Six men sexually abused as boys by a former sports coach in Waterford in the 1980s have begun a civil action against the State for failing to protect them after they allege various State agencies were made aware of the abuse.

The men were among 10 complainants who saw their abuser Bill Kenneally (66) of Laragh, Summerville Avenue, Waterford, sentenced to 14 years in jail last February.

He pleaded guilty to 10 sample counts, from a total of 71, that he indecently assaulted the boys between October 31st, 1984, and December31st, 1987.

The Garda investigation which led to Kenneally’s conviction started in 2012 when one of Kenneally’s victims, Jason Clancy (45) from Waterford, contacted gardaí after discovering that Kenneally was still involved in coaching basketball with a club in Waterford. Read More

A seven-year-old boy, who was injured when his head was trapped in electric security gates, has been awarded more than €50,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court.
Judge John Aylmer was told that Lee McCabe was four when the gates closed on his head and had to be rescued by a neighbour who had heard him crying for help.
Barrister Conor Kearney, who appeared with Tony Taaffe solicitor for Lee, told the court that Circuit Court President, Mr Justice Raymond Groarke, had last year rejected a €37,000 assessment by the Personal Injuries Board. Read More

A legal challenge by An Taisce has been brought alleging export licences were not lawfully issued for 10 paintings, some of which are scheduled for sale in London today and others on July 9th.

The works, part of the collection of Sir Alfred Beit, include two oil sketches by Peter Paul Rubens, one entitled Head of a Bearded Man. In an affidavit, John Loughman, senior lecturer in UCD’s School of Art, History and Cultural Policy, said the works are “part of Ireland’s rich cultural patrimony” and their loss to Ireland’s cultural heritage would be “enormous”.

It is alleged a licence of March 16th 2015 granted by the National Gallery of Ireland to the Irish branch of London-based fine art auction house Christie’s, acting as agent of the Alfred Beit Foundation, Russborough House, Co Wicklow, for export of the paintings to the UK was made in excess of the powers of the Gallery.