Irish Amateur Swimming Association

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The Irish Amateur Swimming Association (IASA), was the former national governing body of swimming in Ireland. IASA was dissolved following revelations that a number of its senior member has raped and sexually abused underage swimmers. Swim Ireland was founded in 1998 to replace IASA.

[edit] Rape and sexual abuse by senior officers

Derry O'Rourke, Olympic coach in 1980 and 1992 was convicted on 27 sexual abuse charges against minors and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in 1998. He received a further sentence of 10 years in 2005 for repeated rape and indecent assault of a female swimmer between the ages of 14 and 18.

George Gibney, Irish national coach from 1984-1991 was charged with 27 counts of sexual abuse. A judicial review in 1994 prevented the case from proceeding due to the length of time elapsed since the alleged incidents took place. He has since left the country to live in the US. ^[1]^[2]^[3]

A group of his former swimmers have lodged sworn affidavits with senior counsel and cannot understand why the man is not extradited from the states. Their evidence which spans 20 years shows a very definite modus operandi. During the period of his investigation Gibney worked in Scotland. Those interested should know that he worked in Marrion College Pool, Guninesses Pool and Waterford Crystal social club.

[edit] Team manager murders his family

Frank McCann, Irish team manager from the 1980's through to the 1990's was convicted of the murders of his wife and child to prevent them discovering he had a child from an underage swimmer.^[2]