Sex abuser warned victim of his FF clout
A MEMBER of a Fianna Fáil dynasty boasted of his political connections, telling a boy he abused that ‘you would not be believed’, a court heard.
The victim, Jason Clancy, now 44, broke down in tears in court as he recalled the abuse carried out by accountant Billy Kenneally.
The Jimmy Savile i nquiry had prompted his complaint in 2012.
As an adolescent Mr Clancy was indecently assaulted by Kenneally for three years, Waterford Circuit Criminal Court heard.
Reading out his victim impact statement, Mr Clancy said: ‘He repeatedly told me, throughout my years of abuse, that he was part of the Ken- neally political family and I would never be believed.
‘The abuse went on for over three years on a weekly basis, more-or-less.
‘My life was no longer mine. I had lost control of my life and was always waiting and wondering what will happen next.’
Kenneally, 65, of Summerville Avenue, Waterford city, admitted ten counts of indecent assault between 1984 and 1987. Some boys were as young as 13 at the time.
He has since left the Fianna Fáil party.
Gardaí were approached in relation to the abuse of a boy in 1987 but no formal complaint was made. It has emerged that Kenneally was advised to seek help. He has since had two years of clinical psychotherapy.
Kenneally, whose family form a political dynasty that has produced three Fianna Fáil TDs, was alone in court yesterday for his sentencing.
Six of his victims, now men largely in their mid-to-late 40s, were present at court yesterday and walked out when an apology was being read.
Kenneally was involved in coaching basketball in the south-east and was involved with St Anne’s Tennis Club and soccer. The assaults occurred at his family home, laneways and lay-bys in the south east.
He gave his victims money, with small sums ending in the number seven, due to his fixation on the digit. He often plied his victims with drink, sweets and chips.
Mr Clancy told how Kenneally had befriended him at the local Sunday morning soccer in a nearby field.
Kenneally was the main tally man for the Fianna Fáil party during local and general elections for many years.
Kenneally is, respectively, grandson and nephew of William Kenneally Snr and William Kenneally Jnr, who both served as Dáil deputies for the constituency of Waterford.
His grandfather served as a TD for Waterford from 1952 to 1961. His uncle, also William, served from 1965 to 1982. His cousin is retired senator and TD, Brendan Kenneally, who was elected to the Dáil in 1989 and in 2007.
Sentence was adjourned till today.