Western Australian court imposes permanent exclusion zone on convicted child abuser

Dennis McKenna, who served more than 15 years for the sexual abuse of 29 boys while employed as a warden at St Andrew’s Hostel in Katanning during the 1970s and 1980s, is scheduled to be released from prison within two weeks. The Western Australian Supreme Court has attached 41 conditions to his release, one of which permanently prohibits him from entering the town of Katanning, located about 240 kilometres south of Perth.

The court’s decision follows a lengthy investigation that resulted in McKenna’s conviction after decades of allegations. St Andrew’s Hostel, the site of the abuse, was demolished in 2024. The court determined that, despite the extensive supervision framework, the risk to the community could be further mitigated by barring McKenna from the locality where the offences occurred.

Katanning’s local government welcomed the restriction. Shire President Kristy D’Aprile described the condition as “a really important condition for our community,” emphasizing the town’s ongoing trauma from the historic abuse. The town’s main street and railway line, typical of regional farming centres, remain central to daily life, and residents expressed relief that a legal tool was being used to protect them.

Legal experts note that the permanent exclusion order may represent a first of its kind in Western Australia, though similar measures have been applied in other Australian jurisdictions under different legislative frameworks. The order will be enforced by police, and any breach could result in immediate re‑incarceration.

Victims’ advocacy groups have praised the court’s action as a step toward accountability, while also calling for continued support services for survivors. The broader legal community will be watching how the condition is implemented and whether it sets a precedent for future cases involving high‑risk offenders.