THE US Department of Homeland Security is investigating a complaint that alleged child abuser and former Olympic Irish swimming coach George Gibney lied on his immigration application to gain entry to the US and may therefore face deportation.

Gibney was the Irish national coach from 1984 to 1991 and was charged with 17 counts of sexual abuse. A judicial review in 1994 prevented the case from proceeding due to the length of time elapsed since the alleged incidents took place.

He then left Ireland and now lives in Orange City, Florida, under the name Jon Gibney.

In order to gain entry to the US, there is a section on one of the immigration forms which asks applicants whether they have ever been charged with a criminal offence. If the applicant ticks 'yes', they are not granted entry.

US immigration law also states that authorities will deny entrance to "aliens convicted of, and those who admit having committed a crime involving moral turpitude".

Moral turpitude is a legal concept in the US that refers to "conduct that is considered contrary to community standards of justice, honesty or good morals".

Evin Daly, president of One Child International, a charity established to prevent child abuse, recently made a complaint to the US Department of Homeland Security stating Gibney had lied on his immigration forms to gain entry to the country.

Daly recently received a response from the department, seen by the Sunday Tribune, stating that his complaint is being investigated. It said: "The information that you have provided has been forwarded to our field office for any action deemed appropriate."

Daly said he was now hopeful the former swimming coach would face deportation. "Gibney has entered the country illegally. He lied on his application form and I can't see why the immigration authorities will not act," he said.

Three years ago, the Sunday Tribune hired a private investigator to track down Gibney to the Enterprise Cove complex, where he continues to live in an apartment less than 100 yards from a community swimming pool.

In recent weeks, Gibney's car has twice been vandalised outside his home.

"I understand that people are not happy that he is here but to vandalise his car or property is not helpful," said Daly. "The local residents' committee still carries out patrols where Gibney lives."

In February, the residents of Enterprise Cove received a flyer about the 1994 Irish court case against Gibney and allegations of serious child abuse made against him by former swimmers.

Since then, a neighbourhood watch – organised and guided by the local police – now starts and ends its patrol outside Gibney's apartment, which he bought in January 2007 for $157,000 (€115,000). He has a 95% mortgage with Bank of America for $150,253 over a 40-year term.

Gibney had been associated with the local Church of the Annunciation in Florida, which cut ties with him and said he was no longer permitted to volunteer with them when it leaned of his past.

He was also heavily involved with another Catholic organisation, the Knights of Columbanus, which also no longer permit him to work there.

He has had several jobs, mainly in accounting, but it is not known where he is currently employed. He has been fired by some of his employers when they found out about his past in Ireland.