Overview
- The 75-year-old died in Midlands Prison in the early hours of Thursday, June 18, while under palliative care and the Irish Prison Service confirmed a death in custody.
- Kenneally was serving a 19-year prison term for historic sexual abuse of 15 boys and had been jailed after convictions in 2016 and additional sentencing in 2023.
- The Irish Prison Service, the Inspector of Prisons and An Garda Síochána will investigate the custody death and the Coroner's Office will determine the cause of death, with next of kin already informed.
- A Commission of Investigation published a 419-page report this month that found a clear and serious dereliction of duty by senior gardaí in 1987–88 and recommended urgent review of criminal accountability for misconduct by omission.
- Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has apologised to victims, will bring the report to the Dáil and has sent a memorandum to Cabinet to begin a formal State apology while referring misconduct-in-office issues to the Law Reform Commission.