'No Excuse' for Defaming Priest

Donegal Democrat
May 7, 2012

http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/national/no-excuse-for-defaming-priest-1-3818197



The board of RTE has said there is no excuse for the defamation of a missionary priest wrongly accused of rape by the once-flagship journalism Prime Time Investigates programme.

In a two-hour meeting with Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte, the 13 members made no attempt to defend the show over the Father Kevin Reynolds scandal.

RTE was fined 200,000 euro and reporter Aoife Kavanagh quit after a media watchdog probe found it broadcast serious, damaging and untrue allegations about Fr Reynolds by wrongly accusing him of raping a minor and fathering a child while working in Kenya 30 years ago.

Mr Rabbitte did not seek resignations from the board and none of the members offered to step down.

"There was no attempt by the board of RTE to defend what happened. The chairman described it as inexplicable and indefensible. Some other members of the board perhaps used stronger terms," the minister said.

"I'm satisfied that the board fully appreciates the seriousness of what's happened.

"The board attempted to offer no excuse for what happened. The board accepts that it ought not happen and that it did damage not just to the reputation of Fr Reynolds but also did damage to the reputation of RTE.

"There was no defence offered for what happened. The systems failed. I'm satisfied that the board understands fully and comprehensively the gravity of what has happened."

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland criticised the secret filming of the cleric and the lack of note taking, and highlighted the significant failure of editorial and managerial controls within the organisation.

Fr Reynolds, who had threatened to sue before the Mission To Prey programme was broadcast, was later cleared when two tests proved he was not the child's father. The station made an out-of-court settlement with the priest, believed to be about one million euro. Prime Time Investigates was taken off-air for good in the aftermath of the defamation scandal.