Claim abuser was active in county
WEXFORD councillors backed a call for a Commission of Investigation into the activities of paedophile Bill Kenneally at last week’s meeting of Wexford County Council.
A claim was made at the meeting by Sinn Fein Cllr Tom Forde that Kenneally – who was convicted at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court on February 19, 2016, when he pleaded guilty to ten sample counts of indecent assault – had abused up to 200 youths – with some of the abuse taking place in County Wexford.
In a motion Cllr Forde, who is a teacher in Wexford town, proposed that the council write to the Department of Justice calling on Minister Charlie Flanagan to commence with the Commission of Investigation to examine claims that sex abuse crimes by Kenneally were covered up.
Two of Kenneally’s victims, Colin Power and Jason Clancy, attended the meeting, where Cllr Forde spoke of his great admiration for the Waterford men who waived anonymity to expose Kenneally who is serving a 14-year prison term but has appealed the severity of the sentence.
Cllr Forde said: ‘They are victims of the paedophile Bill Kenneally. They are representing up to 200 victims. Some people might ask what it has to do with Wexford. The reason is that these men and other men were abused in County Wexford, where he used to travel from Waterford to with groups of boys.’
Cllr Forde said youths were abused in forests around the county and Kenneally was a regular visitor to New Ross. He said Kenneally, who was a former basketball coach who had links with Waterford soccer and tennis clubs, inflicted a reign of terror on children and youths from 1979, adding that complaints were made to gardaí and Kenneally admitted to tying boys to trees and handcuffing them.
‘He was able to carry out abuse throughout this period. Allegations were made known to gardaí and institutions of the state. A retired judge Barry Hickson was appointed to head up a commission of investigation which has been left by the wayside. Cllr Forde said it has been left up to the press, including Wexford reporter Saoirse McGarrigle, to highlight the case. ‘This investigation needs to get off the ground immediately as justice delayed is justice denied. I cannot imagine the mental toll this had in victims some this began three key witnesses have died. The longer it takes the more evidence will be lost.’
He said the government is stating that fresh abuse allegations mean the commission has to be delayed as it could prejudice the court cases.
Cllr Forde said he cannot see a reason why the inquiry cannot carry out its work. ‘These men believe there are an estimated 200 victims. We could be hearing about new victims coming forward for the next 20 to 30 years. If this approach continues a Commission of Investigation might never get off the ground. These men need this justice now.’
Cllr George Lawlor seconded the motion, describing Mr Power and Mr Clancy as remarkable men. ‘They have gone through awful treatment. I think this is a very important motion for the people of Wexford because it sends out a signal that we stand four square behind victims of Bill Kenneally and we want justice for everything that went on in that awful era.’
Cllr Lawlor said people might ask why there is a need for a Commission of Investigation.
‘I think the question that this could answer is why this heinous man was aided and abetted by silence and was protected by his status. There are a number of agencies within the state that would have questions to answer including An Garda Siochana and the Minister has said there can’t be a commission while there ius an ongoing investigation. On January 9, 2016, a victim approached the guards and one year later he still hadn’t heard anything back from An Garda Siochana. We must proceed because we cannot run the risk of influence within An Garda Siocahana. We have judges who can carry out private investigations and separate modules.’
Cllr Lawlor said we live in a diocese which experienced its own dark days of abuse and only for the Ferns Inquiry were these matters purged.
‘We have a fresh church now and those evil people who took part in those activities have been exposed. This only happened through an inquiry, not a court case.’
Cllr Mary Farrell fully supported her collagues, saying she hopes the inquiry goes ahead soon. Cllr Davy Hynes said people in authority cannot be allowed to use their authority to abuse people and justice should be seen to be done.
Cllr Paddy Kavanagh said the sooner the truth comes out the better.
‘The more it fosters the truth and all this comes out sooner rather later.’
Cllr Forde’s motion was unanimously passsed.