“One Can’t Let One’s Outrage Be The Only Informing Factor”

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From top: Bill Kenneally; Solicitor Darragh Mackin and five of Keneally’s 10 victims: Jason Clancy, Colin Power, Paul Walsh and Barry Murphy

Waterford basketball coach Bill Kenneally, who received a 14-year sentence for indecently assaulting ten boys between 1984 and 1987, is appealing against the severity of his sentence.

Kenneally was sentenced at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court to 14 years and two months imprisonment by Judge Eugene O’Kelly in February 2016

Kenneally’s victims claim that certain gardai, the South Eastern Health Board, members of the Catholic Church, certain politicians and certain businessmen knew of the abuse and that it continued despite their knowledge of it.

Via Ruaidhrí Giblin, at Ireland International News Agency, writes:

The Court of Appeal heard today that the sentencing judge imposed imposed consecutive 17 month sentences in respect of each of the ten victims.

Opening an appeal against the severity of his sentence in the three-judge court today, Kenneally’s barrister, Michael Counihan SC, submitted that the sentencing judge decided that he was going to give Kenneally 14 years and he built in everything that he could to reach that “pre-determined” point.

Mr Counihan said the sentencing judge picked a tariff and multiplied it out “to give satisfaction to the victims – as he says so himself”. However, he said “one can’t let one’s outrage be the only informing factor”.

Mr Counihan said the duty of a court is not to victims, but to the public, and to reach a sentence the public demands not what the victims demand “and that’s where he (the sentencing judge) became blinkered”.

The appeal hearing continuesdin the three-judge Court of Appeal this afternoon.

Mr Justice George Birmingham remarked that in his experience, he was personally not aware of case involving 10 victims where the abuse was so severe as it was here, coupled with the breach of trust, the use of alcohol, the payment of money and the use of photos as a form of coercion….

More as we get it.

Update: The three judge Court Of Appeal  panel has reserved its judgment to give time to review evidence.

Previously: Bill Kenneally on Broadsheet

Courtesy of Ireland International News Agency

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7 thoughts on ““One Can’t Let One’s Outrage Be The Only Informing Factor”

  1. kellma

    I am sickened. I am, of course, naive to think it outrageous that this man would even consider an appeal. Just keep hurting those people. Never let them get away from the horrors you inflicted on them. Stop the world I want to get off…..

  2. Blonto

    Severe sentence!!!!! Just look at the sentence Larry Nassar got in the USA – 175 YEARS. Now that’s a proper sentence for a depraved, sick, EVIL bastard. There should be mandatory sentencing for child abuse and sexual abuse crimes. And they should be very, very long.
    As for this idiots lazy/unfortunate/ill informed use of the word “satisfaction”……Surely OUTRAGE is extremely important in these cases. Kenneally is a monster, an evil shit. He should rot in jail for the rest of his life…..not just 14 years (minus good behaviour etc. etc.).

  3. Andy

    “”Mr Counihan said the duty of a court is not to victims, but to the public, and to reach a sentence the public demands not what the victims demand “and that’s where he (the sentencing judge) became blinkered”.””

    I’m fairly certain the Public is pretty satisfied with the sentence originally handed down

  4. Bernie

    Thanks for deleting my previous comment, it has been noted.

    Thank you Blonto, for your comment, I can’t get into how angry and disgusted this has made me feel this evening. I have no great admiration for the US but by god they know how to treat creatures such as Kenneally.

  5. phil

    Should have got 5more years for being a member of FF!

    Reserving judgement , thats what happens when the court hopes the public will forget about him so he can be released at a later date. Dont forget !

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