Derry O’Rourke jailed for ten years for rape and indecent assaults

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Former Irish Olympic swimming coach Derry O’Rourke was jailed for ten years at the Central Criminal Court on 31 July 2024 for the rape and sexual abuse of a teenage girl.

O’Rourke had pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and 15 counts of indecent assault at a Leinster school on dates between October 1989 and June 1990. The girl was aged between 13 and 14 at the time.

Four indecent assault charges were removed from the indictment during the trial. Following a six-day trial, the jury unanimously convicted him of rape and 11 counts of indecent assault. O’Rourke had denied the allegations, saying he had no recollection of training the girl.

The court heard that O’Rourke singled the girl out for his swim team and abused her on the pretext of carrying out muscle checks. The offences included touching her breast and digitally penetrating her. After the rape, she stopped swimming.

At sentencing, Justice Melanie Greally said O’Rourke’s apology for contesting the case “rings hollow”. She identified aggravating factors including the duration and persistence of the offending and his abuse of a position of authority. She said his advanced age and poor health were the only mitigating factors of real substance.

In a victim impact statement on 30 July 2024, the woman said the abuse had left a mark on every aspect of her life.