How the Scandal and Investigation Unfolded

Irish Independent
April 11, 2012

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/how-the-scandal-and-investigation-unfolded-3076717.html

May 7, 2011: Fr Kevin Reynolds is confronted by an RTE 'Prime Time Investigates' team at his church in Ahascragh, Co Galway. He refutes the allegation that he fathered a child.

May 23, 2011: RTE broadcasts the 'Prime Time Investigates: Mission to Prey' programme despite an offer from Fr Reynolds of a paternity test.

September 21, 2011: The High Court hears two paternity tests show Fr Reynolds did not father a child to a Kenyan woman.

October 7, 2011: RTE issues an apology to Fr Reynolds. The broadcaster accepted that the allegations against the Galway priest were baseless and without foundation.

November 17 2011: The libel action involving Fr Reynolds and RTE is finally settled.

November 23, 2011: Managing director of RTE News and Current Affairs, Ed Mulhall, and editor of Current Affairs, Ken O'Shea, decide to step aside for the duration of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) inquiry.

Broadcast of the planned series of 'Prime Time Investigates' is deferred from December until inquiries are complete.

April 3, 2012: RTE announces that Mr Mulhall has retired and Mr O'Shea, has stepped aside.

Director General Noel Curran says the 'Prime Time Investigates' series will be scrapped, and a new investigative programme will be rolled out, to be produced by a new Investigation Unit.

April 5, 2012: The BAI sends a copy of the report into the controversy to RTE for its consideration.

April 7: Fr Reynolds insists that he wants nobody to lose their job with RTE over the now infamous broadcast.