DERRY O’ROURKE'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN CO OFFALY AND DUBLIN REVEALED
| Red Rose Database
Dublin Co Offaly Rapist
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Irish community, former national swimming coach Derry O’Rourke, aged 58, has been sentenced to an additional ten years in prison for heinous crimes committed against a young girl he trained during the late 1970s. O’Rourke, who hails from Edenderry in County Offaly, is already serving a cumulative sentence of 12 years for a series of sex offences involving teenage girls. His latest conviction stems from a detailed court case that uncovered the extent of his abuse during his time working in Dublin.
O’Rourke pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault, which took place between 1975 and 1978. The victim, who was a student at a Dublin school, was subjected to a series of horrific acts by the former coach. The court heard that the abuse was carried out over several years, with O’Rourke exploiting his position of authority and trust to commit these crimes.
Judge Mr. Justice Paul Carney sentenced O’Rourke to ten years for the rape charges and an additional four years for the indecent assault, with all sentences to run concurrently from March 2000. The judge also ordered that O’Rourke remain under supervision for eight years following his release, reflecting the seriousness of his offences and the need for ongoing monitoring.
Prosecutor Paddy McCarthy SC informed the court that the victim had come forward in 1999, after media coverage of O’Rourke’s previous convictions in 1998. She had struggled to come to terms with her experiences, which occurred when she was between 14 and 18 years old and was a promising swimmer. The victim’s statement revealed the profound impact the abuse had on her life, highlighting her ongoing emotional trauma.
Detective Sergeant Sarah Keane provided further details, explaining that the victim was a boarding pupil at the school during the 1970s and was under O’Rourke’s coaching twice daily. She recounted how, during 1975, O’Rourke would meet her in a boiler room after training sessions, where he would lock the door and engage in inappropriate touching over and under her clothes. From 1976 onwards, he had an office where he made her sit on his knee, and he would perform digital penetration and use a vibrator on her.
Det Sgt Keane described how O’Rourke’s control over the girl extended beyond training. He would organize “relaxation” massage sessions, during which he would make her lie naked on the floor and commit acts of sexual assault, including digital penetration, oral sex, and masturbation. The coach also forced her to swim naked and would rub against her in the pool. He even arranged for her to take the pill to regulate her periods, claiming it was for her swimming competitions. When she first experienced vaginal sex with him in late 1976, she was confused and asked what was happening, to which he responded, “Close your eyes and keep still.” These acts occurred on four separate occasions, with O’Rourke never using a condom.
Despite the abuse, the victim continued to train with O’Rourke after finishing school in 1977, but his attitude towards her changed later that year. He withdrew his attention, and her swimming performance became erratic, leading her to give up the sport entirely by 1980. In a statement to Gardaí in January 2000, O’Rourke admitted that the victim’s account was “for the most part accurate.”
Defense counsel Mr Patrick Gageby SC acknowledged that O’Rourke’s lengthy imprisonment had prompted reflection and a change in character. He emphasized that his client had made frank admissions to Gardaí without requiring legal representation and recognized the gravity of his actions. Gageby also noted that O’Rourke’s misconduct had garnered significant public attention, rightly so, and that his coaching career, though marred by these crimes, had once brought some honor to those he worked with.
The emotional victim addressed the court directly, describing her experience as “my tsunami.” She explained that the day she saw media coverage of O’Rourke’s crimes was the moment she fully acknowledged what had happened to her. This realization, she said, unleashed a wave of emotional pain, guilt, shame, and responsibility she had carried for eight years. She expressed her determination to overcome the hurt and anger caused by his actions, stating, “not any more, it is all yours.”
Mr Justice Carney underscored the severity of the crimes, describing the grooming process as “horrific” and emphasizing the lasting impact on the victim. He reaffirmed her right to anonymity under the law and highlighted the heinous nature of the offences. The judge took into account O’Rourke’s guilty plea when sentencing, which was backdated to March 13, 2000, due to delays caused by judicial review.
O’Rourke’s criminal history is extensive. He was initially sentenced to 12 years on January 30, 1998, by Judge Kieran O’Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, after pleading guilty to 29 charges involving 11 girls. These charges included unlawful carnal knowledge of girls under 15, sexual assault, and indecent assault, with offences spanning from 1976 to 1992. The full indictment contained 90 charges, with sentences imposed on 27 of them.
Furthermore, on August 27, 2000, Mr Justice Carney sentenced O’Rourke to an additional four years, to run concurrently, for 19 sample charges out of a total of 59 involving six girls. These offences, committed between July 1970 and December 1992, included acts such as oral sex, with victims aged between 10 and 19, all of whom were under his coaching supervision. The case continues to highlight the devastating impact of his predatory behavior over many years in both County Offaly and Dublin.
O’Rourke pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault, which took place between 1975 and 1978. The victim, who was a student at a Dublin school, was subjected to a series of horrific acts by the former coach. The court heard that the abuse was carried out over several years, with O’Rourke exploiting his position of authority and trust to commit these crimes.
Judge Mr. Justice Paul Carney sentenced O’Rourke to ten years for the rape charges and an additional four years for the indecent assault, with all sentences to run concurrently from March 2000. The judge also ordered that O’Rourke remain under supervision for eight years following his release, reflecting the seriousness of his offences and the need for ongoing monitoring.
Prosecutor Paddy McCarthy SC informed the court that the victim had come forward in 1999, after media coverage of O’Rourke’s previous convictions in 1998. She had struggled to come to terms with her experiences, which occurred when she was between 14 and 18 years old and was a promising swimmer. The victim’s statement revealed the profound impact the abuse had on her life, highlighting her ongoing emotional trauma.
Detective Sergeant Sarah Keane provided further details, explaining that the victim was a boarding pupil at the school during the 1970s and was under O’Rourke’s coaching twice daily. She recounted how, during 1975, O’Rourke would meet her in a boiler room after training sessions, where he would lock the door and engage in inappropriate touching over and under her clothes. From 1976 onwards, he had an office where he made her sit on his knee, and he would perform digital penetration and use a vibrator on her.
Det Sgt Keane described how O’Rourke’s control over the girl extended beyond training. He would organize “relaxation” massage sessions, during which he would make her lie naked on the floor and commit acts of sexual assault, including digital penetration, oral sex, and masturbation. The coach also forced her to swim naked and would rub against her in the pool. He even arranged for her to take the pill to regulate her periods, claiming it was for her swimming competitions. When she first experienced vaginal sex with him in late 1976, she was confused and asked what was happening, to which he responded, “Close your eyes and keep still.” These acts occurred on four separate occasions, with O’Rourke never using a condom.
Despite the abuse, the victim continued to train with O’Rourke after finishing school in 1977, but his attitude towards her changed later that year. He withdrew his attention, and her swimming performance became erratic, leading her to give up the sport entirely by 1980. In a statement to Gardaí in January 2000, O’Rourke admitted that the victim’s account was “for the most part accurate.”
Defense counsel Mr Patrick Gageby SC acknowledged that O’Rourke’s lengthy imprisonment had prompted reflection and a change in character. He emphasized that his client had made frank admissions to Gardaí without requiring legal representation and recognized the gravity of his actions. Gageby also noted that O’Rourke’s misconduct had garnered significant public attention, rightly so, and that his coaching career, though marred by these crimes, had once brought some honor to those he worked with.
The emotional victim addressed the court directly, describing her experience as “my tsunami.” She explained that the day she saw media coverage of O’Rourke’s crimes was the moment she fully acknowledged what had happened to her. This realization, she said, unleashed a wave of emotional pain, guilt, shame, and responsibility she had carried for eight years. She expressed her determination to overcome the hurt and anger caused by his actions, stating, “not any more, it is all yours.”
Mr Justice Carney underscored the severity of the crimes, describing the grooming process as “horrific” and emphasizing the lasting impact on the victim. He reaffirmed her right to anonymity under the law and highlighted the heinous nature of the offences. The judge took into account O’Rourke’s guilty plea when sentencing, which was backdated to March 13, 2000, due to delays caused by judicial review.
O’Rourke’s criminal history is extensive. He was initially sentenced to 12 years on January 30, 1998, by Judge Kieran O’Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, after pleading guilty to 29 charges involving 11 girls. These charges included unlawful carnal knowledge of girls under 15, sexual assault, and indecent assault, with offences spanning from 1976 to 1992. The full indictment contained 90 charges, with sentences imposed on 27 of them.
Furthermore, on August 27, 2000, Mr Justice Carney sentenced O’Rourke to an additional four years, to run concurrently, for 19 sample charges out of a total of 59 involving six girls. These offences, committed between July 1970 and December 1992, included acts such as oral sex, with victims aged between 10 and 19, all of whom were under his coaching supervision. The case continues to highlight the devastating impact of his predatory behavior over many years in both County Offaly and Dublin.