FORMER Olympic swim coach George Gibney could be extradited to Ireland before the end of the month, it’s emerged.
And once in Ireland, he will appear in court charged with 78 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape against four females aged between eight and 15.
The Irish Sun can reveal that investigators from the Sex Crime Management Unit – part of the Garda National Protective Services Bureau – hope paperwork on Gibney’s return to Dublin will be completed over the coming weeks.
The relevant paperwork on timings of the extradition will be considered by the US authorities early after 77-year-old Gibney, who has been living in the US since 1995, agreed not to fight against his extradition.
Once details of his flights and his court appearance in Ireland have been arranged, he will be brought back to Ireland by the Garda Extradition Unit.
Two officers from the unit will travel to the US to bring him back to the capital.
He’s expected to be brought back on a normal flight from Orlando, Florida.
One source said: “His decision to return to Ireland is a welcome development.
“If he had fought against the legality of the extradition in a US court, the process could have taken until next year.
“A lot of paperwork is already in the hands of the US authorities, so hopefully the extradition can be arranged over the next few weeks.
“Gardai are on standby to bring him back to Ireland once everything has been signed in America.
“These things can take a bit of time, but hopefully it’s sooner rather than later.
FORMER ASSOCIATES DELIGHTED OVER DECISION
“As soon as he lands in Ireland, he will immediately be brought to court and he won’t be given any preferential treatment.”
We also understand that Gibney is in “good health” and only took a day before agreeing to the extradition.
A former associate of the swim coach expressed their surprise at his decision to return to Ireland to stand trial.
They told The Irish Sun: “A few of us from the old club are delighted he has made this decision. We were all convinced there would have been some delay to this, so this is good news.
“When he appears in court, a few of us will also be present.”
Gibney agreed to the extradition before he was due to appear in court in Orlando tomorrow.
The former swim coach met his lawyer, Fitzgerald Hall, on Tuesday before he confirmed the extradition agreement.
EXTRADITION HEARING WAIVED
We contacted Mr Hall for a comment on the case, but he was not available.
The former coach’s decision to return to Ireland comes ten days after he was arrested by US Marshals following an international warrant being issued for his arrest by the Gardai.
Gibney was initially applying for bail after his arrest, but this request has now been withdrawn.
“His decision to return to Ireland is a welcome development.”
Irish Sun source
In a document presented to the court, the Dublin man’s lawyer outlined: “On July 8, undersigned counsel met with Mr Gibney and fully advised of his rights in an extradition proceeding and his right to an extradition hearing. As a result, Mr Gibney has decided to withdraw his request to a detention hearing and stipulate to detention.
“Likewise, Mr Gibney advised counsel he wants to waive his extradition hearing and be extradited to Ireland.
“An affidavit of waiver of extradition hearing will be filed as soon as possible.”
CASE AGAINST CHARGES
Before moving away to the US back in 1995, Gibney was charged with 27 crimes against children, but took a High Court case against the charges.
In 1994, the High Court and Supreme Court both ruled the allegations were “too old” and the charges were struck out.
He then spent time in Scotland before settling in the US.
During his time living in the US, he has also claimed to have found God.
He faced new charges after a number of alleged victims came forward and made complaints after a BBC podcast — entitled Where is George Gibney — was produced in 2020.
