Compensation deal for O'Rourke victims rejected by AG

The Attorney General has advised that a State compensation package of up to €5 million for victims of paedophile swimming coach Derry O'Rourke could expose the Government to liability in other cases of sexual abuse, according to senior political sources.

A compensation deal was being considered for 13 women who were subjected to sexual assaults as children while they received swimming coaching. None of the victims has received compensation.

Government officials say plans for a compensation deal were considered, similar to what was planned for former patients of Dr Michael Neary who performed unnecessary obstetric operations.

Plans were discussed at Cabinet on at least three occasions. However, Ministers decided not to proceed with the scheme following advice from the Attorney General. An inter-departmental group of officials was also established to discuss the matter.

One senior source said there was a fear that a compensation scheme could expose the State to liability across a range of child sexual abuse cases, after advice from the Attorney General.

The governing body for swimming, Swim Ireland - formerly the Irish Amateur Swimming Association - is facing 15 proceedings in the High Court with three other defendants with respect to alleged child sexual abuse cases. All proceedings relate to O'Rourke, a former national coach. The first of the cases is due to be heard in court this week.

The main allegation against Swim Ireland is that it failed to put in place policies and procedures that could have protected young children.

O'Rourke was released last March after serving nine years of a 12-year sentence. He is subject to supervision by the probation service for the next seven years and must sign in at a Garda station once a week.

Meanwhile, Swim Ireland is struggling to develop. An Oireachtas committee heard just over a year ago that up to 20 per cent of its budget was being spent on legal fees. The organisationsays it has implemented all the recommendations of an independent inquiry into child sexual abuse.