Convicted paedophile Bill Kenneally dies in custody at Midlands Prison

Convicted paedophile Bill Kenneally dies in Midlands Prison custody.

Convicted paedophile Bill Kenneally has died in prison while serving a 19-year sentence for the historic sexual abuse of boys in Waterford.

The 75-year old former basketball coach and accountant, and a member of a prominent Fianna Fáil family was serving a 19-year sentence for the indecent assault of 15 boys in Waterford between 1979 and 1990.

At the time of his death, Kenneally was 10 years into his sentence.

Earlier in the year, he had part of his leg amputated and had been receiving palliative care for a number of weeks.

He died in Midlands Prison at 3.30am on Thursday.

His death comes the week after a South East Commission of Investigation report into the handling of his case was published.

It examined the response of gardaí, Basketball Ireland, politicians and members of the Catholic Church to allegations made about his sexual abuse.

The report found knowledge of his activities became known in Waterford to two senior Garda officers as well as a retired politician and senior clergyman in the late 1980s.

However, it took until a formal complaint was made in December 2012 for him to be brought to justice.

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”.

The report found there was a “clear and serious dereliction of duty” by Gardaí.

State apology

On Tuesday justice minister Jim O’Callaghan promised that a full State apology would be issued to survivors following a meeting with them earlier this week.

Mr O’Callaghan apologised to survivors for what he described as the wholly inadequate Garda investigation carried out in 1987 and for the clear dereliction of duty by then chief superintendent Sean Cashman and acting superintendent PJ Hayes.

The minister confirmed that, following discussions with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris, a memorandum will shortly be brought to Cabinet to begin the formal process of offering Kenneally's victims a full State apology.

Mr O’Callaghan also said he intends to bring the final report of the Commission of Investigation before the Dáil for debate as a priority.

He further told survivors that he had accepted a recommendation by Judge Michael White to refer the issue of misconduct in public office to the Law Reform Commission for consideration as a potential standalone statutory offence.

Speaking after news of Kenneally’s death broke, one of his victims Colin Power said he is “glad” his abuser lived to see a state apology granted and that he had served 10 years of his punishment.

“I’m just glad he saw us being vindicated,” Mr Power added.

The Irish Prison Service has confirmed there was a death of a person in custody at Midlands Prison.

It said all deaths in custody “are investigated by the Irish Prison Service, the Inspector of Prisons and An Garda Síochána, where circumstances warrant”.

The cause of death will be determined by the Coroner’s Office and next of kin have been informed.

 - additional reporting from PA