Bill Kenneally report: Taoiseach 'supportive' of new criminal offence of misconduct in public office

The Waterford paedophile was a member of a prominent Fianna Fáil family

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Bill Kenneally’s crimes were 'reprehensible', but said the report did not 'implicate' Fianna Fáil.

The Government will consider the introduction of a criminal offence of misconduct in public office, the Taoiseach has confirmed, following the publication of a report examining the handling of investigations into paedophile Bill Kenneally.

Micheál Martin said he would be “broadly supportive” of a new offence that would punish officeholders who breach certain standards.

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

The South East Commission of Investigation report found the investigations into Kenneally were “unprofessional, rushed, and inappropriate”, with commission chair, former High Court Justice Michael White, calling for the introduction of a new offence for misconduct in public office.

Mr Martin said work was already under way on the possible law, saying justice minister Jim O’Callaghan had contacted the Law Reform Commission.

“The judge [Mr Justice White] has recommended to go to the Law Reform Commission to work out the precise manner in which you would do that. It’s a proposal and a recommendation that we’ll give very active consideration to. I would be broadly supportive.”

Asked if it would be doable before the end of the Government’s term, Mr Martin said: “I think so.”

“Obviously, we’ll go before the Law Reform Commission, because the judge recognised that you have to do this in a modern way and make sure that all the various issues pertaining to it are covered.”

The commission itself had been considering how State agencies had handled the allegations made against Kenneally since 2018.

The core chapter examines how gardaí investigated allegations from November 1987, when Kenneally’s behaviour was brought to them by the father of one of the abused children.

Despite being interviewed by two senior gardaí and acknowledging his actions, Kenneally did not come back to Garda attention for a further 25 years, until a formal criminal prosecution was brought against him in 2012. He continued to abuse victims in the years after.

Kenneally, who was a member of a prominent Fianna Fáil family, had routinely groomed young boys in his capacity as a basketball coach. He offered alcohol and money, before sexually assaulting them.

Speaking on Sunday, Mr Martin said Kenneally’s crimes were “reprehensible”, but said the report did not “implicate” Fianna Fáil.

Survivors of Kenneally’s abuse are set to meet with Mr O’Callaghan on Tuesday.

The Taoiseach previously told the Dáil survivors deserve to receive a formal State apology, following the report.