Dublin, Ireland: Former swimming coach George Gibney was today found guilty of sexually abusing four girls (aged eight to 14) over 50 years ago, including attempted rape.
In 2009, our former Miami-based agency, One Child International Inc., was asked to help locate Gibney after he had disappeared in the United States. One of our investigators found him living in Altamonte Springs, Florida, where he was working for a Disney timeshare company and serving on several parish committees within his local Catholic church. Once his past became known, he lost both his employment and those positions. Our agency remained actively engaged with the case until his arrest.
It took another 14 years of perseverance by survivors, journalists, investigators, authors, campaigners, and law enforcement before Gibney was finally brought before an Irish court. Journalist Justine McCarthy’s book Deep Deception, Mark Horgan’s outstanding BBC podcast Where Is George Gibney?, extensive media coverage, countless letters to public officials, and the determination of specialist investigators within An Garda Síochána (Irish police) all helped ensure that this case was never forgotten. Gibney was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service in July 2025 following an Irish extradition request and was returned to Ireland to stand trial.
Today’s verdict belongs first and foremost to the survivors who, despite every obstacle, never gave up. Many waited more than half a century to be heard. Their courage and persistence, despite years of disappointment and delay, made this day possible.
If there is one lesson from this case, it is that perseverance matters.
Sentencing is scheduled for later this month. For further information, Google ‘George Gibney.’
Link to articles:
Former swimming coach George Gibney found guilty of sexually abusing four girls over 50 years ago
https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2026/07/06/george-gibney-trial-ex-sports-coach-found-guilty-of-abusing-four-girls-over-50-years-ago-in-ireland/