Taoiseach delivers State apology to survivors of Bill Kenneally for "a clear and serious dereliction of duty"

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has delivered a State apology to the survivors of Bill Kenneally, a serial child abuser who died in the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise last month.

"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," the Taoiseach said in the Dáil today.

Kenneally was sentenced to 19 years in prison for the abuse of 15 young boys in Waterford between 1979 and 1990. Gardaí believe at least 14 other boys were abused.

Kenneally died aged 75 and he was due to be released in 2030.

In a final report that was published a week before his death, the Commission of Investigation found there was a serious dereliction of duty by senior Gardaí to investigate the matter properly in 1987 and 1988 that had devastating consequences for his victims. The case is described as one of the most serious cases of pedophilia discovered in Ireland.

"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," the Taoiseach said.

The Commission also noted that former Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Kenneally, who was the cousin of the perpetrator, failed to contact child protection agencies after he was made aware of the abuse in 2001.

"There is no question about the duty public representatives have to put the safety of others first," said the Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader, "and I repeat the fact that two TDs, Billy Kenneally Snr and Brendan Kenneally failed in that duty to the victims of Bill Kenneally."

Kenneally admitted to sexually abusing teenage boys to members of the Gardaí in 1987, giving them the names of seven boys. He was not prosecuted and the abuse continued until a full investigation began in 2012 when one of his victims, Jason Clancy, made a complaint.

Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald urged the Government to act on all recommendations by the Commission, including full redress. "Urgent steps must now be taken to engage with survivors and to appoint a mediator without further delay," she said. "This process should now be expedited to ensure full justice and full redress."

Labour Party Leader Ivana Bacik said that Fianna Fáil, the Catholic Church, the health authorities or sporting bodies "do not come well out of this."

In reference to planning permissions for a development on Bessborough mother and baby home site, Social Democrats Leader Holly Cairns said "Ireland has become far too comfortable with empty apologies."

Speaking directly to the victims of Kenneally, the Taoiseach acknowledged "the dereliction of duty that contributed to that harm," and the State's "determination to do everything we can to ensure that no other child has to go through what you went through."