Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will start by welcoming the victims of Bill Kenneally to the Public Gallery, Jason Clancy and Colin Power. These men have shown nothing but bravery, determination and endurance in what has been an uphill battle for justice. This has been a harrowing journey for these men and it is absolutely not over yet but I hope this commission brings them some solace. I know it can never give them back what was taken from them. I acknowledge that the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, has been committed to establishing a commission of investigation and that this has always been the case. In November 2016, my party leader, Deputy Micheál Martin, and our justice spokesperson, Deputy O'Callaghan, met victims and heard at first hand the serious concerns they had regarding the handling of their complaints over many years. Following this meeting, Fianna Fáil wrote to the former Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, to advocate for a full commission of inquiry to be undertaken to examine the background to this awful situation and determine the facts in full. We also called for such an inquiry to be undertaken without delay.While I understand the inquiry could only commence on the completion of outstanding investigations and prosecutions, it was disappointing for the victims that the inquiry was announced way before it was possible to commence it, and the delays genuinely caused huge stresses for the victims.

The depravity of Mr. Kenneally’s actions moved Mr. Justice George Birmingham, a judge for more than ten years, to comment that, in his experience, he was not aware of a case involving the number of 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. The fact that Kenneally was allowed to abuse children for such a protracted period of time is an indictment on the State and answers are needed as to how this was allowed to happen.

Having looked at the terms of reference of the commission, which I believe to be substantial, I hope that, finally, the victims of Bill Kenneally may get some answers to the questions they have been asking for so long.