Swim Ireland pleaded with McDowell to halt O’Rourke’s early release

THE swimming organisation that employed disgraced former coach Derry O’Rourke pleaded with the Minister for Justice to prevent the convicted sex abuser’s early release from prison.

It’s understood that Swim Ireland felt the release of the man who raped and abused numerous children during his time as national coach would present serious problems for swimming in Ireland, as it attempts to recover from the controversies of the 1980s and 1990s.

However, the minister would be unable to intervene in the legal process which generally allows for the release of prisoners after they have served three-quarters of their sentence.