Abuse victims reject changes agreed by swimming body

Victims of sexual abuse by former swimming coach Derry O'Rourke say the proposed resignation of all Irish Amateur Swimming Association officials is not sufficient. At its e.g.m. yesterday, the IASA voted for a complete restructuring of the organisation, in line with the recommendations of the Murphy report into abuse within the sport.

All IASA officials agreed in principle to resign at an extraordinary general meeting later this year. However, the victims and their families believe the same people currently running the organisation would be re-elected.

"We have a number of objections," Ms Maura Cunningham, a spokeswoman representing victims and their families, said after the meeting. "There is no time scale. They [IASA] have to be seen to be doing things on the ground and they are not. There simply must be a change in personnel. What's going to happen in the autumn? We know what's going to happen. The same people are going to be elected. Then what? Then where are we? We reject the statement that there is a change.

"Unless there is a complete change in personnel in the governing bodies, all the new rules and regulations proposed - and they are good proposals - are a total waste of time."

In contrast, the IASA's president, Ms Mary O'Malley, described the meeting - attended by about 50 delegates - as positive. "I was very surprised that the meeting was largely positive. What I would say to those people who are dissatisfied is that we are restructuring. We are putting forward a very, very strong child-orientated programme. We hope that everything would be a lot fairer in the future and we would hope to gain the confidence of the public at large."

A series of consultative meeting will now take place with the four provincial branches leading to an e.g.m., which will approve the new structures. There will then follow another series of provincial meetings to put forward nominations leading to an a.g.m., where the new swimming body will be elected. Names for election will be put forward by the current membership of the IASA.

The new recommendations were drawn up by three IASA executives in association with a professional team of individuals including sports management consultant Mr Morgan Buckley, a legal representative from Matheson Ormsby Prentice, financial advisers Hanlon Kilty, child psychologist Dr Deirdre McIntyre, and two former international swimmers.

"The Murphy report has recommended that this happens," said Mr Buckley. "Now what has to happen is that the IASA have the right process to deal with complaints and grievances of families and victims. One of the first things we urgently recommended is that they look at their complaints procedure and see what could be put in place. That procedure is being put in place now and will be chaired independently. It should be the mechanism whereby people can then submit their complaints."

Mr Buckley said it may take several years before reconciliation can take place even if new attitudes are adopted and with a child-focused regime in place.