Tom Savage, the chairman of Ireland’s Public Service broadcaster RTÉ says that it is inexplicable that the “Mission to Prey” item in Prime Time Investigates programme was allowed to air. The programme wrongfully accused Fr Reynolds of raping a woman and fathering a child in Kenya while a missionary 30 years ago.
Referring to the findings of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), that found the station had failed in editorial and managerial controls, he said, “RTE accepts the findings and can offer no excuse.”
The BAI fined RTÉ €200,000 and Fr Reynolds has been awarded compensation for damages to his reputation.
Meanwhile papers were lodged earlier this week at the High Court by Kenyan Bishop Philip Sulumeti who is also suing RTÉ for defamation in the same programme.
It is understood that he will argue that his good name was damaged by including his reference supporting Fr Kevin Reynolds’ character alongside statements of Fr Reynolds’ supposed guilt.
Another case which alleges a former archbishop had sex with a 14-year-old girl – is set to come before the High Court in November.
The former Archbishop of Benin, Tipperary-born Richard Burke, is claiming that allegations he had sex with an underage girl in Nigeria are false.
He does admit however that he had a sexual relationship with her but claims it began when she was an adult and it was consensual.
The family of a religious brother featured in the programme had asked Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte to investigate allegations of child sex abuse against him, which they say are false. Br Gerard Dillon, originally from Clarecastle, Co Clare, died in South Africa in 2005.