Radio 1 88-90fm
Programme 13: 7th October 2007
Chalkie White, swimming coach who confronted paedophile George Gibney.
Aged 9, Chalkie White was one of the most promising young swimmers in Ireland, so it made sense that he would be coached by one of the country's best coaches: George Gibney. For four years, however, Gibney also sexually abused White. Chalkie White - like every other Gibney victim - kept silent, believing he was alone.
Years later - aged 35 - White was a swimming coach himself and ended up working alongside Gibney - by this stage Ireland's national and Olympic coach. Before long, White noticed familiar patterns in Gibney's behaviour with some of his young students. After confronting Gibney, White found himself the victim of a smear campaign, suggesting that he was mentally unstable: friends and colleagues ignored him.
White confided in a psychologist - who took his story to the Gardai - and in top swimmer, Gary O'Toole, who collected evidence from other former swimmers. In 1994, seventeen charges of rape against Gibney were withdrawn when he won a judicial review claiming that too much time had passed since the alleged offences. Today, he lives in the United States under an assumed name.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this programme, you can contact the Rape Crisis Helpline which is open 24 hours a day on 1800-77-88-88.
