Courts / Dublin / Report
Ex-Swim Ireland coach gets three years for secretly filming girls changing in his office
Summary
Matthew Coward, a former Swim Ireland coach aged 32, was sentenced to three years in prison for sexual exploitation and producing child abuse material. He secretly filmed three girls while they changed into swimming skins in his office, demanding they be completely naked. The court heard that the girls had "worshipped" him and that one girl's father reported her being recorded, leading to a Garda investigation and the discovery of nearly 80 videos on Coward's devices. Two videos were classified as child abuse material and seven as inappropriate. Coward pleaded guilty to six counts—three of sexual exploitation and three of producing child pornography—between September 2021 and February 2022. He received concurrent sentences of four and three years, with the final 12 months of the four‑year term suspended on strict conditions, including good behaviour for two years after release. Coward's plea of guilty and expression of remorse were taken into account by Judge Orla Crowe.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Ex-Swim Ireland coach gets three years for secretly filming girls changing in his office. Charges or matters: think about a trial". Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 1, 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 26, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 3, 2022 Incident
- 2023-11-21 Publication
Why: The court heard that students had "worshipped" Matthew Coward, who gave one victim a pair of "swimming skins" to try on in his office and told her that she would need to get "completely naked" in order to try them on. Court evidence reported by CNI
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: think about a trial" (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Former Swim Ireland coach who secretly filmed girls changing in his office has been jailed for three years for sexual exploitation and producing child abuse materials. Judge Crowe said have taking into account Coward's plea of guilty and expression of remorse, she would impose concurrent sentences of four and three years.
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