FR PETER KENNEDY FROM BALLINAHOWN JAILED FOR ABUSE IN IRELAND AND BEYOND
| Red Rose Database
Ballinahown Sexual Abuser
In a case that has spanned decades and multiple countries, Fr Peter Kennedy, a former priest from Ballinahown, Westmeath, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the sexual abuse of 18 boys. The abuse occurred over a period of more than thirty years, during which Kennedy was assigned to various parishes across Ireland and even served as a missionary in Africa.
Kennedy, aged 74, was a member of the Kiltegan Fathers order. His criminal activities included abusing boys in five different Irish counties, with his movements often dictated by his ecclesiastical duties. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Kennedy exploited his position of trust to gain access to vulnerable children, often threatening them with damnation or spiritual punishment if they dared to report his misconduct.
One particularly disturbing incident involved Kennedy telling a young boy that he was an “angel of God” and that “God didn’t mind what he did,” a statement that was meant to manipulate and silence the victim. Several children confided in their parents about the abuse, but tragically, these disclosures were not taken seriously or were dismissed. In one case, a mother reacted with anger and disbelief when her son disclosed the abuse, slapping him and saying, “how dare you say that about a priest.”
Another victim was subjected to repeated abuse when Kennedy visited the family home to pray with the boy’s dying father and administer the last rites. During these visits, Kennedy molested the boy and told him that “if he was a nice boy, his father would be okay,” further exploiting the family’s vulnerable situation.
In 2003, Kennedy was involved in one of Ireland’s largest sexual abuse settlements, with a victim receiving €325,000. Despite this, Kennedy’s criminal activities did not cease. He subsequently moved to London, where he worked as a taxi driver, before fleeing to Brazil using a British passport. He remained in Brazil for eight years before being deported back to the United Kingdom in 2011. From there, he was extradited to Ireland to face the charges.
Prior to his criminal activities in Ireland, Kennedy served as a missionary in Africa. His time in Ireland saw him serving in several parishes, where he used his priestly role to gain access to boys and commit acts of abuse. The court heard that Kennedy threatened victims with spiritual damnation if they reported his actions, further silencing those who might have come forward.
Kennedy, who had a known address in Ballinahown, pleaded guilty to 27 counts of indecent assault committed across various locations in Ireland between 1968 and 1986. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told that some of these counts represented multiple instances of abuse, with Judge Martin Nolan noting that, based on the evidence, there were more than 100 separate incidents. One victim testified that he was abused approximately 100 times by Kennedy during that period.
As the court concluded its proceedings, Judge Nolan emphasized the severity of the crimes, reflecting on the extensive nature of Kennedy’s abuse and the profound impact on his victims. The case has brought to light the long history of misconduct by a man who once held a position of spiritual authority, now held accountable for his actions.
Kennedy, aged 74, was a member of the Kiltegan Fathers order. His criminal activities included abusing boys in five different Irish counties, with his movements often dictated by his ecclesiastical duties. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Kennedy exploited his position of trust to gain access to vulnerable children, often threatening them with damnation or spiritual punishment if they dared to report his misconduct.
One particularly disturbing incident involved Kennedy telling a young boy that he was an “angel of God” and that “God didn’t mind what he did,” a statement that was meant to manipulate and silence the victim. Several children confided in their parents about the abuse, but tragically, these disclosures were not taken seriously or were dismissed. In one case, a mother reacted with anger and disbelief when her son disclosed the abuse, slapping him and saying, “how dare you say that about a priest.”
Another victim was subjected to repeated abuse when Kennedy visited the family home to pray with the boy’s dying father and administer the last rites. During these visits, Kennedy molested the boy and told him that “if he was a nice boy, his father would be okay,” further exploiting the family’s vulnerable situation.
In 2003, Kennedy was involved in one of Ireland’s largest sexual abuse settlements, with a victim receiving €325,000. Despite this, Kennedy’s criminal activities did not cease. He subsequently moved to London, where he worked as a taxi driver, before fleeing to Brazil using a British passport. He remained in Brazil for eight years before being deported back to the United Kingdom in 2011. From there, he was extradited to Ireland to face the charges.
Prior to his criminal activities in Ireland, Kennedy served as a missionary in Africa. His time in Ireland saw him serving in several parishes, where he used his priestly role to gain access to boys and commit acts of abuse. The court heard that Kennedy threatened victims with spiritual damnation if they reported his actions, further silencing those who might have come forward.
Kennedy, who had a known address in Ballinahown, pleaded guilty to 27 counts of indecent assault committed across various locations in Ireland between 1968 and 1986. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told that some of these counts represented multiple instances of abuse, with Judge Martin Nolan noting that, based on the evidence, there were more than 100 separate incidents. One victim testified that he was abused approximately 100 times by Kennedy during that period.
As the court concluded its proceedings, Judge Nolan emphasized the severity of the crimes, reflecting on the extensive nature of Kennedy’s abuse and the profound impact on his victims. The case has brought to light the long history of misconduct by a man who once held a position of spiritual authority, now held accountable for his actions.