Shameful truths are confronted
Jason Clancy, Colin Power, Paul Walsh, Gerry Mullane, Kevin Keating and Barry Murphy, survivors of Bill Kenneally, stood outside Dáil Éireann last week.
Women who were resident in Magdalene Laundries, victims of Mother and Baby Institutions, those who died in the Dublin Stardust tragedy, and now the victims of Waterford paedophile Bill Kenneally.
State Apologies are rare, landmark political set pieces.
One month on from the monumental release of the Commission of Investigation report, the survivors of Kenneally have received an apology on behalf of the state for the decades of cruel, exploitative abuse they endured while the authoritative bodies who were supposed to protect them feigned ignorance.
During his address in Dáil Éireann last Tuesday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the story as one of “betrayal, manipulation, abuse, failure and pain.”
Survivors of Bill Kenneally’s abuse made the trip to Dublin alongside their families on Tuesday July 14.
Groups of publicly named survivors and those who remain anonymous were present.
Prior to the delivery of the apology, a group of survivors spoke with Tánaiste Simon Harris in his office.
The Tánaiste offered words of support and listened to points the group made about how future commission of investigation’s should be more victim friendly.
At approximately 3:30pm, the Ceann Comhairle opened proceedings on the floor of the Dáil.
As a Dáil Éireann camera focused its frame onto a group of Kenneally survivors, applause broke out.
For decades, nobody listened to these very men when they pleaded with authorities to save them from Bill Kenneally’s abuse.
Now, through his utterance of the name “Kenneally” in Dáil Éireann, the incumbent leader of the land was about to confront a shameful era of Waterford’s history, for all to hear.
“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.
“No words from Government can 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.
“We must, however, acknowledge the failings that led to these awful outcomes in recognition of the horrific experiences, the bravery of his victims and also to ensure it can never happen again.”
The Taoiseach made clear that the apology was addressed to each and every victim of Kenneally; those who have waived their anonymity, the 22 people who engaged with the commission while wishing to remain anonymous, and the men who decided “silently and understandably that they did not wish to give evidence about how they were abused”.
“To those unknown men, I extend a deep and sincere apology. I want to acknowledge all of these victims.”
"I want to recognise that we would not have this report, we would not have the truth and there would not be this state apology without the remarkable bravery and strength of Kenneally's victims. Their fight to ensure that there was a public inquiry has been fully vindicated.
"To each of the victims here today and listening from home, I hope the apology I have issued to you on behalf of state, reassures you that the state acknowledge the harm that was done to you, the dereliction of duty that contributed to that harm, and our determination to do everything we can to ensure no other child has to go through what you went through.”
The Taoiseach, in his address, acknowledged one of the starkest findings uncovered by the Commission of Investigation; the failures of An Garda Siochána in Waterford to apprehend Kenneally when they had the chance.
This serious failure of gardaí to investigate the matter properly had devastating consequences for victims.
The Taoiseach said it was a “major failing by an organ of the state that cannot be downplayed”.
He said he is aware that some victims have initiated proceedings against An Garda Siochána over this dereliction of duty.
"I would like to see those, and any future proceedings resolved as quickly and as fairly as possible," he said.
In a statement circulated on Tuesday evening from Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, he stated that he acknowledges and regrets the serious inaction of the former Acting Chief Superintendent, Sean Cashman, and Acting Superintendent, PJ Hayes, who were in charge of the original investigation into Bill Kenneally in 1987.
Commissioner Kelly offered a personal apology to the victims, saying that An Garda Siochana “fell far short” of what is expected.
There was strong speculation prior to the state apology as to whether or not the failings of Bill Kenneally’s uncle and cousin, both former Fianna Fáil TDs, would be acknowledged by the Taoiseach.
The Kenneally family were described by Judge White in his report as a “political dynasty”, and one that was perhaps unparallel in Irish political life.
For a period of 59 years, the family represented Fianna Fáil as TDs, Senators, Mayors and Councillors.
Bill Kenneally’s uncle was former Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kenneally snr.
Bill’s cousin is former Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Kenneally.
Both of these senior politicians knew about the abuse perpetrated by their relative, however, they both failed to raise it with the relevant authorities.
The Taoiseach said last week that the commission’s report contained "serious findings against former members of this house."
"There is no question as to the duty public representatives have in putting the safety of others first.
"I repeat the fact that two TDs, Billy Kenneally Snr and Brendan Kenneally, failed in that duty to the victims of Bill Kenneally. They failed the victims by putting their own relative first.
"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."
The Taoiseach issued a warning to public representatives:
“Bitter experience has taught Irish society that sexual exploitation of children can come from all sources. Mr. Justice White’s report reminds us of the importance of listening, empathy and engagement when victims of sexual abuse do come forward. Victims may have tried to raise their plight in the past and not been dealt with in a sensitive manner.
“This burden can weigh heavily upon them and lead to suspicion and mistrust if contact is not sustained once allegations are received. I urge all public officials to be aware of this and strive to keep victims fully informed on an ongoing basis."
Minister Mary Butler also named the two Kenneally TDs during the apology last week.
“Whether they stayed silent, failed to act or actively sought to conceal the truth, their conduct was inexcusable and unacceptable by any standard then and now.”
Survivors expressed relief that both Brendan and Billy were named in the Dáil address.
Colin Power said it was “a big moment that the two Kenneally’s were held to account for their inactions”.
(Read what all four Waterford TDs said during the State Apology HERE)
The South Eastern Health Board (SEHB) are another organisation that failed the victims.
The SEHB operated from 1970. In 2005, it was dissolved and superseded by the HSE.
The failure of the SEHB, to act on child protection, was a lost opportunity to stop Bill Kenneally’s continuing illegal activity and to produce accountability much earlier than 2012.
Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, said to the survivors: “The South Eastern Health Board should have acted on the report prepared by Dr. Geraldine Nolan on 6 March 1989. That should have happened. That finding weighs heavily on me. It will weigh heavily on my predecessors and all those in the health system because that failure involved real people and real lives.
“For survivors, that failure came at a human cost and today, we must confront that truth.”
As part of the State apology, it was confirmed that long overdue redress will be provided to the victims of Bill Kenneally.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin said during his address in Dáil Éireann that officials in the Department of Justice are considering a means of providing redress outside of the legal process and will engage with victims directly in relation to this process.
He said victims who spoke to the Commission of Investigation, including those who wish to remain anonymous, will be included.
Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, added: "Separately to the findings of the Report and acknowledging that there is nothing that can right the wrongs perpetrated by Bill Kenneally, I have instructed my officials to begin the process to secure compensation for those who have suffered as a result of the failures outlined in the Report."
Minister O'Callaghan said the exact details will be worked out with engagement from the victims themselves.
"On a very personal level, I do not want to see those of you that have been through so much put through any further lengthy legal processes. I would like to see a mediated solution that brings much-needed closure to all parties," he added.
Government must now be held to account, to ensure that this redress is provided.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said: "Crucially, the government must now deliver on its promise to provide survivors with redress, with compensation.
"It is very wrong that no steps have been taken yet to fulfil that commitment.
"Urgent steps must now be taken to engage with survivors and to appoint a mediator without further delay. This process should now be expedited to ensure full justice and full redress."
Kenneally survivors Jason Clancy and Colin Power offered reaction to the Waterford News & Star after the apology.
Both men said the address they received was comprehensive and touched on all the subjects they hoped it would.
“We were a bit apprehensive going up because we didn’t know how things would unfold, but we were very happy with the apology, we were really happy with the day,” Jason said.
Colin added: "We’ve been living in our own bubble for so long and that became so normal to us, so to actually step outside that bubble and hear everyone talk about us in the Dáil, it was a surreal experience."
Jason said that words delivered by Deputy Mary Lou McDonald on the day were particularly emotional for him and his family.
Deputy McDonald, in her closing remarks, said to the survivors: “To the young people in each of your lives, your sons, your daughters and your grandchildren, let me say this: I hope that when you look at your dad's face you see a hero, a man who faced unspeakable trauma and still found it within himself to seek truth and justice and to overcome. That is the measure of your father.”
“Know this too, Bill Kenneally did not win. The horror of his abuse did not win. Love won. The young boys of Waterford won. Your dad won.”
The men were sat together in the galleries of the Dáil for the address.
Side by side, they grappled with the weight of hearing their story of abuse, pain and trauma be delivered to the country.
They say they couldn't have gotten through this process without each other.
“I told Simon Harris that day I wouldn’t have got through this on my own, I wouldn’t have got through it without the support from all the lads, their families, my family," Colin Power said.
“There were days throughout this whole process when I didn’t feel up to it, and there were always the other lads there who I could ring and talk to them. They would always be there.
“Without their support I couldn’t have done it.
“This was always about the bigger picture. We hope this state apology can bring some comfort and a sense of achievement for all victims, because we all went through the same abuse whether we waived our anonymity or not. Everybody was deserving of that apology.”
It has been a monumental couple of months for the Kenneally survivors.
The release of the commission’s report after years of waiting. The delivery of a full state apology from the Taoiseach in Dáil Éireann. And indeed the death of Bill Kenneally in prison.
The culmination of so much begs the question, what is next for the survivors?
Colin Power said he spoke last Tuesday to Tánaiste Simon Harris about reforming the handling of investigations, such as the one into Kenneally.
His suggestion is pertinent, as just this week it was recommended that a new Commission of Investigation to examine the crimes of prolific Drogheda paedophile Michael Shine be established immediately.
“I think things need to be done better in future,” Colin Power said.
“Commissions of Investigation need to be done quicker, and they need to be more victim friendly.
“It was mentioned in the Dáil on Tuesday that we should be offered all the counselling we need. That should have been offered to us 10 years ago when we started this process.
“I think there’s a lack of understanding of what victims go through in these scenarios, but we now have a platform to chase this up.”
Similarly, it is hoped by the victims that the recommendations of reform outlined by Judge White in his report will be enacted as soon as possible.
“Kenneally was already in jail when we started this process. What we wanted to do was hold to account the people who let him roam the streets of Waterford abusing children," Colin said.
“We would like to see the Law Reform Commission take up the Judge’s recommendations so that people like those who let Kenneally run riot in Waterford can be prosecuted in future.
“We’re never going to stop paedophiles, but we can make it more difficult for them if the people in authority who do nothing can be prosecuted. I think that would be a positive change."
Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, in his address to the victims on Tuesday said that he has written to the Attorney General to begin the process of reviewing the absence of a criminal offence of "misconduct in public office".
The Law Reform have confirmed that they are reviewing the matter.
They have been requested to revert to the Attorney General within nine months.
The state, Fianna Fáil, the gardaí, the South Eastern Health Board.
Representatives from all stood up last week and acknowledged the failings.
So where is the church?
Monsignor John Shine was Bill Kenneally’s uncle. He was a senior clergyman with a distinguished career in Waterford.
He was very visible in Waterford life, serving in the parish of Tramore and Carbally for decades.
Monsignor Shine knew in late 1987 and early 1988 that Bill Kenneally had sexually abused at least one child, and possibly another.
The Commission of Investigation’s report said that Monsignor Shine failed to bring the matter into the public domain at least to the extent of reporting the matter to the statutory agencies responsible for child protection.
The report also criticised false statements that Shine provided to gardaí in 2013.
He told gardaí that he never heard about any further allegations of assault against Bill Kenneally after 1987.
This was an untrue statement, as he had been informed in 2001 that the abuse had continued long after the psychiatric intervention in 1987.
Another figure of the church implicated heavily in the report is Brother Columba Gallagher, head brother of De La Salle College in the 1980s.
He was told firsthand by a student about abuse, and was handed evidence in the form of a polaroid picture.
As far as the commission can establish, Brother Columba kept this information to himself.
Survivor Colin Power said in light of last week’s apologies, the absence of any acknowledgement from the church remains “the elephant in the room”.
“Government deserve credit where it's due, their apologies were comprehensive and I think Micheál Martin naming the two Kenneally TDs was very important.
“Everybody took responsibility and accountability, but I have not seen anything from the church about Monsignor Shine’s role in this, and to be honest I don’t expect one.”
READ OUR SPECIAL REPORT ON BILL KENNEALLY HERE
