IRELAND
Grantham Journal (United Kingdom)
A priest defamed by RTE was not interviewed by the broadcasting watchdog during its investigation, it has emerged.
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) said it was only permitted to investigate the actions of the broadcaster and its Prime Time Investigates programme, which wrongly claimed Father Kevin Reynolds had fathered a child.
A spokeswoman said no interview was sought with Fr Reynolds or his legal team as it would have been outside the BAI’s remit. She added: “The BAI is not in the position to hear evidence from all sides, or decide if somebody was libelled.”
The “Mission To Prey” programme, aired on May 23 last year, falsely accused Fr Reynolds of raping a minor and fathering a child while working in Kenya 30 years ago. The missionary priest later won a substantial out-of-court settlement after he took a libel action against the national broadcaster.
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