State apology for Kenneally survivors to be made 14 July

Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has confirmed a State apology will be offered to the survivors of convicted paedophile Bill Kenneally on 14 July.

Kenneally died in prison earlier this month while serving a 19-year sentence for historic abuse of boys in Waterford.

A Commission of Investigation set up to examine the response to what was one of the most serious cases of paedophilia ever uncovered in Ireland found there was a clear and serious dereliction of duty by senior gardaí, even by the standards of the time.

Speaking on RTÉ's This Week, Mr O'Callaghan said: "I met survivors two weeks ago. I couldn't avoid the fact that in the report there is a finding that there was a dereliction of duty by An Garda Síochána in 1987.

"I am the minister responsible for An Garda Síochána. That's why I apologised to them when they came into the Department of Justice to see me.

"I know they met the Taoiseach last week and he did the same and that's why there will be an apology."

However, Mr O'Callaghan rejected suggestions an apology should also be proffered on behalf of Fianna Fáil.

This came after Government Chief Whip Mary Butler apologised after Kenneally canvassed for her during the 2020 General Election, including calling to a cousin of one of his survivors.

"If a senior person in an organisation does something wrong, the organisation does not become responsible for the wrongdoing," he said.

Mr O'Callaghan indicated an apology would be discussed if the party was "aware or endorsed the behaviour", which was not the case in relation to Fianna Fáil and Kenneally.