Ireland Named in reporting
Matthew Coward
Born 1991, from the ages reported. 18 reports across 2 cases, 4 Aug 2022 to 19 Feb 2026
Key facts
from every report naming them- Named as
- Convicted, accused, suspect
- Born
- 1991, from the ages reported
- Offences
- Sexual exploitation of children, Production of child abuse materials, Assault
- Where
- Co. Dublin
- Reporting
- 18 reports, 4 Aug 2022 to 19 Feb 2026
- Outlets
- irishmirror.ie, thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com, rte.ie, extra.ie
Photographs
as published, with the outlet's credit
Images are shown from the outlet that published them and link back to the article. Copyright stays with the credited photographer or agency.
Cases
latest first- Swim coach released from Arbour Hill Prison on child exploitation sentence Sexual exploitation of children · Co. Dublin
Matthew Coward, a swimming coach for Swim Ireland, set up cameras in his poolside office at a Dublin swimming pool and recorded three young girls changing into swimsuits between September 2021 and February 2022. He was arrested at his home in Santry on 4 August 2022 and charged with 12 offences under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in November 2023 and was sentenced to four years in prison with the final 12 months suspended. Coward, now 35, is set to be released from Arbour Hill Prison in February 2026.
Sentenced, 21 Nov 2023Convicted, accused, suspect · 14 reports - Swim coach sentenced for assault on RTÉ cameraman in Dublin Assault · Co. Dublin
Matthew Coward, 32, a swim coach serving a three-year sentence for secretly filming young girls at a Dublin pool, pleaded guilty to assaulting RTÉ cameraman Mícheál Mac Suibhne on 22 December 2022 outside the Criminal Courts of Justice. Coward, who was on bail, shouldered Mac Suibhne twice and was abusive to him as the cameraman filmed him walking up Infirmary Road. Mac Suibhne stumbled into a tree and dropped his camera battery but did not lose his footing. At Dublin District Court in April 2024, Judge Michele Finan imposed a consecutive four-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, to run after Coward's existing term, with his release due in February 2026.
Sentenced, 3 Apr 2024Convicted · 4 reports
Timeline
every report naming Matthew Coward, newest firstEach entry shows how that report described them.
- 19 Feb2026Swim coach who sexually exploited kids punched wall after coverage of releaseconvicted, Matthew Coward, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Coward
- 3 Apr2024RTÉ cameraman says crews are 'easy targets' after jailed swim coach admits to attack outside courtconvicted, Matthew Coward, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Coward
- 3 Apr2024Jailed swim coach who secretly filmed young girls admits RTE cameraman attackconvicted, Matthew Coward, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Coward
- 3 Apr2024Man serving sentence for secretly filming young girls given suspended term for attack on RTÉ cameramanconvicted, Matthew Coward, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Coward
- 3 Apr2024Man given suspended sentence over RTÉ cameraman assaultconvicted, Matthew Coward, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Coward
- 21 Nov2023Swimming coach who set up camera to spy on young girls changing jailed for three yearsconvicted, Matthew Coward, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Coward
- 21 Nov2023Swim coach jailed for spying on girls as they changedconvicted, Matthew Coward, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Coward
- 10 Nov2023Former swimming coach recorded children changing at pool, court toldconvicted, Matthew Coward, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Coward
- 10 Nov2023Former swim coach to be sentenced for recording girls changing in swimming poolconvicted, Matthew Coward, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Coward
- 10 Nov2023Swim coach secretly filmed teenage girls at Dublin poolconvicted, Matthew Coward, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Coward
- 14 Sep2022Swim Coach To Face Trial On Charges Of Sexual Exploitationsuspect, Matthew Coward, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Coward
- 13 Sep2022Swim coach sent for trial on sexual exploitation and child pornography chargesaccused, Matthew Coward, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Coward
- 13 Sep2022Dublin swim coach to go on trial accused of sexual exploitation of three girlsaccused, Matthew Coward, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Coward
- 13 Sep2022Swim coach sent for trial on child exploitation chargessuspect, Matthew Coward, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Coward
- 5 Aug2022Swimming Coach Is Charged With Sexual Exploitation Of Girlsaccused, Matthew Coward, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Coward
- 5 Aug2022Swimming coach charged with making child porn and sexual exploitation at poolaccused, Matthew Coward, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Coward
- 4 Aug2022Swimming coach charged with sexual exploitation and making child sex abuse materialaccused, Matthew Coward, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Coward
- 4 Aug2022Swim coach charged with sexual exploitation of childrensuspect, Matthew Coward, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Coward
Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.