Report into Bill Kenneally's crimes sent to Justice Minister
Bill Kenneally
The report into the offending and the State’s handling of paedophile Bill Kenneally has been completed. The public inquest into Kenneally’s offending was set up in 2018.
The paedophile and former Fianna Fáil tallyman is currently serving an 18-year sentence for abusing a ten boys in Waterford between 1984 to 1987. It is understood that his offending may go as far back as the 1970’s.
Kenneally is the cousin of former TD Brendan Kenneally and nephew of Monsignor John Shine. The inquiry aims to determine whether any ‘political figure’ or ‘public official’ had any knowledge of Kenneally’s crimes.
The Commission of Investigation have sent the report to Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan. The Department of Justice released the following statement: "The Commission submitted the report to the Minister last week and it will be prepared for publication, following consideration of appropriate legal advice.
"The Department will engage with the victims prior to publication."
A further 4.5 years was added to his sentence in 2024. At the time, Kenneally told the Commission that he didn’t hear from Gardaí for ’25 years’, despite admitting to indecently assaulting a boy in 1987.
He also claimed that in 2001, his uncle Monsignor Shine, contacted him after hearing about reports about his past were raised by a local woman. Kenneally alleged that his cousin, Brendan Kenneally, organised a hospital appointment for him over the ‘concerns’.
Jason Clancy reported the abuse in 2012, which eventually led to Kenneally being convicted in 2016. As proceedings went on, more victims came forward and exposed a clear pattern of abuse by Keneally. Kenneally was revealed to be an unrepentant paedophile who trapped, groomed and abused many children. During the inquest, he denied that he was protected by his name and family connections.
Last week, survivors Kevin Keating and Jason Clancy spoke to RTÉ 1, 'This Week', about the investigation into the abuse they suffered at the hands of Kenneally. Mr Keating said: “He abused me on my own, in private. Then abused me in front of the other boys.
"He abused the other boys in front of me and then forced me to do things to the other boys, and forced the boys to do things to me. So everyone was caught up in this circle of, I suppose, secrecy and embarrassment and fear."
Mr Keating told a paediatrician about the abuse way back in 1989, with a note stating: “There was also threats of violence; of being told they would be killed or hurt if they told."
Mr Clancy spoke about the emotional toil that the investigation has had on all the victims.
He said: “It's been draining, you know, on the victims and our families as well, and we just need closure now ... so it's so important that the minister doesn't sit on this report, and that it is published as soon as possible.”
