O'Rourke victims relieved as 10-year struggle ends

Victims of sex-abuser Derry O'Rourke expressed relief yesterday at reaching a settlement for damages with the swimming coach'…

Victims of sex-abuser Derry O'Rourke expressed relief yesterday at reaching a settlement for damages with the swimming coach's former employers after a 10-year fight for justice. Paul Cullenand Mary Carolanreport.

Swim Ireland, the national governing body for swimming, and King's Hospital school, Palmerstown, yesterday agreed in the High Court to pay compensation ranging from €100,000 to over €500,000 to 12 victims of O'Rourke, who worked as a swimming coach at the school. A further case was settled for a smaller sum.

The settlement involved no admission of liability by the defendants and no apology was given yesterday, but it is expected the two parties will apologise by letter once two further abuse cases involving O'Rourke are dealt with by the courts.

The sudden decision by the two organisations to settle the long-running cases without going to trial was warmly welcomed by the victims, who were aged between 10 and 17 when the abuse took place.

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"It isn't so much the settlement, as the proof of the thing, the fact they have won after 10 years of not being believed," said the father of one of the women.

"This has dominated her whole adult life, and ruined much of it. There can never be an end, not when you're trying to repair something like this."

Swim Ireland, which tried unsuccessfully in recent months to get the Government to set up a compensation scheme to cover the cost of the cases, refused to say how it would pay for the settlement.

However, a spokesman said "not a cent" of Government money would be used to fund the deal.

He said the organisation would continue unaffected by the costs of the settlement and was concentrating on maximising Ireland's chances in the Olympic Games, for which Ireland has one qualifier so far in the swimming events.

"Swim Ireland warmly welcomes the resolution of these cases and reiterates its condemnation and horror at the gross and indecent acts perpetrated by Derry O'Rourke against these women.

"All these victims suffered significant individual trauma and personal injury. We hope today's outcome will help them to finally close the chapter on these painful events from their past lives."

He said the organisation had introduced new structures and safeguards over the past decade to ensure that swimming could "continue to operate in a safe and healthy environment".

King's Hospital, which was ordered yesterday to pay the legal costs of all the plaintiffs, could not be contacted for comment.

These costs, covering a 10-year legal battle, are expected to run into millions of euro.

The victims' solicitor, David Coleman of Lavelle Coleman, said the settlement marked the end of a "long, long journey" for his clients.

"Ten years - the girls were very brave. It's a long time to get justice."

He said he expected some recognition of the girls' "torment" would be made by the defendants at a later date. Asked how hard the defendants had fought the case, he said "on a scale from one to 10 - 10".

O'Rourke (60) was released from prison last March after serving nine years of a 12-year sentence.

Bart Nolan, a parent who campaigned for action against sexual abuse within swimming for 30 years, said the victims were delighted at the outcome. "They're over the moon. There were hugs and lots of tears after a week of upset and waiting by the court, and 10 years of legal proceedings."

Mr Nolan, who was ostracised for years within swimming for his forthright stance, said the settlement marked the end of a long period of tragedy and suffering for the women and the victims of O'Rourke and their families. He claimed there were still figures involved in Irish swimming who knew what had gone on. "Only the name of the organisation has changed; nothing else."

The first claim for damages in the current cases was initiated in 1998 and the last claim was made in 2001. O'Rourke's assaults took place on dates from 1970 to 1994.