State apology to be offered to victims of Bill Kenneally after report finds Garda dereliction of duty – The Irish Times
The Irish Government will offer a state apology to victims of serial child abuser Bill Kenneally, according to Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan. The decision follows a Commission of Investigation report chaired by Judge Michael White, which found a “serious dereliction of duty” by senior Garda officers and systemic failures by the South Eastern Health Board during the late 1980s.
Why is the Government apologizing to Bill Kenneally’s victims?
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan told a Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting that victims are owed an apology from the Government. Taoiseach Micheál Martin supported the proposal after the publication of a report by the Commission of Investigation.
Judge Michael White, who chaired the commission, identified a serious dereliction of duty by senior Garda officers who learned of Kenneally’s abuse of a boy in the late 1980s. The report examined the 1987 response by the Garda and the South Eastern Health Board to reports that Kenneally—a member of a prominent political family in Waterford—was abusing pubescent boys.
The commission found that then-acting Chief Supt Sean Cashman and then-acting Supt PJ Hayes handled a 1987 complaint inappropriately. While White noted Cashman behaved correctly until December 26, 1987, he concluded the subsequent investigation was “unprofessional, rushed and inappropriate.”
White stated that Cashman should have arrested Kenneally for false imprisonment to allow for searches of his home and car. Additionally, the judge found Supt Hayes should have excused himself from the case due to conflicts of interest involving his friendships with Monsignor John Shine and Billy Kenneally snr.
How did the South Eastern Health Board fail in its duty?
The Commission of Investigation criticized the South Eastern Health Board (SEHB) for failing to follow through on complaints that could have stopped Kenneally sooner. Judge White noted the SEHB failed to act on Dr. Geraldine Nolan’s 1989 report, which was allegedly sent to the Director of Community Care, Dr. Martin O’Boyle, and Senior Social Worker Patrick Conaty.
The report detailed how Kevin Keating had been tied up at Kenneally’s house and mentioned other boys being approached with threats of violence. Although Dr. Nolan was adamant the report was sent to the SEHB offices in Waterford city, O’Boyle and Conaty stated they never received it.
Judge White concluded the SEHB’s failure to act on child protection was a “lost opportunity” to produce accountability before 2012 or 2013. He argued a case conference involving the SEHB, Gardaí, and school principals should have been convened.
What role did basketball clubs play in the abuse?
The commission examined basketball authorities because Kenneally used coaching to befriend victims. Twelve youths coached by Kenneally made serious allegations of sexual assault. Kenneally pleaded guilty to sexual offences regarding six of those complainants, including Gerard Mullane, Paul Walsh, and Simon O’Toole.
Judge White found that child protection was not “on the radar” of basketball clubs from the 1970s to the early 1990s. The commission described a “loose association structure” where local clubs operated without sufficient oversight.
Information regarding Kenneally’s exploitation of boys was not communicated to the Waterford area board or the national basketball organization. The commission remained satisfied that illegal sexual acts occurred during Kenneally’s time coaching at a local club and school.
What happens next for the victims?
The Government may now move forward with the formal state apology proposed by Minister O’Callaghan. This action could serve as an official acknowledgement of the “serious dereliction of duty” identified by Judge White.
Further scrutiny of the 1987 and 1988 investigative failures is likely to persist, given the commission’s findings that the investigation went “badly wrong.” The victims may see the apology as a necessary step toward accountability for the decades of delayed justice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is proposing the state apology to the victims?
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan proposed the apology during a Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting, and the proposal was supported by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
What did the Commission find regarding the 1987 Garda investigation?
Judge Michael White found a “serious dereliction of duty” by senior Garda officers. He described the investigation as “unprofessional, rushed and inappropriate” after Kenneally was interviewed but not arrested.
How many victims of Bill Kenneally’s basketball coaching made allegations?
Twelve youths who were coached by Kenneally made serious allegations of sexual assault, and he pleaded guilty to offences against six of them.
Do you believe a state apology is a sufficient response to systemic failures in child protection?