29 victims, new abuse allegation: notorious WA child sex offender could be released within weeks

One of Western Australia's most notorious child sex offenders could walk free next month, despite concerns about his risk of reoffending and new information about a historical abuse complaint.

Dennis John McKenna, 81, who sexually abused boys while working as the warden of St Andrew's Hostel in Katanning, is due to complete his prison sentence on 17 November 2026.

The WA Supreme Court is now deciding whether he should remain behind bars or be released under strict supervision.

Despite prosecutors arguing that McKenna still presents an unacceptable risk of committing a serious sexual offence against a child, both the prosecution and defence have supported his release under supervision.

Decades of abuse and missed warnings

McKenna was the warden of St Andrew's Hostel from 1975 until his arrest in 1990.

During that time, he sexually abused boys who were living at the hostel while attending school.

Concerns about his behaviour had been raised years before his arrest.

A 2012 WA Government inquiry found that hostel board members had been made aware of allegations and rumours of sexual abuse as early as 1982 but failed to take appropriate action.

The inquiry concluded that those failures contributed to McKenna being able to continue offending.

His criminal history includes:

• •1991: Convicted of 19 sexual offences involving five boys. Released on parole in April 1993.
• •2011: Jailed again after pleading guilty to ten offences involving six boys.
• •2013: Sentenced for a further 34 offences involving 17 former hostel students.
• •2015: Convicted of two additional sexual offences. The sentences did not add to his existing prison term.
• •2024: Denied parole.
• •2026: Supreme Court proceedings commenced to determine whether he should remain detained after his sentence expires.

New abuse allegation raised before release decision

On 16 October, the ABC reported that information about a historical sexual abuse complaint involving McKenna had been brought to the attention of authorities.

Whistleblower Maggie Dawkins said a man had made a complaint to police around 2004 or 2005 and that a police incident number existed.

Attorney General Tony Buti confirmed the information had been passed to the State Solicitor's Office for consideration.

The allegation has not resulted in charges, and it is not clear when the alleged abuse occurred.

The information has raised questions because expert evidence presented to the Supreme Court reportedly took into account the absence of known offending between McKenna's release in 1993 and his return to prison in 2011.

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Peter Wynn Owen assessed McKenna's risk of serious reoffending as low, partly due to his age.

However, the court also heard that McKenna continued to minimise his offending, blame victims and deny committing offences after 1981, despite later convictions.

It has not been confirmed whether the historical complaint will change the expert assessments or the court's decision.

Why is his release being considered?

McKenna is approaching the end of his sentence, meaning authorities need a separate court order to keep him detained beyond 17 November.

Under WA's High Risk Serious Offenders Act 2020, the Supreme Court can order continued detention or allow an offender to live in the community under strict conditions.

Those conditions can include electronic monitoring, reporting requirements and restrictions on movement and contact with other people.

State prosecutor Brett Tooker has argued that McKenna remains an unacceptable risk but supports a supervision order rather than continued detention.

McKenna's defence has also supported supervised release.

The final decision rests with Justice Marcus Solomon.

Decision expected 4 November 2026

Justice Solomon is expected to hand down his decision on 4 November 2026, less than two weeks before McKenna's prison sentence expires.

Families of McKenna's victims have opposed his release, including Kaye Anderson, whose two sons were abused by McKenna and have since died.

The court will need to determine whether the proposed supervision arrangements are sufficient to protect the community or whether McKenna should remain in custody.

For now, McKenna remains behind bars.