P.A. Duffy & Co Advises Clients in South East Commission of Investigation

P.A. Duffy & Co Solicitors has advised clients in connection with the South East Commission of Investigation into the sexual abuse committed by Bill Kenneally, following the conclusion of the investigation process and the publication of its final report.

The Commission of Investigation was established by the Government on 10 July 2018, by way of Statutory Instrument S.I. 311/2018, to investigate matters of significant public concern arising from the abuse perpetrated by Bill Kenneally in Waterford over a period spanning the 1970s to the 1990s. The Commission, chaired by Mr Justice Michael White of the High Court, heard extensive evidence from victims, members of An Garda Síochána, and other witnesses over several years, examining the adequacy and appropriateness of the responses of the relevant statutory bodies and individuals at the time.

The work was led by Conal McGarrity, Managing Director and Head of Litigation, who has extensive experience acting for individuals in high-profile and emotionally challenging proceedings. The firm instructed Ray Motherway, Barrister, to act on behalf of clients before the Commission.

Mr McGarrity and his team advised clients throughout their engagement with the Commission of Investigation, including on participation, procedural rights, and the legal and practical implications of giving evidence. The firm also provided support in relation to the wider legal and personal issues that can arise in the context of statutory investigations of this nature.

Commenting on the conclusion of the Commission's work, Conal McGarrity said: "This marks the end of a long and difficult process for those affected. Our role was to ensure that clients were properly advised, supported and represented as they engaged with the Commission, and that their rights and interests were protected throughout. The findings of the Commission speak to the importance of public accountability and the courage of those who came forward to give evidence."

Mr McGarrity will be available to address the media at a press conference in Dublin tomorrow, 9 June 2026, where the firm's clients intend to respond publicly to the report's findings.