The child protection agency Tusla has been criticised for not explaining why the Health Service Executive never sought to remove a paedophile from a basketball club even though gardaí had told the HSE about him.

Victims of child abuser Bill Kenneally from Waterford want to know what social workers did or did not do.

Eighteen months ago former basketball coach Kenneally pleaded guilty to abusing boys in the 1980s in Waterford and is currently serving a 14-year sentence.

Before the matter came to light, in November 2012, two victims found out Kenneally was still on the Waterford Viking senior club basketball committee.

One of them went to gardaí who then got a warrant and searched Kenneally's house.

Gardaí said at that point Kenneally made some admissions and they contacted the HSE.

Basketball Ireland and the local club said they were never contacted by the HSE or officials attached to Tusla (which was set up subsequently) nor were they made aware of the matter by either the child support agency or the gardaí.

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One of the victims went to the media in April 2013 and it was only after this the basketball club became aware of the Kenneally matter.

The club immediately told him to leave the committee and he resigned.

A spokesperson for the club said Kenneally was not active on the committee or in the club in recent years prior to 2013 and he had not been attending games or training.

In a statement, TUSLA admitted gardaí had made contact with the HSE in December 2012 and said social workers did review whether there was an ongoing risk to children.

They said certain protective measures were undertaken but did not say what these were, or why they never contacted the basketball club or Basketball Ireland.

One of the victims, Colin Power, said in the light of recent revelations about Tusla and HSE procedures, the matter deserves thorough scrutiny and a full and comprehensive response from the agency.

Victims are calling for the matter to be a central plank of the Commission of Inquiry they are seeking from the Minister for Justice.