
Breaking Former swimming coach George Gibney arrested in US
Mr Gibney, who is now in his 70s, is wanted in Ireland to face over 50 historical sexual abuse charges.
He was arrested in Florida this afternoon by US Marshalls on foot of an Irish extradition warrant.
He is being detained pending a court appearance there and can decide whether to accede or contest his extradition.
Gardaí reopened their investigation into the former swimming coach after a number of people made allegations against him on a BBC podcast over five years ago.
A specialist team within the Garda National Protective Services Bureau commenced the criminal investigation in 2020 and a file was sent to the DPP three years later.
The Sexual Crime Management Unit within the Garda Protective Services Bureau, which specialises in investigating difficult, historic and high-profile cases of sexual abuse, conducted the investigation.
The DPP examined the file and subsequently recommended that Gibney be charged with more than 50 alleged offences.
Gardaí then secured an extradition warrant in the High Court seeking Mr Gibney's extradition and have been working with the US authorities for over six months.

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4 hours ago
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FORMER IRISH OLYMPIC swimming coach George Gibney has been arrested by US authorities in Florida this afternoon. He was taken into custody by US Marshals on foot of an Irish extradition warrant and is being detained pending a court appearance. Gardaí have been investigating fresh allegations that Gibney sexually abused multiple children in his care while working as a swimming coach in Ireland decades ago. The investigation was reopened in 2020 after several individuals made allegations on a BBC podcast, prompting a specialist unit within the Garda National Protective Services Bureau to begin a detailed inquiry. After a three-year investigation, a file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who recommended charging Gibney. Advertisement In a statement today, gardaí said that they are'aware of the arrest of a male aged in his 70s in the United States' on the foot of an Irish international arrest warrant. 'As this is currently a matter for the US authorities, An Garda Síochána will not be commenting further at this time,' a spokesperson said. Gibney was the founder of the Trojan Swimming Club in Blackrock in Dublin, where he also worked as a coach. He was also the Irish national swimming coach until 1991. Now aged in his 70s, he was previously charged with 27 sexual offences in 1993. However, the charges of indecent assault and unlawful carnal knowledge were dropped in 1994 after he secured an injunction in the High Court preventing the DPP from prosecuting him. Gibney left Ireland and moved to Scotland, where he continued to work as a swimming coach. He has lived in the United States since 1995. In 1997, a garda investigation into Gibney was opened after fresh allegations were made against him. This investigation did not result in a prosecution. In 2020, the BBC Sounds and Second Captains podcast 'Where is George Gibney?' gave an in-depth look at the circumstances and child abuse accusations surrounding Gibney. Gardaí commenced a new investigation after the podcast was broadcast. An appeal was issued for people with any information to come forward. A number of alleged victims did come forward with allegations. The DPP would be free to seek Gibney's extradition from the US if it was to proceed with charges. Written by Andrew Walsh and posted on


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4 hours ago
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latest | Former Olympic swimming coach George Gibney has appeared before a US court in relation to more than 50 charges, including some for alleged indecent assault. He was arrested in Florida on foot an extradition request from gardaí who have been investigating him for alleged child abuse.