By Henry McDonald
The Guardian
November 23, 2011
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/23/rte-suspends-programme-priest-defamation
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| Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he lamented the loss of standards within RTÉ following the libel action. Photograph: Paul Faith/PA |
Ireland's state broadcaster RTÉ has suspended its programme Prime Time Investigates after the government announced an independent inquiry into the station for defaming a priest falsely accused of rape and fathering a child in Africa.
RTÉ is believed to have paid out more than €1m (£860,000) to Father Kevin Reynolds in a libel action last week. Prime Time Investigates programme erroneously claimed the County Galway priest raped a minor who became pregnant while he was a missionary in Kenya.
The broadcaster has launched an internal inquiry into the conduct of the programme makers, although it has said no dismissals would follow as a result of the failings.
The Association of Catholic Priests, which has said someone must be made accountable, welcomed the announcement of the investigation. Its spokesman, Father Sean McDonagh said the decision was a proper one because the injustice done to Reynolds was so serious. He said the investigation would be an opportunity to review the perceived anti-Catholic bias within RTÉ and the media in general.
Ireland's communications minister, Pat Rabbitte, said the Reynolds case was considered at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
"It was decided by cabinet that there should be an independent inquiry to determine the true facts and circumstances which led to the Prime Time programme on Father Reynolds being broadcast on RTÉ in May of this year," Rabbitte said.
Later the taoiseach, Enda Kenny, said he lamented the loss of standards within RTÉ.
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has since been asked to initiate the investigation.
Within hours of the minister's statement, RTÉ said it had suspended the Prime Time Investigates programme.
In his only statement since the case ended, Reynolds told radio station Shannonside FM he would leave the issues of the consequences for RTE to his solicitor.
He said that he had a Christian duty to forgive those involved in the programme who defamed him.
"I have no difficulty in saying openly and honestly that I forgive whoever inflicted such distress on me. That's what we have been taught to do. If I don't forgive, if I hold all that in, if I harbour resentment and begrudgery, if I harbour feelings of ill-will and revenge, I'm only damaging myself. I'd be less Christian and less a human being."
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