The Irish Amateur Swimming Association (now Swim Ireland), the governing body of swimming, is facing a civil action from members and former members who claim to have suffered sexual abuse by the former Irish Olympic coach, Derry O'Rourke.
O'Rourke was sentenced in February 1998 to 12 years in prison.
Proceedings have been instituted in the High Court by a number of swimmers who claim they were entrusted to a swimming system that failed. Up to 20 individuals are known to be involved with the case against the swimming association, swimming clubs, a school, a club committee and O'Rourke.
Swim Ireland was formed in January 1999 after the Irish Amateur Swimming Association went out of existence. The new governing body was formed amid acrimony following a report by the then senior counsel, Mr Roderick Murphy, and after the Minister for Tourism Recreation and Sport, Dr McDaid, had suspended funding.
