‘We Need To Know Who Knew What’

at

700 Monsignor-Shine-Oliver-March-19th-009

From top: Bill Kenneally; Monsignor John Shine

You may recall a previous post by Saoirse McGarrigle about the victims of paedophile Bill Kenneally – an accountant from a well-known Fianna Fáil family and basketball coach in Waterford – who want a Commission of Investigation.

They believe senior gardai, members of Fianna Fáil, members of the Catholic Church and staff at the South Eastern Health Board failed to act when told about the abuse.

Kenneally was convicted last year, after victim Jason Clancy came forward in 2012, but Gardaí knew about the abuse as far back as 1985.

Kenneally’s uncle was the late TD Bill Kenneally, who died in 2009, and who was succeeded by his son Brendan Kenneally.

Brendan Kenneally was told about the abuse by a Waterford woman in 2002 but he didn’t tell gardai. Instead, he spoke to another uncle and local priest – and current chairman of the board of management at Holy Cross National School in Tramore, Co Waterford – Monsignor John Shine – and arranged counselling for Bill Kenneally.

Brendan Kenneally did not report the matter to the gardaí.

Bill Kenneally is currently appealing his 14-year sentence for abusing 10 boys in the 1980s.

Further to this…

On Saturday, Saoirse McGarrigle reported in the Irish Mirror that Monsignor Shine, aged 91, is standing down from his role at Holy Cross National School.

It came after five of Kenneally’s victims wrote to Pope Francis calling for Monsignor Shine’s resignation – claiming Monsignor Shine knew of abuse allegations against Kenneally as early as 1987.

Ms McGarrigle reported:

In a statement issued by the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore on his behalf, he said: “I have made my decision bearing in mind the wishes, and indeed the distress, of the victims of my nephew Bill Kenneally.”

Monsignor Shine said: “When I am in a position to do so, I would very much wish to meet with the victims to hear their views, and to share with them all that I know of events of the past.

“It is my deep hope that I may be reconciled with them in their immense suffering.”

Further to this…

Yesterday.

RTE reported that Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has asked gardaí in Waterford for more information about how they dealt with cases concerning Bill Kenneally.

And today…

Ms McGarrigle reports that the victims are willing to meet with Monsignor Shine, with victim Colin Power saying:

I am willing to meet him, because I would welcome him disclosing the information he has. We need to know the truth. We need to know who knew what was being done to us and turned a blind eye.”

Previously: Ah Cumann

Tánaiste requests more information over Kenneally case (RTE)

Priest stands down from primary school role after nephew Bill Kenneally’s sex abuse victims call for resignation (Saoirse McGarrigle, Irish Mirror) 

Victims of sex beast Bill Kenneally want to meet his priest uncle (Saoirse McGarrigle, Irish Mirror)

Sponsored Link

6 thoughts on “‘We Need To Know Who Knew What’

  1. Daddy

    This is what happens when you let a church organisation to create and inhabit a space for itself between the citizen and the state. It subverts the law of the land and is as damaging in the long term as a terrorist group. It ruins as many lives, usually through suicide rather than direct murder.

  2. Daisy Chainsaw

    The mututal appreciation society of politicians and priests. A circlejerk of collusion and coverups.

  3. Pat Harding

    Your man looks like a fat dirty peasant…

    Why am I not surprised he belongs to a Fianna Fail ‘family’

Comments are closed.

Sponsored Link
Broadsheet.ie