RTE Head Retires Following Mission to Prey Investigation

Galway Bay FM
April 3, 2012

http://www.galwaynews.ie/25118-rte-head-retires-following-mission-prey-investigation

Ed Mulhall has retired as head of RTE's news and current affairs.

The announcement follows the completition of an investigation by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland into a Prime Time Investigates programme, A Mission to Prey.

The programme wrongly accused Ahascragh priest Fr Kevin Reynolds of statutory rape and also falsely alleged he had fathered a child.

He has since been awarded substantial damages by RTE in the high court, and the broadcaster did not contest the claims made by Fr Reynolds in the proceedings.

Yesterday, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland announced it had made a decision in relation to its investigation into the Prime Time Investigates programme, A Mission to Prey.

This afternoon, Ken O'Shea announced that he has resigned from his post as Editor of Current Affairs in RTE.

He is being transferred to a new position in Television.

Prime Time Investigates will not return to air and there is to be a full restructuring of Television Current Affairs management and structures in line with improved editorial controls.

Staff are also to be training in new journalism guidelines which have been developed in recent months,

An external investigation board is also being established to conduct an investigation into all personnel matters arising in respect of the Mission to Prey programme.