Falsely Accused Priest Rev. Kevin Reynolds

Nearly a year after Irish television network RTÉ defamed an innocent Catholic priest, employees connected to the incident have resigned.

The resignations are on the heels of a major television scandal that erupted in Ireland last May.

An RTÉ program called "Mission to Prey," (part of the series Prime Time Investigates) falsely claimed that an Irish priest, Rev. Kevin Reynolds, had raped and impregnated a teenage girl decades earlier in Africa. It also reported that the priest had abandoned a daughter he fathered.

After the story was exposed as a complete fabrication, the network admitted that the show "ought never to have been broadcast" and its claims were "baseless, without any foundation whatever and untrue."

RTÉ has been reeling ever since.

A network takes a big tumble

Riding the wave of worldwide reports of sex abuse by priests in the Catholic Church, last May's "Mission to Prey" program sought to profile pedophile priests in Ireland. In doing so, it chronicled the claim that Rev. Reynolds had committed abominable crimes.

Even before the program aired, Fr. Kevin vehemently denied the the charges against him. Not only did he assert that he had never even known anyone by the accuser's name, but he also offered to take a paternity test.

But RTÉ was anxious to air the show and attack the Church. Even against the advice of the network's own legal counsel, RTÉ broadcasted the program anyway.

As a result of the allegations, Fr. Reynolds was forced to leave his parish ministry and home. Yet two conclusive paternity tests later proved that there was no way that the priest could be the father of the accuser's daughter.

Last November, the network agreed to pay "more than €1 million, including costs" to Fr. Kevin for the libel it had committed.

Nearly a year after the defamatory program, the network is still suffering from credibility and financial issues. RTÉ has announced it is closing its London bureau and is facing a deficit of €20 million. The network has also permanently cancelled the Prime Time Investigates series.

A damaging report is delivered

Media outlets are now reporting that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has completed and handed over an independent report about its investigation into how RTÉ's libel of Fr. Kevin unfolded.

The Irish Times reports:

"[The] investigation would likely have covered the source of the original false allegation, legal proceedings that followed the broadcast of the programme and the reason why RTÉ decided to go ahead with the broadcast when Fr. Reynolds had offered to take a paternity test."

The network faces a fine up to €250,000, and it has 14 days to formally respond to the report.

Meanwhile, RTÉ has announced, "There will be a full restructuring of television current affairs management and structures."

Although the terms of the arrangement are confidential, the Irish Times is reporting that Fr. Reynolds will receive "more than €1 million, including costs."

Last May, RTÉ aired a high-profile, prime-time special entitled, "A Mission to Prey," with the clear goal of lambasting the Catholic Church for sex abuse scandals

Even before the program aired, Fr. Kevin vehemently denied the show's claims against him. The priest even hired attorneys before the show to notify the network that the claims were false. Not only did he assert that he had never even known anyone by the accuser's name, but he also agreed to a paternity test.

But RTÉ was anxious to air the show, and it broadcast the program anyway.

As a result of the allegations, Fr. Reynolds was forced to leave his parish ministry and home.

Two conclusive paternity tests later demonstrated that there was no way that Fr. Reynolds could be the father of the accuser's child.

RTÉ eventually acknowledged that the program "ought never to have been broadcast." It also admitted its accusations were "baseless, without any foundation whatever and untrue," and the defamation had "a devastating effect on Fr. Kevin Reynolds, his family, his peers, [and] his parishioners."

Outside the High Court, Fr. Sean McDonagh, from the Association of Catholic Priests, spoke forcefully and directly about how the media has unfairly characterized and besmirched Catholic clergy. It is definitely worth a listen.

[This has been a follow-up to TheMediaReport.com's post, "Irish TV Network Defames Innocent Priest, Issues Apology," from earlier this month. Readers can see the video of the original segment from RTÉ that defamed Fr. Reynolds.]

The show made the startling claim that a previously unblemished Irish priest, Fr. Kevin Reynolds, had raped and impregnated a young girl years earlier in Kenya. It even claimed that the priest had secretly supported the mother and his child financially.

Even before the program aired, Fr. Kevin vehemently denied the claims. Not only did he assert that he had never even known anyone by the accuser's name, but he also agreed to a paternity test.

But RTÉ was anxious to air the show and attack the Church, so it broadcast the program anyway.

As a result of the allegations, Fr. Reynolds was forced to leave his parish ministry and home.

Now it turns out that a paternity test has proved that there was no way that Fr. Reynolds could be the father of the woman's daughter.

If you have six minutes, check out this unbelievable hatchet job on a totally innocent man. (The video says it's 7 minutes long, but the last minute is just credits.)

RTÉ has since issued an apology.

RTÉ acknowledges that the material in the programme concerning Fr. Reynolds ought never to have been broadcast.

RTÉ now fully and unreservedly accepts that the allegations made by Prime Time against Fr. Kevin Reynolds are baseless, without any foundation whatever and untrue and that Fr. Reynolds is a priest of the utmost integrity who has had an unblemished 40 year career in the priesthood and who has made a valuable contribution to society in Kenya and Ireland both in education and in ministry.

RTÉ acknowledges the defamation has had a devastating effect on Fr. Kevin Reynolds, his family, his peers, his parishioners in Ahascragh, those in the diocese of Kakamega in Kenya who were aware of the allegations and all those who know him or of him.

There have been reports that libel proceedings against the network will begin this month.

This episode provides some valuable lessons: The accuser and her daughter are very detailed and convincing when chronicling their charges in the interview. This should serve as a future caution to all when weighing the credibility of certain claims.

In addition, Fr. Reynolds has handled his exoneration with honor and grace. Despite this incredible ordeal, he says that he harbors no "anger or resentment" or "bitterness."

Fr. Reynolds "carried his cross with great dignity," said his bishop.

The return of the innocent priest prompted three standing ovations from the congregation that celebrated his homecoming.