Victims of former Irish swim coach George Gibney described him as a "brazen and cowardly predator" during his sentencing hearing, according to RTE.ie.
Gibney has accepted guilt for sexually abusing young swimmers approximately 50 years ago, BreakingNews.ie reports. The case has drawn significant attention in Ireland, where Gibney was once a prominent figure in the sport.
In court, one survivor told the judge that the world will now know Gibney as a "convicted, serial paedophile," The Journal reported. Another survivor said they watched Gibney be "hero-worshipped while knowing the truth," according to The Irish Times.
The Irish Independent reported that victims branded Gibney a "manipulative, brazen, cowardly predator" as he faced sentencing. The hearing marks a rare moment of accountability for the former coach, who had avoided prosecution for decades.
Gibney's case has been closely followed in Ireland, where allegations against him first emerged years ago. The sentencing is expected to conclude later this week.
