Man claims garda who was told of sexual abuse 'got his stripes' through Bill Kenneally

The commission is investigating the actions or inactions of State agencies in Waterford at the time the abuse perpetrated by Bill Kenneally took place.

A senior garda who was told of abuse perpetrated by Bill Kenneally in the 1980s “got his Chief Superintendent stripes” through Kenneally and his Fianna Fáil connections, a Commission of Investigation has heard.

Tom Murphy, whose son Barry was abused by Kenneally, told the commission that he would believe Sean Cashman was promoted for this reason “till the day I die”.

He recalled a meeting with Mr Cashman and his colleague, Inspector PJ Hayes, after he had learned that Bill Kenneally was an abuser where he claimed Mr Cashman told him that Kenneally had “left here a chastened boy” after being interviewed in 1987.

Despite claims made against Kenneally at the time, he was not charged with any crime and wasn’t sentenced for his crimes until 2016.

Mr Cashman, who oversaw the 1987 investigation, has previously said there was “no cover-up” and Kenneally had assured gardaí he would seek medical help. The commission has heard that Kenneally went on to commit further abuse from this point.

The commission, chaired by High Court judge Michael White, is investigating the actions or inactions of State agencies in Waterford at the time the abuse perpetrated by Bill Kenneally took place. This also includes the responses of gardaí, politicians, clergy members, health board officials, and others.

Survivors of abuse have alleged there was collusion among agencies which prevented him from being apprehended at a much earlier point. Kenneally, a former basketball coach, is currently serving a 19-year sentence for the indecent assault of 15 boys in Waterford between the years 1979 and 1990.

Mr Murphy, in his evidence on Friday, said he did not know his son Barry had been abused by Kenneally until he was told by his son in the 2010s after allegations had come to light against Kenneally.

“I never spoke to him about it,” Mr Murphy said. “I never asked him.... I never thought about it. I never realised it was an issue.” 

He said he knew Mr Cashman well, and went to confront him when he heard that Kenneally had been abusing boys. He couldn’t say where he had heard about it, but said that the “dogs on the street were barking this”.

Mr Murphy also recalled the meeting with Mr Cashman and Mr Hayes in a garda station, but couldn’t recall when. The commission heard that Mr Cashman retired in the mid-90s, and Mr Murphy said they were both still active gardaí at the time.

Brian Walker testimony

Separately, a man who said he was groomed by Kenneally when he was a teenager told the commission on Friday that he told a school guidance counsellor and was referred onto the South Eastern Health Board at the time in the late 1980s, decades before Kenneally faced justice. 

Brian Walker said he was furnished with old files relating to the time by Tusla, which included a report signed by Dr Geraldine Nolan. That report said there were no specific allegations of sexual activity against Kenneally so the situation would be monitored, the commission heard.

Mr Walker said that after he and others had made allegations against Kenneally, he witnessed him a few years later still driving boys around in his car.

“It disgusted me,” he said. 

We told everyone what he’d done at that tennis club. And then two years later we seen him driving around with lads drinking cans.

He said that Kenneally would give the lads drink and give them money. He recalled one instance where they needed money for the cinema and one of his friends went to Kenneally’s home and returned with £40.

“I’d say 'where did you get that money?', and he’d say 'don’t tell anyone about that',” Mr Walker said.

At the close of Friday’s proceedings, chair Mr White said that the commission is close to the end of its evidence after which he will go to compile his report.

“At most it’s a couple of days, or three days, of evidence left,” he said.