The former Irish national swimming coach, Derry O'Rourke, has pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to 10 more charges of sex abuse of two girls.
O'Rourke, who is already serving 12 years for sex offences, now faces sentence on July 28th on 19 charges involving seven girls. The indecent and sexual assaults took place between July 1970 and December 1992.
O'Rourke (53), of Edenderry, Co Offaly, pleaded guilty in March to nine out of a total of 59 charges involving five girls. When he appeared yesterday for sentence on these nine charges, Ms Isobel Kennedy, prosecuting, said the State required pleas on a further 10 charges from this indictment. She said further time would be required to prepare all the victim impact reports.
Mr Justice Carney refused an application by Mr Patrick Gage by SC, defending, that he make an order prohibiting the publication of O'Rourke's identity. Mr Justice Carney said he did not propose to put any restriction on the press in this matter.
When this indictment first came before the court on March 24th, Mr Justice Carney made an order on the defence's application that O'Rourke should not be identified. However, on March 30th, during a listing session for forthcoming cases, he said that, on reflection, he believed he had acted too hastily in granting the application by defence counsel restricting the reporting of O'Rourke's name and address and he lifted the order.
O'Rourke was jailed for 12 years on January 30th, 1998, by Judge Kieran O'Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after admitting 29 charges relating to offences involving 11 girls.