Serial child rapist's court-enforced exile a potential legal first for WA

One of Western Australia's worst serial paedophiles will be barred from the town where he committed his crimes, in what is believed to be a legal first for the state.

Dennis McKenna abused dozens of boys in Katanning while a warden at St Andrew's Hostel throughout the 1970s and 80s.

McKenna's apprehension and conviction took years, but he eventually served more than 15 years in prison for abusing 29 victims.

And in less than two weeks, he will walk free from prison.

The Supreme Court ruled this week that despite McKenna's high risk of reoffending, his release into the community could be safely managed by 41 stringent conditions.

One of them permanently bans him from Katanning — the small town 240 kilometres south of Perth that still bears the scars of his years of predatory abuse.

Town's relief at ban

Katanning shares the landmarks of larger farming hubs across Australia: a main street lined with federation buildings, with the major rail line cutting through the centre of town.

But McKenna's abuses have left a long-running stain on the close-knit community.

Supporters in the community helped shield him from scrutiny, until victims and whistleblowers won critical breakthroughs.

Shire president Kristy D'Aprile said the news of McKenna's exile was welcome.

"I think it's a really important condition for our community," she said.

"I thought if the state government believes he is fit for release, they would surely provide some protection for our community."

Lawyer John Hammond represented 25 of McKenna's victims during a compensation battle more than a decade ago.

He said it was the first time he'd heard of such a ban in WA.

"I haven't seen a situation where a high-risk offender has been banned from the whole town," he said.

"Particularly the size of Katanning."

He said the ruling sets a healthy precedent.

"The court should use its power to ban people such as McKenna from towns where they've caused so much damage," he said.

"McKenna's actions left a black stain on the town, and it has taken a long time for the town to recover."

Survivors want more restrictions

Attorney General Tony Buti said his sympathy lay with McKenna's victims and their families.

"Dennis McKenna's record of child abuse is abhorrent, and the impact of his crimes is truly horrific," he said.

McKenna is prohibited from seeking out his victims. If he is to accidentally run into one of them, he is to avert his gaze and move at least 100 metres away.

His movements will be electronically and physically monitored, any relationship must be disclosed to authorities, and he is banned from any contact with children.

Some people, however, believe the measures imposed by the Supreme Court don't go far enough.

Todd Jefferis was one of the first victims to come forward and has campaigned for fellow survivors for decades.

He said the measures do not come close to what is needed.

"We've asked for restrictions on where he can actually go, and we asked if Albany was one of those places," he said.

"It is bothering me because the state's solicitors' office and all those involved have failed the victims and the victims' families.

"They know how bad this guy has been and what lengths he went to to do what he did, and then hide it. Why they would let this guy back on the street is beyond belief."

Mr Jefferis said the state needed to make an example out of McKenna.

"They had an opportunity here to actually show some courage and go 'we are going to draw a line in the sand'," he said.

"Send a message to every paedophile, if you get caught, you're staying [in prison].

"The only way you can guarantee McKenna won't get involved in something is to keep him in a cage, and that's a fact."