Paedophile Bill Kenneally dies aged 75
His death came in the same week a report into his abuse was published.
Convicted paedophile Bill Kenneally has died aged 75.
One of Ireland’s most notorious sex offenders, Kenneally used his position as a basketball coach to abuse teenagers in Waterford.
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.
Kenneally had served over 10 years of a 19-year sentence for the sexual assault of 15 boys between 1979 and 1990.
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.
On Tuesday, some of his victims met with Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan and afterwards they said he committed to a full state apology, which they hope will be issued in the coming weeks.
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.