Dr Roderick Murphy's background in swimming made him uniquely positioned to carry out the inquiry into sex abuse in the sport. His appointment in February led to sharp exchanges in the Dail with Opposition deputies questioning his suitability for the task, considering his active involvement in the sport he was being asked to investigate.
But Dr Murphy quickly set about establishing his independence and, once initial difficulties about terms of reference were overcome, getting on with the task of producing his 165-page report.
Prior to his appointment, the 54-year-old senior counsel informed Dr McDaid of his involvement in the Glenalbyn club in Stillorgan, Dublin, where his wife Patricia and two of his seven children also swim. The Murphys' two youngest daughters are members of the Trojan club in Blackrock, a short distance away.
An enthusiastic masters swimmer, he dropped out of the sport after he began his inquiry.
Born in Dublin, Dr Murphy graduated from UCD with an economics degree in 1965 and received a law degree from King's Inns in 1971. He was called to the Bar the same year and became a senior counsel in 1991. He also holds a diploma in international arbitration law and is a fellow and former chairman of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Colleagues both in the legal profession and swimming describe him as well-liked and respected, and say they never doubted he was the right man to carry out the IASA investigation.