Fianna Fáil not implicated in Bill Kenneally report, Taoiseach says

Fianna Fáil is not implicated “at all” in a report into the abuses of paedophile Bill Kenneally, the party’s leader has said.

Earlier this week, a report into the abuses of the paedophile found a “clear and serious dereliction of duty” on behalf of An Garda Síochána.

It has already been signalled that his victims are in line for an official apology from Government, but abuse survivors have levelled criticism at both Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan and the wider Fianna Fáil party.

Some of the victims pointed out that elected Fianna Fáil representatives had information of the abuse.

The report states that Bill Kenneally’s uncle Billy Kenneally Snr knew in late 1987 that his nephew had sexually abused at least one child.

It adds that Brendan Kenneally, the son of Billy Kenneally Snr, knew in 2001 Kenneally seriously sexually abused two boys in the 80s and 90s. Both had been TDs and Senators for Fianna Fáil.

The report states that knowledge of his activities became known in Waterford to two senior Garda officers, as well as a senior clergyman in the late 1980s.

However, Kenneally was not brought to justice prior to a formal complaint by Jason Clancy in December 2012.

The victims emphasised how earlier intervention could have prevented several victims from being abused.

Asked on Saturday if the party had failed to handle the matter correctly, Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said his party was not implicated as an organisation but said individuals were “wrong” in how they addressed the matter.

He added that there was “no evidence whatsoever” of any conspiracy or “attempt to cover-up”.

He told reporters at a press conference: “The actions of Bill Kenneally were reprehensible and horrific.

“I would have called nearly a decade ago for a commission of investigation into the handling of that, and I’ve read the report, and it’s very clear that the central conclusion of the commission of investigation is that there was a failure on behalf of An Garda Síochána at the time in 1987 to deal adequately and properly with the presentation of issues and allegations in respect of Bill Keneally.

“And also Bill Keneally himself coming to the Garda Station, and from what I’m reading in the report, being tantamount to admitting his culpability.”

Not taking an opportunity to apologise on behalf of the party when asked, he added: “The report doesn’t implicate the Fianna Fáil party at all as an organisation, and in fact makes the point that the Fianna Fáil party was not advised even locally or in any shape or form by any individual.

“The two former public representatives involved did wrong in the manner in which they addressed the issue, no question about that.

“And the Government will – we’re organising time in the Dáil to debate this comprehensively.

“And because of the central conclusion of the Commission of Investigation to the effect that State agencies effectively failed the victims in terms of not dealing with this robustly and properly at the time, the Government will be considering an apology, and any further actions.”

Mr O’Callaghan was criticised for not meeting with victims between receiving the final report and its release, and for not giving them more than 24 hours to consider its contents before it was published.

Mr Martin said his understanding was that earlier drafts would have been circulated before the official publication, adding that the Minister would meet victims.

Kenneally, in his early 70s and formerly of Summerville Avenue, Waterford city, is serving a prison term after pleading guilty to 10 sample counts of indecently assaulting 10 boys at various locations in Waterford in the 1980s.

The Commission of Investigation examined the response of gardaí, Basketball Ireland, politicians and members of the Catholic Church to allegations of sexual abuse made against the former Waterford basketball coach.

Kenneally gave evidence to the public inquiry, chaired by retired judge Michael White, and said he told two senior gardaí in the boardroom of a Garda station on December 30 1987 “what I was doing”.

An apology had been sought by several victims, who also want a meeting with the minister.

The report said that gardaí had enough evidence to arrest Kenneally on suspicion of false imprisonment and indecent assault by the time this interview took place, and to search his house and car.

At the time, Kenneally was in possession of Polaroid images of naked boys in his home and car, the report said.

At the meeting on December 30 1987, Kenneally was not cautioned, proper notes were not taken, the investigation was not properly established and no file was created.

One of the officers also had a conflict of interest as he was “a close friend” of Kenneally’s uncle, Monsignor John Shine, and should have recused himself from the investigation.

“The investigation started to go badly wrong from here to the conclusion. It was unprofessional, rushed and inappropriate,” the inquiry report stated.