Bill Kenneally victims ‘vindicated’ after report published

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

Victims of paedophile Bill Kenneally feel “totally vindicated” following a report into his abuse, but have expressed anger over the Justice Minister’s handling of its publication.

Kenneally, in his early 70s and formerly of Summerville Avenue, Waterford city, is serving a prison term after pleading guilty to 10 sample counts of indecently assaulting 10 boys at various locations in Waterford in the 1980s.

Some of his victims held a press conference in Dublin following the publication of the final report of a years-long public inquiry, chaired by retired judge Michael White on Tuesday.

The report states that knowledge of his activities became known in Waterford to two senior Garda officers as well as a retired politician and senior clergyman in the late 1980s.

However, Kenneally was not brought to justice prior to a formal complaint by Jason Clancy in December 2012.

The victims emphasised how earlier intervention could have prevented several victims from being abused.

Mr Clancy told reporters in Dublin: “Bill Kenneally, in his own evidence in the inquiry, said that if the Gardaí had come to his house and searched his house and his car, they would have found all our photographs, all our naked photographs, and all the abuse equipment – the handcuffs, the blindfolds, the twine he used, the mechanism he used for hanging us from the ceilings in his house – they would have found all that.

“And none of us actually would probably be here today talking to you, because we wouldn’t have been abused.”

He added: “And I would like to know from the minister: why did they do that to us? Why did they allow this to happen? You know, and I think that we are owed a massive, massive apology from the Government.”

Mr Clancy was among eight victims represented by Phoenix Law.

Diarmuid Brecknell, a solicitor with the firm, said his clients and others had been failed by Gardaí, the church, politicians and the South Eastern Health Board.

He said: “In 1985, a 14-year-old boy walked into Waterford Garda Station alone, named his abuser, and was sent home.

“No note, no follow-up, no-one even as much as called his parents.

“Two years later, senior officers had Kenneally in a room organised through his own uncle TD, Billy Kenneally.

“They heard his admissions, and they let him walk out with the only action being a referral to a psychiatrist.”

Mr Brecknell said the report traces four separate moments of failure to act through 1985, 1987, 1989 and 2001.

Lives were ruined

Colin Power, who has also waived his anonymity, said victims had been “vindicated” in the report but said he was “disappointed” in the timeframe they had been given to consider its 419 pages.

He said it was “disrespectful” they were not afforded more than 24 hours, but added: “We’re well used to that kind of treatment over the last 10 years.”

Also referencing the failure to act in the 1980s, Mr Power added: “That’s the seriousness of this. Lives were ruined.”

Also present was Simon O’Toole, represented by Conal McGarrity at PA Duffy, who accused Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan of attempting to “fob us off” over not giving victims more time to digest the report ahead of its publication.

Mr Clancy said he felt that the Mr O’Callaghan had ignored victims and was “throwing a dog a bone” when giving them 24 hours to review the report, while Mr Power said he believed other justice ministers would have met victims prior to the report being published.

The latter added he was “so angry” with the Minister and Department, adding: “It just comes back to me to no care or empathy to the victims.”

Some of the victims also criticised Fianna Fáil’s handling of the matter in light of information of abuse being known to elected party representatives.

The report states that Bill Kenneally’s uncle Billy Kenneally Snr knew in late 1987 that his nephew had sexually abused at least one child.

It adds that Brendan Kenneally, the son of Billy Kenneally Snr, knew in 2001 Kenneally seriously sexually abused two boys in the 80s and 90s. Both had been TDs and Senators.

Barry Murphy said Mr O’Callaghan and now-Taoiseach Micheál Martin had promised victims “the sun, moon and stars” when they were in opposition.

Mr Geraghty said it was “incumbent” on Mr O’Callaghan to meet victims and outline his plans to implement recommendations of the report.

Victims also said they wanted an apology from the Government, Fianna Fáil, and An Garda Síochána.

However, Mr Power said words would “mean nothing” without “actions”.

Meanwhile, Kevin Keating described Kenneally as a “monster” as he said the publication of the report was a “happy day” that showed other abused children they can be heard.

Mr Clancy thanked Mr White and legal representatives for “dragging the truth” out of Government agencies at the inquiry over eight years.

However, he described the process of “reliving the sexual abuse” during the inquiry as “absolute torture” as he outlined the toll it had on victims’ and their families.

“Childhoods were absolutely destroyed and taken from us, which they should never have been, you know, you carry it through your life.”

Sinn Féin’s David Cullinane called on the Taoiseach and Minister for Justice to meet with survivors and said the Government should offer a full state apology for the failure to stop the abuse.

The Department of Justice said Mr O’Callaghan had “paid tribute to the bravery of the victims and thanked them for their steadfast pursuit of truth and accountability” when he published the report, adding he would be “happy to meet with the victims of Bill Kenneally”.

While victims said a draft report had been completed seven weeks ago, the department said the minister only received the final report on Monday and sought to publish it without undue delay.

At the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday evening, it is understood that the Taoiseach agreed with a recommendation from Mr O’Callaghan that there should be an apology given to victims.