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14 years in jail for South East basketball coach convicted of sex abuses

14 years in jail for South East basketball coach convicted of sex abuses

Former national basketball coach Bill Kenneally has been sentenced to 14 years and 2 months in prison for abusing 10 boys in the 1980s.

Mr Kenneally of Laragh, Summerville Avenue, Waterford City pleaded guilty to the crimes on dates between 1984 and 1987.

His victims, now all grown men, recalled in their statements to the court the sense of fear they had felt for many years after the assaults by a man who told them they would not be believed if they reported what he had done.

Judge Eugene O'Kelly said the 10 counts were a representative sample of more than 70 charges before the court.

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The court heard the gardai were aware of an informal complaint in 1987 but that the current prosecution comes from victims going to the gardai in 2012.

The judge added that the maximum sentence of two years on each count is warranted.

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