A former Olympic swimming coach has been jailed for abusing children. Ger Doyle, 51, was handed a six-and-a-half year jail sentence on Wednesday at Kilkenny Circuit court  for offences relating to the sexual abuse of five boys, aged between 10 and 15 years old, over a ten year span.

A former manager of the New Ross swimming pool in Co. Wexford, Doyle was also an Irish and Olympic team coach.

Judge Alice Doyle said the former swimming coach used his position to sexually assault and manipulate children. She added that the offences against the minors were carefully planned and "required secrecy."

"These offences were secretly done and carefully planned for the complainants were manipulated into accepting what kind of punishment they should receive. He assaulted these young boys, breached their trust and that of their families. He manipulated these children over a ten year period," added Judge Doyle.

The Irish Independent reports that the jury unanimously found Doyle guilty on all 34 counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault. The charges relate to the period from 1981 to 1993.

The accused was originally jailed for the offences in 2010 but was released on bail due to a legal technicality last year.

The latest trial in Kilkenny heard that the swimming coach would punish children who misbehaved at the pool by sexually abusing them in his office or the boiler room at New Ross swimming pool.

His victims, who are now adults, were present for the verdict.

The 51-year-old pleaded innocent to the charges and accused his victims of telling "a pack of lies".