The Taoiseach has issued a formal State apology to survivors of serial paedophile Bill Kenneally in the Dáil.
“As Taoiseach I apologise unreservedly, on behalf of the State, to the victims of Bill Kenneally for what was a clear and serious dereliction of duty,” Micheál Martin said.
Referring to Fianna Fáil TDs related to Kenneally, he added: “I am profoundly sorry that two former public representatives from my party so comprehensively failed to defend and protect young children from their nephew and cousin”.
“There is no question about the duty public representatives have to put the safety of others first, and I repeat the fact that two TDs, Billy Kenneally Snr and Brendan Kenneally failed in that duty to the victims of Bill Kenneally,” he said.
“They failed the victims by putting their own relative first.”
Kenneally died in prison days after the commission was published while serving almost 20 years for the indecent assault of 10 boys at various locations in Waterford in the 1980s.
The Taoiseach said “many of those victims, who I have had the honour of meeting on a number of occasions, are here today with their families.
“You waived your anonymity in order to ensure that the heinous crimes of Bill Kenneally were exposed and that other young boys were protected.”
Apologising, he named them individually: “Jason Clancy, Paul Walsh, Kevin Keating, Colin Power, Barry Murphy, Simon O’Toole, and Gerard Mullane.”
Martin said “there were also many other victims of Bill Kenneally who were witnesses before the Commission of Investigation and who wished to remain anonymous”.
There were 22 such witnesses, according to the report. “I want to say that we fully understand and respect their wishes and to emphasise that we apologise to each of them.
“I also regret to say that there are, no doubt, victims who decided silently and understandably that they did not wish to give evidence about how they were abused. To those unknown men I also extend a deep and sincere apology.”
He said no words from Government could make up “for the theft of childhood from so many young boys, for the appalling abuse they suffered, and the enormous trauma they have experienced in their lives as a result.
“But we must acknowledge the failings that led to these awful outcomes, in recognition of the horrific experiences, and the bravery, of his victims; and also to ensure that it can never happen again.”
He also noted that the failure of two senior gardaí “to conduct a proper investigation into the activities of Bill Kenneally was a clear and serious dereliction of duty even by the standards of the time in 1987”.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said “systems of church, State, and society that should have safeguarded children, failed in their most basic and profound duty”.
Paying tribute to the survivors he pointed to the failure of the authorities to bring Kenneally to justice even after he “made admissions of his terrible crimes.
“He wasn’t brought to justice, and he was allowed to continue to abuse children”.
The truth emerged because “survivors refused to give up. Faced with disbelief, silence, intimidation, and enormous personal trauma, they persisted”.
In advance of the remarks, victims expressed hope for an “unequivocal and comprehensive” apology from the State as they gathered outside Leinster House.
“It’s a feeling of relief. It’s been a long journey for us over the last ten years,” said Colin Power before entering the Dáil visitors’ gallery alongside five other survivors.
“I think it’s recognition of the journey we’ve been on. And I hope the apology is unequivocal and comprehensive, because that’s what this deserves.”
The State apology “was never on our radar”, Power said. “I may be speaking for myself now, but I didn’t really know what a State apology was up to four to six weeks ago. I know there’s very few of them given out.”
Kenneally was found guilty of the abuse of 15 children between 1979 to 1990. He pleaded guilty to these charges in 2015 and again in 2022. He was sentenced to 19 years in jail and died in prison last month, having served just over 10 years of his sentence.
Jason Clancy, who was the first to make a formal complaint against Kenneally, stood next to Power and paid tribute to the dozens of family members gathered with them on Kildare Street. “They’ve been on this journey with us for the last 13 years,” he said.
“They’ve seen the lows, the highs, the tears… so it’s so important for them, as well, because it’s not just about us, it’s also about our families.”
“We know there’s hundreds of victims in Waterford from Bill Kenneally, and this is important for them as well. It’s not just about us, we carry them in our hearts today as well.”