Kings Hospital School in Palmerstown, Dublin, has decided to terminate the licence of Kings Hospital Swimming Club, occupants of the school facility since the 1970s. The club was recently in the headlines when a former club president and current member, Mr Michael McCann, took out an injunction in an effort to prevent Dr Roderick Murphy SC from completing an inquiry commissioned by the Minister for Tourism and Sport, Dr McDaid.
Dr Murphy was asked to investigate the sport following allegations of child sex abuse. Following discussions between the two parties, Dr Murphy and Mr McCann came to an agreement and the report has been completed but not published. There is no suggestion that Mr McCann was involved in any of the activities being investigated by Dr Murphy.
The Government will tomorrow consider the Murphy report and is expected to agree that the recommendations, at least, should be published. Dr McDaid has taken advice on whether the entire report can be published but it is understood that the names of individuals mentioned in the document might have to be removed for legal reasons.
The licence, which was due to be renewed on September 1st, will not be offered to the club, ac cording to club officials. The headmaster of the school, Mr Harry Meyers, said: "There was a board meeting last Tuesday and it was decided not to renew the licence." The school has not yet given the club detailed reasons for the termination as there has not yet been any formal communication between the two bodies.
The club secretary, Mr Pat McDonnell, however, has confirmed that he has had verbal communication from the school.
It was also confirmed that the club is seeking another premises to carry out its activities. It has also been indicated to the club that it should not use the name Kings Hospital Swimming Club if and when it relocates. About 190 swimmers are involved in the club with Michelle Smith de Bruin, the triple Olympic gold medallist, a former club member although not a pupil of the school.
Mr McDonnell said at the weekend he was not yet in a position to comment on the decision of the school board while another club official indicated that until three weeks ago, they believed that the lease would be renewed. "I have asked for reasons but as of yet I have not heard anything formally from the school. I expect to hear something within the next few days." The pool was leased to clubs which subsidised their activities by running training sessions and swimming camps. The pool is in the grounds of the school and the two organisations had a close association, although they were separate entities. The swimming club catered for both pupils and people in the locality.
