Ireland Case No. 0806Indecent assault · Co. Waterford
State apology to be offered after Waterford indecent assault dereliction report
Bill Kenneally, a 72-year-old man formerly of Summerville Avenue, Waterford, pleaded guilty to 13 sample counts of indecently assaulting five boys aged 13 to 15 at various locations in Waterford between December 1979 and March 1990. He had originally faced 266 counts but entered guilty pleas on the sixth day of his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in May 2023 and was sentenced to four and a half years to run consecutive to his existing 14-year and two-month term. A Commission of Investigation chaired by retired judge Michael White found a serious dereliction of duty by senior Garda officers who handled a 1987 complaint about Kenneally. In June 2026, the Government announced it would offer a State apology to the five victims, who are now men in their 40s and 50s.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced22 May
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Kenneally pleaded guilty to 13 sample counts of indecently assaulting five boys, though one 2026 report states 10 sample counts of 10 boys.
- Where
- The offences took place at various locations in Waterford including Kenneally's workplace, lay-bys on the New Ross Road in Tramore, and wooded areas.
- When
- The offences occurred on unknown dates between December 1979 and March 1990.
- The complainants were aged between 13 and 15 at the time of the offending.
- Cause
- The complainants came into contact with Kenneally as a sports coach and family friend.
- Charges
- Kenneally had originally faced 266 counts of indecently and sexually assaulting five boys.
- In court
- Kenneally entered the guilty pleas on the sixth day of a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in May 2023.
- Sentence
- Kenneally was handed a four-and-a-half year sentence to run consecutive to his existing 14-year and two-month sentence, with earliest release in October 2026.
- Investigation
- On 30 December 1987, Kenneally told two senior gardaí what he was doing but no further investigation took place.
- A Commission of Investigation chaired by retired judge Michael White found a serious dereliction of duty by senior Garda officers in handling the 1987 complaint about Kenneally.
- Other details
- Kenneally had 10 previous convictions for indecent assault.
- The Government announced in June 2026 that it would offer a State apology to the five victims.
64 statements extracted from the articles
- whatKenneally pleaded guilty to 13 sample counts of indecently assaulting five boys. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- 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)
- whereIncidents occurred at Kenneally's workplace, lay-bys on the New Ross Road in Tramore and wooded areas of Waterford. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe incidents occurred at locations including Kenneally's workplace, lay-bys on the New Ross Road, Tramore, and wooded areas of Waterford. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incidents occurred at Kenneally's workplace, lay-bys on the New Ross Road, Tramore, and wooded areas of Waterford. (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)
- whenThe offences occurred on unknown dates between December 1979 and March 1990. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe offences took place on unknown dates between December 1979 and March 1990. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe complainants were aged between 13 and 15 at the time of the offending. (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)
- causeThe complainants came into contact with Kenneally as a sports coach and family friend. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationKenneally was arrested and interviewed on several occasions. (irishmirror.ie)
- 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 had originally faced 266 counts of indecently and sexually assaulting five boys. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeKenneally had been facing 266 counts of indecently and sexually assaulting five boys. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe had been facing 266 counts of indecently and sexually assaulting five boys. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeKenneally pleaded guilty to 10 sample counts of indecently assaulting 10 boys (irishmirror.ie)
- courtKenneally entered the 13 guilty pleas on the sixth day of a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtKenneally initially denied any wrongdoing and entered not guilty pleas when the trial opened in April. (thejournal.ie)
- courtHe initially denied any wrongdoing and entered not guilty pleas when the trial opened in April. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe guilty pleas were entered on the sixth day of a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Michael White chaired the Commission of Investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Nolan said he would set a headline sentence of 10 to 12 years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe headline sentence was to be reduced to eight or nine years for the guilty plea. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceKenneally was handed a four-and-a-half year sentence to run consecutive to his current sentence. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge said he would set a headline sentence of 10 to 12 years, reduced to eight or nine years for the guilty plea. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Nolan handed Kenneally a four-and-a-half year sentence to run consecutive to his current sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherIt is estimated there could have been between 150 and 200 incidents of abuse against four of the complainants. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe five complainants are now men in their 40s and 50s. (thejournal.ie)
- otherKenneally had 10 previous convictions for indecent assault and was serving a sentence of 14 years and two months. (thejournal.ie)
- otherKenneally has 10 previous convictions for indecent assault and is serving a sentence of 14 years and two months. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherVictim impact statements from four of the complainants were read to the court. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKenneally's earliest release date is in October 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- 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) - 22 May2023Former Waterford coach jailed for four and a half years for abusing boys
Reports the May 2023 sentencing after 13 guilty pleas on the sixth day of trial, including the four and a half year consecutive term, the judge's remarks, the complainants' impact statements and the earliest release date. No existing case records this sentencing.
convicted, Bill Kenneally, 72, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bill Kenneallyvictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, male - 22 May2023Bill Kenneally sentenced to four and a half more years for indecent assault
Reports a sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for 13 sample counts involving five boys, with dates from 1979 to 1990. Case 806 concerns 10 sample counts involving 10 boys and a commission report, so it does not match.
convicted, Bill Kenneally, 72, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bill Kenneallyvictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, male - 22 May2023Bill Kenneally given a four-and-a-half year sentence for indecently assaulting five boys
Reports the sentence of four and a half years, to run consecutive to Kenneally's current sentence, after his guilty pleas on the sixth day of trial; adds the victim impact statements, defence mitigation and the judge's remarks.
convicted, Bill Kenneally, 72, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bill Kenneallyvictim, 13 to 15 at the time of offending, malevictim, 13 to 15 at the time of offending, malevictim, 13 to 15 at the time of offending, malevictim, 13 to 15 at the time of offending, malevictim, 13 to 15 at the time of offending, male