Kenneally survivors to be offered formal State apology

The survivors of convicted paedophile Bill Kenneally are to be offered a “full and formal” State apology.

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has confirmed that a memorandum will go to Cabinet shortly that will commence the formal process of offering the apology to the survivors.

Mr O’Callaghan has also apologised to the survivors for what he described as the “wholly inadequate” investigation by gardaí into the convicted paedophile.

Minister O’Callaghan has admitted that there had been a “clear dereliction of duty” by the senior gardaí in charge of the investigation, Chief Superintendent Sean Cashman and Acting Superintendent PJ Hayes.

It comes after the Commission of Investigation set up to examine the response to what was one of the most serious cases of paedophilia ever uncovered in Ireland found there was a clear and serious dereliction of duty by senior gardaí, even by the standards of the time.

In its final report that was published last week, the commission found that while there was no evidence of widespread collusion by State authorities in preventing the prosecution of Kenneally, who was connected to a powerful political dynasty in Waterford, the failure to investigate the matter properly in 1987 and 1988 had devastating consequences for his survivors.

Bill Kenneally is serving 19 years in prison for the abuse of 15 young boys

The commission also criticised the failure of Kenneally’s cousin, former Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Kenneally, to contact child protection agencies after he was made aware of the abuse in 2001.

It recommended that the Law Reform Commission should urgently consider the absence of a criminal offence of “misconduct in public office” in this country.

This is a recommendation that Minister O’Callaghan has also now accepted.

The minister today met with a group of Kenneally’s survivors along with their families and legal representatives.

A spokesperson for the minister confirmed that he had issued them with an apology.

They said: “At this meeting, Minister O’Callaghan apologised to the victims for the wholly inadequate investigation by An Garda Síochána in 1987 and for the clear dereliction of duty by Chief Superintendent Cashman and Acting Superintendent Hayes.

“The minister confirmed that following his recent discussions with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, a Memorandum to Government will go to Cabinet shortly which will commence the formal process of offering Bill Kenneally’s victims a full and formal apology by the State that they rightly deserve.”

“It is the minister’s intention to bring the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation Report to Dáil Éireann for debate as a priority.

“The minister also told the victims that he had accepted the recommendation of Judge Michael White to refer to the Law Reform Commission for assessment on whether misconduct in public office should be established as a separate statutory offence,” the spokesperson concluded.

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