Ger Doyle
Encyclopedia
Ger Doyle is an Irish
former national swimming coach from Wexford
, County Wexford
.
Doyle was coach of the Irish Olympic team at the 2000
and 2004
games. He managed New Ross
swimming pool for more than two decades.
In 2010 he was jailed for six and a half years after being found guilty in court of 34 counts of indecent assault
and one count of sexual assault
against children in his care.
swimming pool for 26 years, taking over the role when he was aged 19 in 1980. He became Leinster
's swimming coach in 1984 and national swimming coach in 1992 where he remained until 2005. He coached at least one Olympic swimmer. His swimmers broke more than one hundred national records at junior and senior level. He was coach of the Irish Olympic team at the 2000
and 2004
games, though was not well enough to travel to the former. He was Wexford Person of the Year 2004.
Doyle's trial lasted for six days.
In 2010, Doyle was convicted of 35 counts of indecent and sexual assault on five children aged between ten and fifteen over a period of twelve years between 1981 and 1993. He received a six and a half year prison sentence. The judge described "a complete absence of insight or remorse". There was applause in court as Doyle was led away and survivors of other swimming abuses welcomed the sentence.
One incident described Doyle as having removed a boy's trousers to smack his bottom and touch him. Another child suffered from bouts of anger and another had regular panic attacks. The abuse took place in his office in New Ross. Only one of the five was in court for Doyle's sentencing. Doyle maintained his innocence.
He is the second Olympic swimming coach convicted of such crimes in Ireland, following Derry O'Rourke. George Gibney was charged but not
convicted. The Irish Times
criticized the sport as a whole for inadequately protecting children, noting that Doyle was allowed to share a hotel room with an 18-year-old male swimmer in 2002 during the British Youth Championships in Sheffield
, even though the rules did not permit Michelle Smith
to share a room with her fiancé and future husband Erik de Bruin
. Doyle attended a child welfare course operated by the Irish Sports Council
in 2004, at which time no criticisms were raised.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
former national swimming coach from Wexford
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
, County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
.
Doyle was coach of the Irish Olympic team at the 2000
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
and 2004
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
games. He managed New Ross
New Ross
New Ross is a town located in southwest County Wexford, in the southeast of Ireland. In 2006 it had a population of 7,709 people, making it the third largest town in the county after Wexford and Enniscorthy.-History:...
swimming pool for more than two decades.
In 2010 he was jailed for six and a half years after being found guilty in court of 34 counts of indecent assault
Indecent assault
Indecent assault is an offence of aggravated assault in many jurisdictions. It is characterised as a sex crime.Indecent assault was an offence in England and Wales under sections 14 and 15 the Sexual Offences Act 1956...
and one count of sexual assault
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
against children in his care.
Coaching
Doyle managed New RossNew Ross
New Ross is a town located in southwest County Wexford, in the southeast of Ireland. In 2006 it had a population of 7,709 people, making it the third largest town in the county after Wexford and Enniscorthy.-History:...
swimming pool for 26 years, taking over the role when he was aged 19 in 1980. He became Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
's swimming coach in 1984 and national swimming coach in 1992 where he remained until 2005. He coached at least one Olympic swimmer. His swimmers broke more than one hundred national records at junior and senior level. He was coach of the Irish Olympic team at the 2000
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
and 2004
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
games, though was not well enough to travel to the former. He was Wexford Person of the Year 2004.
Child abuse
In 2005 reports of misconduct began to emerge.Doyle's trial lasted for six days.
In 2010, Doyle was convicted of 35 counts of indecent and sexual assault on five children aged between ten and fifteen over a period of twelve years between 1981 and 1993. He received a six and a half year prison sentence. The judge described "a complete absence of insight or remorse". There was applause in court as Doyle was led away and survivors of other swimming abuses welcomed the sentence.
One incident described Doyle as having removed a boy's trousers to smack his bottom and touch him. Another child suffered from bouts of anger and another had regular panic attacks. The abuse took place in his office in New Ross. Only one of the five was in court for Doyle's sentencing. Doyle maintained his innocence.
He is the second Olympic swimming coach convicted of such crimes in Ireland, following Derry O'Rourke. George Gibney was charged but not
convicted. The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
criticized the sport as a whole for inadequately protecting children, noting that Doyle was allowed to share a hotel room with an 18-year-old male swimmer in 2002 during the British Youth Championships in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, even though the rules did not permit Michelle Smith
Michelle Smith
Michelle Smith is a retired Irish swimmer and practising Irish barrister. She was a triple gold medallist at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, for the 400 m individual medley, 400 m freestyle and 200 m individual medley...
to share a room with her fiancé and future husband Erik de Bruin
Erik de Bruin
Erik de Bruin is a retired Dutch discus thrower and shot putter. He held the Dutch national record in shot put from 1986 to 2005, and his 68.12 m discus throw record of April 1, 1991 still stands today....
. Doyle attended a child welfare course operated by the Irish Sports Council
Irish Sports Council
The Irish Sports Council or ISC is the organisation which directs the development of sport within the Ireland.The ISC is a statutory authority and was established in July 1999 under powers provided by the Irish Sports Council Act...
in 2004, at which time no criticisms were raised.