From top: former Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Kenneally (left) and his cousin Billy Kenneally: Fianna Fáil leader Michaél Martin

Further to revelations that a former Waterford Fianna Fáil,was told his cousin abused boys but did nothing.

Saoirse McGarrigle writes:

Fianna Fáil leader Michaél Martin and Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin have separately backed calls from the victims of Waterford paedophile Bill Kenneally for a Commission of Investigation into who knew about the abuse.

Speaking in Waterford during a party event, Michael Martin said the level of abuse suffered by the boys was “horrific”.

He said he would be concerned given that in 1987 Kenneally confessed and nothing happened after that. He added that there could be questions asked of what the South Eastern Health Board knew, if anything.

Bill Kenneally was a tallyman for the party, a nephew of the late TD Billy Kenneally as well as a first cousin of former Minister of State Brendan Kenneally.

Victim Paul Walsh said yesterday evening that he was glad that Mr Martin was supportive. He added that he felt that it was imperative that Fianna Fáil recognised that a public inquiry is now necessary to expose failings by any agency or organisation to address the abuse as far back as the 1980s.

Seven of Kenneally’s victims claim that members of An Garda Siochana, members of Fianna Fail, members of the Catholic Church and members of the South Eastern Health Board knew about the abuse in the 1980s and failed to stop it.

Meanwhile, leader of the Labour Party Brendan Howlin met with another victim Barry Murphy yesterday afternoon to discuss the case.

The Wexford deputy outlined his support for a Commission of Investigation, saying that an inquiry which had statutory powers to subpoena all witnesses to engage was the only way to establish the facts surrounding the case.

Mr Howlin said that he intends to discuss the case directly with the Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald and that he would be seeking an independent scoping inquiry to determine the terms of reference prior to a Commission of Investigation being launched.

Bill Kenneally was sentenced to 14 years in prison in February of this year at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court after he pleaded guilty to ten sample charges of sexual assault between October 31st 1984 and December 31, 1987.

Solicitor for the victims, who are now in their mid-forties, Darragh Mackin wrote to the Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald last month calling for a Commission of Investigation to be set up.

More as we get it.

Saoirse McGarrigle is a broadcast Journalist with South East Radio.

Previously: Protected For 30 Years