Convicted paedophile Bill Kenneally has died in prison while serving a 19-year sentence for historic abuse of boys in Waterford.
The 75-year-old died in the Midlands Prison in the early hours of this morning.
He was under the care of the prison service health care team at the time of his death.
Kenneally had been in prison for over 10 years and was not due for release until 2030.
He had complicated health issues and was under palliative care.
The Irish Prison Service confirmed that there was a death of a person in custody at Midlands Prison today.
All deaths in custody are investigated by the Irish Prison Service, the Inspector of Prisons and An Garda Síochána, where circumstances warrant. The cause of death is determined by the Coroner’s Office.
Next of kin have also been informed.
Bill Kenneally was not due for release from prison until 2030
Kenneally’s death comes just days after it was confirmed that his victims and survivors are to be offered a “full and formal” State apology.
On Tuesday, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan confirmed that a memorandum will go to Cabinet shortly that will commence the formal process of offering the apology to the victims.
Mr O’Callaghan also apologised to the victims for what he described as the “wholly inadequate” investigation by gardaí into the convicted paedophile.
The minister 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.
Read More: Survivors of Bill Kenneally to be offered formal State apology
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 victims.
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, a recommendation that Minister O’Callaghan has also now accepted.
The minister met with a group of Kenneally’s victims along with their families and legal representatives earlier this week and issued them with an apology.
A spokesperson for the minister previously 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 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.