‘A lot of people didn’t believe us’: George Gibney victim sees justice done after first prosecution collapsed

Two of the people abused as children by George Gibney expressed their relief on Monday as the former swimming coach was finally jailed. Chalkie White, who was one of the first to speak out about Gibney’s abuse more than 30 years ago, praised the bravery of the four women who came forward despite the collapse of an initial attempt to prosecute Gibney in the 1990s. White, a former Irish swimming champion, told RTÉ’s Liveline nobody believed him when he initially came forward. “When we went initially, I was told I should put it behind me and get on with it.