现年81岁的丹尼斯·约翰·麦肯纳是西澳大利亚最严重的连环儿童性侵犯，其第二个监禁刑期将于11月17日结束[1]。最高法院于本周就其可能释放进行听证，法官马库斯·所罗门将作出最终释放决定[1]。检控方已同意在严格监管条件下让其出狱，而非申请继续羁押[1][2]。
麦肯纳在1957年至1990年间在卡塔宁的圣安德鲁斯寄宿舍系统性虐待了近30名男童[1]。他于1991年首次被定罪，随后在1991年至2015年间经历多起诉讼[2]。法院已将其宣布为高风险严重罪犯[2]。
法医精神科医生彼得·温·欧文表示麦肯纳的再犯风险"低"，但该专家同时指出麦肯纳反复声称男童"主动"要求进行口交[1][2]。检控方则声称"国家声称存在他将犯下严重犯罪和对男童实施性犯罪的不可接受风险"[1]。若获释，麦肯纳将受到包括电子监禁在内的严格监管条件限制[2]，且预计将与另一名性犯罪者同住，这引发了监督官员的安全隐忧[2]。
受害者家属对其释放表示强烈反对[2]。受害者凯伊·安德森的三个孩子曾在该寄宿舍就读，其中Ray后来自杀，Quenton死于药物和酒精滥用[2]。
Dennis John McKenna, now 81 years old, is poised to be released from prison within months after serving more than 15 years, despite being classified as a high-risk serious offender following a Supreme Court hearing this week.[1][2] McKenna's current sentence is set to end on November 17,[1] and while prosecutors have not sought to extend his detention, they have proposed strict supervision conditions for his release, with the final decision to be determined by Supreme Court Judge Marcus Solomon.[1]
During his role as administrator at St Andrew's Hostel in Katanning between 1957 and 1990, McKenna systematically abused nearly 30 boys.[1][2] He has faced multiple convictions stemming from four separate proceedings between 1991 and 2015,[2] yet continues to deny responsibility for crimes committed after 1981.[2] A forensic psychiatrist, Peter Wynn Owen, assessed McKenna's risk of reoffending as "low,"[2] while prosecution statements assert that the state contends there exists "an unacceptable risk" that he will commit serious crimes, including sexual offenses against boys.[1] McKenna has repeatedly claimed that boys allegedly initiated sexual contact, according to expert testimony.[1]
The prospect of McKenna's release has provoked strong opposition from victims' families.[2] One victim, Kaye Anderson, had three children who attended the hostel; her son Ray later took his own life, while another son, Quenton, died from substance and alcohol abuse.[2] Concerns have also been raised by supervising authorities about McKenna's planned living arrangement, as he is expected to reside with another sex offender.[2]