Swimming coach claims rejected

1. In the autumn of 1992 a mother sent a letter to the committee of a prominent Dublin swimming club. In it she stated that the swimming coach, Derry O'Rourke, had sexually assaulted her adolescent daughter. She asked the club to investigate as a matter of urgency.

What happened?

The club replied by letter saying that three members of its committee had investigated the matter. They stated that there was no problem and that the girl was mistaken.

A similar letter was later sent by the club president, Mr Michael McCann, to the Garda Commissioner, Mr Patrick Culligan.

O'Rourke pleaded guilty last December to sexually assaulting the girl in question.

2. In December 1992, swimmer Gary O'Toole wrote to the Irish Amateur Swimming Association about allegations of sexual abuse by another Olympic-level swimming coach, George Gibney.

He requested a meeting to discuss the allegations. "Please be assured that I would never request this meeting if I thought I would be wasting the association's time."

What happened?

The IASA wrote back one day later acknowledging receipt of the letter. On January 15th, 1992 he received a second letter. It stated: "The IASA cannot act on mere rumour and innuendo and the person concerned has a basic right to his good name and reputation unless and until first hand complaint is made."

The committee refused to meet Mr O'Toole or to discuss the matter with him.

3. On July 8th, 1993, Aidan O'Toole, head coach at Triton Swimming Club in Bray and father of Gary, wrote to the secretary of the IASA, Ms Hillary Hughes, on behalf of the club. He complained that within the previous 14 days George Gibney had been charged with 27 offences of child sex abuse committed against young members of the association.

In the letter he stated: "Gibney has been engaging in his behaviour since 1967" and he ended by saying: "Thankfully the DPP is pursuing the matter, not the IASA. Your attitude is appalling to say the least."

What happened?

No action is known to have been taken.

4. In 1994 a swimming trip to England was arranged for teenagers by an IASA-affiliated male coach at a club outside Dublin. The mother of a 14-year-old boy who was selected to travel made inquiries about the coach.

She was subsequently contacted by a third individual - a person of professional qualifications - who told her of disturbing information to the effect that the coach had left England following allegations of child sex abuse.

The mother decided to go to the IASA. The association told her to make her complaint in writing, which she did, outlining her fears and asking if, in the light of the Gibney and O'Rourke affairs, they had "checked him out."

What happened?

The IASA passed a copy of the letter of complaint directly to the coach. He passed it on to a solicitor and a writ for defamation was issued. The mother had to engage her own solicitor in her defence.

The case was dropped when the coach disappeared and she has had to pay her own legal costs.

5. In February 1995 a victim of George Gibney handed a letter of complaint to the president of the Irish Amateur Swimming Association, Mr Frank Stephens, and sent a copy to the IASA at its offices in the House of Sport in Dublin, claiming that Gibney had sexually assaulted him.

The IASA insisted that the letter should be given or sent to the secretary of the association, Ms Celia Milane, accompanied by a £10 fee. The victim handed the letter to the president and refused to pay the £10.

What happened?

The victim heard nothing for three months and contacted the IASA in May of 1995. The answer was that Gibney was out of the country, the association did not know where he was, and nothing could be done.