowe said Coward held a position of dominance as coach and the children worshipped him. (rte.ie)
- otherSwim Ireland stood Coward down immediately after a concern was raised. (rte.ie)
- otherHe has one previous conviction. (irishtimes.com)
- otherVictim impact statements from two of the three girls were read to the court. (irishtimes.com)
- otherOne girl said her life changed from the moment she found the camera. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe maximum sentence for child exploitation is life in prison, and 14 years for production of child pornography. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused has expressed remorse for his actions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe will be placed on the sex offenders register upon release. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Feb2026Swim coach who sexually exploited kids punched wall after coverage of release
Reports that Coward punched a wall in Arbour Hill Prison on 15 February 2026 after media coverage of his release, and provides details of his November 2023 sentencing and the circumstances of the offence.
convicted, Matthew Coward, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Cowardvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female - 21 Nov2023Swimming coach who set up camera to spy on young girls changing jailed for three years
Sentencing report. Judge Orla Crowe imposed concurrent sentences of four and three years, with the final 12 months of the four-year term suspended. Offences were committed between September 2021 and February 2022.
convicted, Matthew Coward, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Cowardvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female - 21 Nov2023Swim coach jailed for spying on girls as they changed
RTÉ reports the sentencing by Judge Orla Crowe: four years in prison with the final 12 months suspended, with victim impact statements and details of the investigation and recordings.
convicted, Matthew Coward, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Cowardvictim, female - 10 Nov2023Former swimming coach recorded children changing at pool, court told
Guilty plea entered; sentencing adjourned to November 21st. Details of the girls' complaint, the seized devices and the investigation are given, along with victim impact statements read to the court.
convicted, Matthew Coward, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Cowardvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female - 10 Nov2023Former swim coach to be sentenced for recording girls changing in swimming pool
Plea hearing before sentencing: Coward pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation and a number of counts of producing child pornography. Sentencing was adjourned to 21 November, and the article gives the maximum sentences and details of the evidence and victim impact statements.
convicted, Matthew Coward, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Cowardvictim, female - 10 Nov2023Swim coach secretly filmed teenage girls at Dublin pool
Reports the guilty plea hearing. Adds that Coward is 32, that the offences ran from September 2021 to September 2022, that Blanchardstown detectives secured search warrants, that victim impact statements were read for two children, and that sentencing was set for 21 November.
convicted, Matthew Coward, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Cowardvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female - 19 Dec2022Swimming Coach to go on trial next year on child sex abuse charges - Gript
Reports that Coward has been sent for trial in the new year and details his bail conditions, including passport confiscation, twice-daily sign-on at Santry Garda station, and a no-contact order with witnesses.
suspect, Michael Coward, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Coward