Ex-swim coach convicted of sex offences against five children
Former Irish Olympic swimming coach Ger Doyle at Wexford Cicruit Court yesterday, where he was found guilty of 35 sex-related offences against children, which took place at New Ross pool between 1981 and 1993. Photo: Patrick Browne
Thursday November 05 2009
A FORMER national and Olympic swimming coach has been remanded in custody after being convicted of 35 sex-related offences against children.
Gerard Doyle (48), of Emmett Place, Wexford, who also lived in New Ross, had pleaded not guilty before Judge Alice Doyle at Wexford Circuit Court to one charge of sexual assault and thirty-four charges of indecent assault. The offences took place at New Ross swimming pool between January 1981 and December 1993.
After he was found guilty, Swim Ireland said that there was "no hiding place" for the perpetrators of such offences and said it hoped the verdict would bring "some closure and respite to those impacted".
Doyle is the third Irish Olympic coach to have become embroiled in sexual assault allegations. George Gibney was accused of raping boys and girls before fleeing to Scotland and then the US, while Derry O'Rourke was released from prison last year after serving nine years for 149 charges of sexually assaulting young girls.
Meanwhile, a former swimming administration president, Frank McCann, was convicted of murdering his wife and foster-child after he started a fire in the family home in Rathfarnham in 1992. Doyle was coach to the Irish swimming team that travelled to the Athens Olympics in 2004 and continued as national coach until the allegations were made against him in 2005.
After a six-day trial, the jury yesterday returned a unanimous verdict on the sexual assault charge and 32 indecent assault charges, with majority verdicts on the two remaining indecent assault charges.
Offences
Five different people made the complaints against Doyle, with the assaults carried out on boys from age 10 to 15 years.
Rod O'Hanlon, prosecuting, told of complainants who were brought into the defendant's office and had measurements taken of their shoulders, waist, legs and also of their penis, while the defendant was also alleged to have kissed one of the complainants.
One complainant recalled Doyle putting his hand inside his togs and touching his penis and testicles. "I had not reached puberty, but knew this should not be taking place and what Ger Doyle was doing was for sexual pleasure."
The complainants also told of the defendant bringing them into the office, measuring them before asking them to go into the toilet, when he would show them how to masturbate.
In evidence, Doyle said he was appointed manager of New Ross swimming pool in March 1980. He told the court of having brought New Ross Swimming Club from relative obscurity to national prominence, while many of the club's swimmers went on to provincial and national success and also competed in European and Olympic Games.
Following the 1996 Olympics, he was appointed national coach, but did not go to the 2000 Olympics on doctor's instructions.
Doyle denied all of the allegations. After the verdict was returned, Judge Doyle remanded the defendant in custody for sentencing at Wexford Circuit Court on January 28 next, refusing an application for bail and ordering victim impact reports in relation to the complainants.
Noting the court decision, Swim Ireland said in a statement that the actions of the coach were "utterly unacceptable in any context" and that it was "acutely aware" of its responsibilities to its members.
"In recent years, following serious concerns about the effectiveness of child welfare issues in the past, Swim Ireland has established strong procedures, measures and governance to ensure that its sport protects the well-being of all who participate."
Last year, Swim Ireland settled a compensation claim, estimated at about €2.5m excluding costs, with 13 of O'Rourke's victims.
- Brendan Furlong and Conor Kane
Irish Independent
