The 73 year old is serving a long jail sentence for indecently assaulting young boys in Waterford in the 1980s.
Bill Kenneally told the inquiry he had given alcohol and money to young boys in the 1980s.
He was asked if this was to make them vulnerable to which he said he gave alcohol to boys and girls saying ‘If you want to say I was grooming everyone…that’s not true…that’s just my nature.’
It was put to him that in some cases he had ruined the lives of those young boys.
He replied ‘If they were - I don’t why they took years to come forward’’ - to which there were audible gasps from the public gallery.
At times, the exchanges were testy between Bill Kenneally and a barrister for some of the victims
The chair of the commission interjected to say Bill Kenneally had been minimising situations – that he’s a very intelligent man who knows exactly what’s going on and it’s clear what he’s up to.
