Parents have expressed outrage at the Eltham Wildcats Basketball Club's response after its former chief executive, Richard Irving, was revealed to be a convicted paedophile. Irving, 54, was sentenced to 10 months in jail for messaging and grooming a 14-year-old girl who was an undercover police officer.
Concerns have been amplified by the timeline of events. Irving remained CEO of the Victorian club for nearly 17 months after being charged with the grooming offense in January 2025. He continued in his role for almost a month after being found guilty in the Victorian County Court in May 2026, eventually resigning on June 11, 2026.
The club ignited further criticism with a statement urging parents to discourage discussion about the situation among participants and the wider basketball community. The statement acknowledged that the information might cause concern but advised against open dialogue.
Several parents have voiced their frustration, with one stating on a petition.org campaign, "Asking parents, players, and volunteers to stay quiet does not protect children." Another described the club's stance as "concerning" and a "strange comment," questioning the decision to actively suppress discussion.
Records indicate that the Eltham Wildcats Basketball Club was reportedly unaware of Irving's offense until May 2026, despite conducting a national police check in October 2024. Irving had also provided the club with a valid working with children check.
According to a statement on the club's basketball page, "the club conducted all appropriate probity checks." The club stated that it first learned of the matter through an anonymous whistleblower who contacted Basketball Victoria with "unsubstantiated reports of a court case." The club claims that critical information was withheld during investigations, hindering their ability to confirm the allegations. The circumstances were reportedly confirmed on June 10, 2026, the day after Irving resigned for personal reasons.
Irving's jail sentence stems from messages exchanged with the undercover officer over a two-week period in November 2023. The messages included explicit content and grooming-related requests.