Freshly unearthed abuse claim ahead of notorious paedophile's prison release

Authorities are examining a newly surfaced allegation against Dennis McKenna, a notorious paedophile set to be released from prison after nearly 15 years in custody, as courts weigh whether he should be declared a high-risk serious offender. McKenna, 81, was the warden at St Andrew's Hostel in Katanning, Western Australia, during the 1970s and 1980s, where he systematically abused dozens of teenage boys. His sentence, which ends on November 17, is currently under review by Justice Marcus Solomon, who will decide if McKenna faces lifelong restrictions or indefinite detention upon release. The fresh allegation emerged outside court on Friday, when survivors of McKenna's abuse claimed there may be at least one additional complainant who came forward to police. Attorney-General Tony Buti confirmed that the State Solicitor's Office had received information about the new complaint and is evaluating its implications. Prosecutors have previously sought to label McKenna a high-risk offender, which could result in him facing strict conditions or being kept in custody indefinitely. McKenna's history of abuse was exposed through four separate court cases spanning from 1991 to 2015. Initially jailed in 1991, he was released on parole after 1 year and 10 months before being re-arrested in the late 2000s and sentenced to 15-and-a-half years in prison in 2011. Forensic experts testified that McKenna posed a low risk of reoffending due to his advanced age and the absence of criminal activity between 1993 and 2011. However, Maggie Dawkins, a whistleblower who worked in Katanning during McKenna's tenure, revealed that a man had filed a police report in 2004 or 2005 alleging assault by McKenna. That report was not considered in prior legal proceedings, raising questions about the basis for the current assessment of McKenna's risk level. Dawkins emphasized that the existence of this unexamined complaint challenges the assumption that McKenna did not offend during that time frame. Justice Solomon is determining whether to issue a High Risk Serious Offender designation, which would impose restrictions on McKenna's movements and interactions. State prosecutor Brett Tooker argued that such measures are essential to prevent potential reoffending, citing assessments by two psychiatrists who identified specific risks, including indecent dealing with children aged 13 to 16. Tooker noted that McKenna planned to pursue volunteer work and possibly join a church upon release, which could expose him to children. McKenna maintains that some of his victims initiated the sexual contact, a stance described by prosecutors as an example of extreme minimization of sexual violence and distorted views on consent. Additionally, his lack of familial or social support increases concerns about his potential for reoffending. Justice Solomon is scheduled to announce his decision on November 4.