Courts / Waterford / Report
'Depraved pervert' Bill Kenneally to serve more time in prison for abusing boys
Summary
Bill Kenneally, 72, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four-and-a-half years' imprisonment, to run consecutive to his existing 14-year and two-month sentence, after pleading guilty to 13 sample counts of indecently assaulting five boys. The offences, alleged to have occurred between December 1979 and March 1990 in the south east, involved boys aged 13 to 15. Kenneally had initially pleaded not guilty to 266 counts but entered guilty pleas on the sixth day of trial. Judge Martin Nolan described the conduct as "incredibly reprehensible," noting Kenneally abused his position as a coach and family friend. The judge set a headline sentence of 10 to 12 years, reduced to eight or nine years for the guilty plea, but imposed the consecutive term to reflect the seriousness of the crimes. Kenneally's earliest release date is October 2026. The court noted that a High Court judicial review seeking to halt the trial was rejected, and the Court of Appeal upheld that decision. A commission of investigation was subsequently established to examine State agency responses and a 1987 interview in which Kenneally allegedly admitted wrongdoing.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Depraved pervert' Bill Kenneally to serve more time in prison for abusing boys. Charges or matters: 13 sample counts of indecently assaulting five boys in locations in the south east on unknown dates between December 1979 and March 1990. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- December 1979 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 1990 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 1985 Incident
- October 2026 Other
- 1978 and 1993 Incident
- 2023-05-22 Publication
Why: The fifth complainant said there was "no price for what was stolen from me" and he has been in prison in his head for 40 years because of Kenneally. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Charges: 13 sample counts of indecently assaulting five boys in locations in the south east on unknown dates between December 1979 and March 1990 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Bill Kenneally will serve more time in prison after he was handed a four-and-a-half year sentence for indecently assaulting five boys. Garda Inspector Siobhan Keating told the sentence hearing today that there was a "consistent and escalating pattern" of offending by Kenneally.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- High Court
- Court of Appeal
- Kenneally's house
- he went to the garda station
Topics
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