Minister Butler speaks on Kenneally Fianna Fáil links
Mary Butler and Brendan Kenneally canvassing
Chief Whip of Fianna Fáil, Minister Mary Butler, has spoken in depth with Damien Tiernan on WLR's Déise Today about her party’s ties in Waterford to the late paedophile Bill Kenneally.
When asked if she agreed that senior members of Fianna Fáil within Waterford were involved in a cover-up, she replied: “Yes”.
She said at the outset of the interview that she never met Bill Kenneally in her life.
Her ties to Kenneally's cousin and former TD Brendan Kenneally were however questioned.
In 2014, the DPP issued directions to prosecute Bill Kenneally.
On December 1, 2015, at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court, Bill Kenneally pleaded guilty to committing indecent assault against young boys.
There were newspaper reports at the time detailing these charges and Bill Kenneally's name and picture were published.
"I didn't know anything about Bill Kenneally and his horrendous sex abuse in 2015," Minister Butler told Damien Tiernan
Brendan Kennelly, Bill's cousin, canvassed for Mary Butler in Waterford city in 2016, mere months after his cousin's guilty plea in 2015.
Minister Butler was asked why she allowed Brendan to canvas for her.
“I wasn’t aware of all the details that are in the public domain now,” she responded.
She was also asked about Brendan Kenneally canvassing at the doors of victims' families during her election campaign, incidents that caused considerable distress.
“It was an error of judgement, I am very, very sorry it happened. I apologised at that time and I’ll apologise again now. That was never deliberate on my part,” she said.
The year 2001 is when Brendan Kenneally allegedly became aware for the first time of the abuse perpetrated by his cousin Bill. He was informed of this by a family member of a victim.
Minister Butler was asked during the interview if during her time as a representative of the Fianna Fáil party in the 2010s, if she ever asked Brendan Kenneally what he knew about his cousin's abuse or what he had done about it in the past.
She replied with "no".
“It wasn’t my business to ask Brendan Kenneally about that,” she said.
“It was nothing to do with me.
“Brendan Kenneally stated quite clearly that at the time (2001), he had been asked by families not to take it any further.”
The Commission of Investigations report outlines that this was the case, and that Brendan Kenneally was entitled to respect the wishes of his constituents in not reporting the matter to Gardai.
It is the Commission’s opinion, however, that to further the interests of his constituents, the family of the victim, and the public, Brendan Kenneally should have reported the matter to the Child Protection Services of the Southeastern Health Board in Waterford and ask that service to carry out a risk assessment.
It emerged from the interview on Déise Today that Brendan Kenneally remained a member of Fianna Fáil until only last week.
Minister Butler said: “The report was published on Tuesday, Brendan Kenneally was no longer a member of the Fianna Fáil party by Tuesday evening."
The Minister said that Mr Kenneally voluntarily rescinded his membership.
When questioned if Brendan Kenneally was asked by the party to resign his membership, Minister Butler responded: “I’m not in a position to discuss that.”
Later in the interview she was asked if she should have asked Brendan Kenneally to step away from Fianna Fáil herself.
She said: “I don’t believe I should have asked Brendan Kenneally to step away from Fianna Fáil because Brendan plays a very, very small role in Fianna Fáil.”
Minister Butler said she supports a State Apology.
“I am heartbroken and I am sorry, as the highest-ranking Fianna Fail member in Waterford. If there is anything I have ever done that caused trauma, distress or hurt for any of the victims of Bill Kenneally, if I fell short of my duties as a TD, I apologise."
Full interview at wlrfm.com
