Irish Politician Maureen O’Sullivan and Journalist Justine McCarthy Discuss George Gibney on ‘Second Captains’ Podcast

by Irvin Muchnick

Before there was Larry Nassar, who now claims the distinction of being one of the most prolific known molesters in human history, there was George Gibney — still the most notorious at-large sex criminal in global sports.

Today the popular Irish podcast Second Captains featured an extended and invaluable discussion of the current two-continent campaign to force the extradition of Gibney, the former Irish Olympic head swimming coach who has been living in the United States since 1994.

The interviewees were Maureen O’Sullivan, of Ireland’s parliamentary assembly, and Justine McCarthy, columnist for the Sunday Times of London and author of the book Deep Deception: Ireland’s Swimming Scandals.

The podcast audio, currently at the members-only link “George Gibney Case 25 Years On — Fresh Push For Justice,” http://www.secondcaptains.com/2018/02/02/episode-1077-george-gibney-case-25-years-fresh-push-justice/, follows my own shot last week on Newstalk Ireland’s Off the Ball, http://www.offtheball.com/Other-Sports/How-did-George-Gibney-get-into-the-US-and-can-he-be-extradited-Irvin-Muchnick.

O’Sullivan and McCarthy offer the full background of Gibney’s criminal cases in Ireland. I learned much new detail, and I’ve been immersed in this story for three years. What I found of special interest were, first, the Irish perspective on the ongoing devastating impact for victims going back decades; and, second and related, some non-zealous reflection on the ethics of renewing hot pursuit of Gibney at a point when survivors of his heinous acts have seen their hopes for justice dashed so many times before.

I hope to have more to say about this powerful Second Captains segment shortly, after the audio goes into general public release.