Former Irish Olympic swimming coach George Gibney has been branded a "monster" by his victims after being found guilty of sexually abusing four girls, a Dublin court has heard. Gibney was convicted of indecently assaulting the girls and the attempted rape of one victim in a changing room when she was 12.
Victim impact statements
In harrowing victim impact statements read at Dublin's Central Criminal Court, one woman said she carried the abuse as a "secret I carried in silence for years" while watching Gibney being "lauded" and "hero-worshipped". Another victim described the legal process as "traumatic" and criticised overly graphic media reporting. She said she was relieved she had never spoken to a counsellor, as notes from such sessions were requested for the trial.
Gibney, 78, had pleaded guilty to five charges of indecently assaulting a girl in 1976 but denied dozens of other charges involving girls aged between eight and 14 between 1971 and 1981. Earlier this month, a jury returned guilty verdicts on 40 charges.
No appeal
Gibney's lawyer confirmed in court that he would not appeal against the convictions. The barrister said Gibney's reputation was "entirely in tatters", that he was not in the best health, and that he "never receives visits" in prison as a consequence of his actions. He added that Gibney "accepts the verdicts of the jury".
Delivering victim impact statements, three women thanked the Gardaí for their support. One victim turned to Gibney and said she wanted "an official record of your evilness". She described the guilty verdicts as "so overwhelmingly powerful, I cried".
Criticism of legal system
Another victim said the court process was "exceedingly traumatic and lengthy" and that she was told she was "a witness for the state", which conveyed a "lack of empathy or understanding" for victims. She said, "I am a victim first and a witness for the state second." She criticised "blow by blow coverage" and praised media that reported without graphic detail.
A third victim said she was left "emotionally battered" and "humiliated" by Gibney, the press, and a legal system "in need of reform". Another victim recalled Gibney's car headlights as he came to collect her, saying she "didn't feel like prey then but does now". She had nightmares during the pandemic and smoked heavily, adding: "If it weren't for the Gardaí and my children, I don't know where I'd be."
Sentencing
Gibney's lawyer told the court that his client had no previous convictions and said, "In my respectful position, the person who is before you is a very different person than the person who committed these offences against young children who were in his care." Gibney is due to be sentenced on October 12.
