Waterford Sinn Féin TD Conor McGuinness has said today’s formal State apology to the survivors of Bill Kenneally’s abuse must be matched by decisive action to ensure such failures can never happen again.

Following the apology in the Dáil, Deputy McGuinness paid tribute to the survivors and their families, whose courage and determination led to this long-overdue acknowledgement.

Deputy McGuinness said:

“Today marks an important day as the State formally apologises to the survivors of Bill Kenneally’s abuse. Those who should have been protected were instead failed in the most profound and devastating way.”

“No apology can undo the harm that was done, but I pay tribute to the extraordinary courage of the survivors and their families, whose determination made this day possible.”

“If today’s apology is to carry any weight, Government must now act on the Independent Commission’s recommendations. We must ensure that no individual or institution is ever regarded as untouchable again, and that no child or vulnerable person is ever failed in this way again.”

“No more can this State or our society allow perpetrators to hide in the shadows. The days of deference to the powerful and well-connected must be over. The days of impunity, silence and cover-up must never return.”