Busted Hingham Mother is Member of Thayer Academy's Anti-Drinking Program

The Hingham mother who police say involving teen drinking is a member of Thayer Academy’s anti-drinking program.

Theresa Kenny and her husband John of Hingham are members of the school's 2011-12 Safe Homes Program, which is designed to prevent its high school students from drinking or taking drugs, according to the school's website.

Theresa Kenny is facing charges in Hingham for allowing alcohol to be delivered to minors, and being the keeper of a noisy and disorderly house after police say she hosted a party for her daughter, Jessica, a junior at Thayer Academy.

Members of Thayer’s Safe Homes Program are not allowed to permit student parties or gatherings at their homes, cannot serve alcohol to underage youths, or permit them to consume alcohol or use illegal drugs at their home or on their property, according to the Thayer Academy Website.

A former Thayer student was killed in an alcohol-related car accident after a 1996 graduation party, sparking underage drinking reform. The “Social Host Law," which states a host is liable when he or she serves alcohol or controls the supply of alcohol, was filed by State Rep. Frank Hynes (D-Marshfield) and was generated by Marshfield residents and Thayer parents Don and Donna Smith.

On June 23, 1996, Don and Donna’s son, Greg Smith, who graduated from Thayer in 1996, was killed in a car accident, and alcohol that had been supplied by adults to Greg and other minors at the party was the root of the accident, according to Thayer's website.

A Thayer Academy spokesman said the school would not comment on the story. Phone calls to Kenny's home have not been returned.

Kenny, age 53, could face up to one year in prison or up to a $2,000 fine or both if she is convicted of allowing alcohol to be delivered to minors, Hingham Police Sgt. Steven Dearth said.

Dearth said police are not trying to prove that Kenny served the alcohol, but are trying to prove that she knew about the drinking.

“Parents have a liability for being responsible for knowing what’s going on in their house,” Dearth said. “When we have the probable cause, we will charge the person.”

None of the more than 30 teens at the March 31 party at 8 Brewer Way were injured. Police also did not arrest any of the students, but did call their parents and had a sober adult drive each of the 10 to 15 student vehicles parked on the street home.