‘I finally found my voice’ – victim of ex-swim coach Derry O’Rourke addresses him in court as she recounts ‘brutalisation’

The former international swimming coach will be sentenced tomorrow for the rape and indecent assault of girl when aged 13 and 14

Derry O’Rourke will be sentenced tomorrow. Photo: Paddy Cummins.

A woman who was raped and sexually assaulted by former international swimming coaching Derry O’Rourke has said his “brutalisation” of her took so much that was not his to take and “nothing will ever get it back”.

O’Rourke (78) of Virgina Road, Cavan, had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of rape and 15 counts of indecent assault in a Leinster school the girl attended on dates between October 1989 and June 1990. The complainant was between 13 and 14-years-old at the time.