Case No. 0806Indecent assault · Co. Waterford
Gardaí yet to comment on 'dereliction of duty' findings in Kenneally report
Bill Kenneally, in his early 70s and formerly of Summerville Avenue, Waterford city, is serving a prison term after pleading guilty to 10 sample counts of indecently assaulting 10 boys at various locations in Waterford in the 1980s. A Commission of Investigation chaired by retired judge Michael White found a clear and serious dereliction of duty by senior Garda officers who interviewed Kenneally on 30 December 1987 but did not arrest him. The Government has decided to offer a State apology to the victims, a proposal supported by Taoiseach Micheál Martin. As of mid-June 2026, An Garda Síochána has yet to comment on the report's findings.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Bill Kenneally, in his early 70s and formerly of Summerville Avenue, Waterford city, is serving a prison term after pleading guilty to 10 sample counts of indecently assaulting 10 boys at various locations in Waterford in the 1980s.
- Kenneally was 37 and the boy was 14 at the time of the 1987 incident, and he left Waterford Garda station on 30 December 1987 having made admissions before continuing the abuse of a 12-year-old boy.
- Kevin Keating was sexually assaulted by Kenneally in 1987 and Brian Walker was groomed but not sexually assaulted, both as teenagers, while other boys were approached with money changing hands and threats of violence.
- When
- On 30 December 1987, then-acting chief superintendent Sean Cashman and then acting superintendent PJ Hayes interviewed Kenneally at Waterford Garda station but no further investigation took place.
- Investigation
- The Commission of Investigation, chaired by retired judge Michael White, found a clear and serious dereliction of duty by senior Garda officers and no evidence of widespread collusion or State conspiracy.
- The Commission found 12 youths whom Kenneally coached made serious allegations of sexual assault, and that Gardaí had enough evidence to arrest Kenneally on suspicion of false imprisonment and indecent assault by the time of the 1987 interview.
- Charges
- Kenneally pleaded guilty to 10 sample counts of indecently assaulting 10 boys.
- Other details
- The Government will offer a State apology to the victims of Bill Kenneally, a proposal supported by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
- An Garda Síochána said it would need time to review the report before commenting, and one week later said it had no further comment at this time.
- Kenneally was a member of a prominent Fianna Fáil political family in Waterford.
37 statements extracted from the articles
- whatKenneally was 37 and the boy was 14 at the time of the 1987 incident. (irishtimes.com)
- whatKenneally left Waterford Garda station on December 30th 1987 having made admissions and continued the abuse of a 12-year-old boy. (irishtimes.com)
- whatKevin Keating was sexually assaulted by Kenneally in 1987 and Brian Walker was groomed but not sexually assaulted; both were teenagers. (irishtimes.com)
- whatOther boys had been approached by Kenneally with money changing hands and threats of violence and that they would be killed if they told. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBill Kenneally is in his early 70s (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKenneally told two senior gardaí 'what I was doing' on 30 December 1987 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKenneally was in possession of Polaroid images of naked boys in his home and car at the time (irishmirror.ie)
- whereBill Kenneally is formerly of Summerville Avenue, Waterford city (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe assaults took place at various locations in Waterford in the 1980s (irishmirror.ie)
- whenOn December 30th 1987, Cashman and Hayes interviewed Kenneally but no further investigation took place. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe 1987 report by Dr Nolan was discovered in 2017. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Commission of Investigation found a serious dereliction of duty by senior Garda officers when they learned Kenneally sexually abused a boy in the late 1980s. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Commission found no evidence of widespread collusion or State conspiracy. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThen-acting chief superintendent Sean Cashman and then acting superintendent PJ Hayes handled the 1987 complaint about Kenneally. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationHayes should have excused himself from the investigation as he was friendly with Shine and knew Billy Kenneally snr. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe overall quality of the police work in the 2012/2016 investigations was described as superb. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationWhite criticised the South Eastern Health Board for failing to follow through on complaints that could have led to Kenneally being caught much sooner. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Commission found 12 youths whom Kenneally coached made serious allegations of sexual assault against him. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí had enough evidence to arrest Kenneally on suspicion of false imprisonment and indecent assault by the time of the 1987 interview (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationKenneally was not cautioned at the 1987 meeting (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationProper notes were not taken at the meeting (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation was not properly established and no file was created (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeKenneally pleaded guilty to 10 sample counts of indecently assaulting 10 boys (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Michael White chaired the Commission of Investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Government will offer a State apology to the victims of Bill Kenneally. (irishtimes.com)
- otherTaoiseach Micheál Martin supported the proposal for a State apology. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKenneally was a member of a prominent Fianna Fáil political family in Waterford. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCashman is now in his 90s and Hayes is deceased. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe protection of children from sexual exploitation was not on the radar of basketball clubs in the 1970s until the early 1990s. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKenneally's continued involvement in basketball coaching led Jason Clancy to report him. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBill Kenneally is serving a prison term (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe report was compiled by retired judge Michael White (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe inquiry report stated the investigation was unprofessional, rushed and inappropriate (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe failure was described as a clear and serious dereliction of duty even by 1987 standards (irishmirror.ie)
- otherAn Garda Síochána said it would need time to review the report before commenting (irishmirror.ie)
- otherOne week later An Garda Síochána said it had no further comment at this time (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSome survivors had criticised O'Callaghan's handling of the publication of the report (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 16 Jun2026Gardaí yet to comment on 'dereliction of duty' findings in Kenneally report
Reports that An Garda Síochána has not commented on the Commission of Investigation report finding a 'clear and serious dereliction of duty' in the 1987 handling of the Kenneally case, and that victims are to meet Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan.
convicted, Bill Kenneally, early 70s, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bill Kenneallyvictim, male - 9 Jun2026State apology to be offered to victims of Bill Kenneally after report finds Garda dereliction of duty
Adds the Government's decision to offer a State apology, detailed findings of the Commission of Investigation including the 1987 handling by Cashman and Hayes, criticism of the South Eastern Health Board, and the role of basketball clubs in Kenneally's access to victims.
convicted, Bill Kenneally, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bill Kenneallyvictim, Kevin Keating, male, irish (judged from name)Kevin Keatingvictim, Brian Walker, male, irish (judged from name)Brian Walkervictim, Gerard Mullane, male, irish (judged from name)Gerard Mullanevictim, Paul Walsh, male, irish (judged from name)Paul Walshvictim, male, irish (judged from name)