Fr. Kevin Reynolds
Encyclopedia
Fr. Kevin Reynolds is an Irish
Catholic
priest, falsely alleged by Raidió Teilifís Éireann
(RTÉ) in its Prime Time
programme, to have raped and impregnated a minor Kenya
n woman named Veneraanda and fathering a child called Sheila, during his time as a missionary. These allegations were aired on RTÉ, the national television network of Ireland, in a report by journalist Aoife Kavanagh
titled "Mission to Prey
", which aired in May 2011.
He was also accused of secretly providing funds to Sheila.
Both Veneranda and Sheila were interviewed in the programme to corroborate the allegations. The events are purported to have taken place in the diocese of Kakamega in Kenya.
Prior to to the broadcasting of the show, Father Reynolds volunteered to have DVA testing undertaken to prove his innocence but this offer was refused by RTE.
It has since emerged that the allegations were entirely baseless. However, as a result of the broadcast, Fr. Reynolds had been removed from his home and from his parish ministry. RTÉ broadcast an apology to Fr Kevin Reynolds. Prime Time
, the series on which the allegations were broadcast, was immediately suspended. Director-General of RTÉ
Noel Curran
admitted the broadcasting of "Mission to Prey" was "one of the gravest editorial mistakes ever made" at RTÉ.
The head of the Irish Missionary Union said Aoife Kavanagh's continuing presence on Morning Ireland after being found guilty of defaming Fr Kevin Reynolds was “unfair and unjust” and a demonstration of “double standards” in the media. The fact that such damaging material could be aired on the national television network without adequate prior fact-checking has caused a political scandal in Ireland, and the Irish government has ordered a government inquiry into the matter.
In November 2011, Father Reynolds agreed to an out -of -court libel settlement settlement with RTE, the amount of the settlement was not disclosed. His solicitor also requested that Justice Minister Alan Shatter
"to clarify that he accepts that Fr Reynolds was guilty of no wrongdoing" after Shatter's public statement in support of "Mission to Prey" after it was broadcast in May 2011.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
priest, falsely alleged by Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
(RTÉ) in its Prime Time
Prime Time
Prime Time is an Irish news analysis, current affairs and politics programme. It is broadcast on RTÉ One on Tuesday and Thursday nights between 21:30 and 22:10. It is currently presented by Miriam O'Callaghan, who has presented the programme since its commencement in 1996...
programme, to have raped and impregnated a minor Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n woman named Veneraanda and fathering a child called Sheila, during his time as a missionary. These allegations were aired on RTÉ, the national television network of Ireland, in a report by journalist Aoife Kavanagh
Aoife Kavanagh
Aoife Kavanagh is a journalist with Raidió Teilifís Éireann , the Irish national radio and television broadcaster. She contributed to the RTÉ programmes Morning Ireland and Prime Time Investigates . Kavanagh made national news headlines herself in 2011 when she was at the centre of a controversy...
titled "Mission to Prey
Mission to Prey
"Mission to Prey" is the title of an episode of the RTÉ programme Prime Time Investigates broadcast in May 2011. It was presented by RTÉ's Aoife Kavanagh....
", which aired in May 2011.
He was also accused of secretly providing funds to Sheila.
Both Veneranda and Sheila were interviewed in the programme to corroborate the allegations. The events are purported to have taken place in the diocese of Kakamega in Kenya.
Prior to to the broadcasting of the show, Father Reynolds volunteered to have DVA testing undertaken to prove his innocence but this offer was refused by RTE.
It has since emerged that the allegations were entirely baseless. However, as a result of the broadcast, Fr. Reynolds had been removed from his home and from his parish ministry. RTÉ broadcast an apology to Fr Kevin Reynolds. Prime Time
Prime Time
Prime Time is an Irish news analysis, current affairs and politics programme. It is broadcast on RTÉ One on Tuesday and Thursday nights between 21:30 and 22:10. It is currently presented by Miriam O'Callaghan, who has presented the programme since its commencement in 1996...
, the series on which the allegations were broadcast, was immediately suspended. Director-General of RTÉ
Director-General of RTÉ
The Director-General of Raidió Teilifís Éireann is chief executive and editor in chief of RTÉ. The current Director-General is Noel Curran, and is the most senior person in the Public Service Broadcaster, Noel Curran replaced Cathal Goan in the role in February 2011.The RTÉ Board appoints the...
Noel Curran
Noel Curran
Noel Curran is a radio and television producer and current Director-General of RTÉ. He joined Raidió Teilifís Éireann as a reporter in 1992 after a period working as a business journalist for Business & Finance magazine. He later produced both Kenny Live and The Late Late Show...
admitted the broadcasting of "Mission to Prey" was "one of the gravest editorial mistakes ever made" at RTÉ.
The head of the Irish Missionary Union said Aoife Kavanagh's continuing presence on Morning Ireland after being found guilty of defaming Fr Kevin Reynolds was “unfair and unjust” and a demonstration of “double standards” in the media. The fact that such damaging material could be aired on the national television network without adequate prior fact-checking has caused a political scandal in Ireland, and the Irish government has ordered a government inquiry into the matter.
In November 2011, Father Reynolds agreed to an out -of -court libel settlement settlement with RTE, the amount of the settlement was not disclosed. His solicitor also requested that Justice Minister Alan Shatter
Alan Shatter
Alan Joseph Shatter is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He is a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South constituency and has been the Minister for Justice and Equality and Minister for Defence since March 2011.-Background and early life:...
"to clarify that he accepts that Fr Reynolds was guilty of no wrongdoing" after Shatter's public statement in support of "Mission to Prey" after it was broadcast in May 2011.
See also
- Catholic sexual abuse scandal in IrelandCatholic sexual abuse scandal in IrelandThe Catholic sexual abuse scandal in Ireland is a major chapter in the worldwide Catholic sexual abuse scandal. Unlike the Catholic sexual abuse scandal in the United States, the scandal in Ireland included cases of high-profile Catholic clerics involved in illicit heterosexual relations as well as...
- Roman Catholic sex abuse cases by countryRoman Catholic sex abuse cases by countryThis page documents notable Alleged Roman Catholic sex abuse cases by country.- Kenya :In 2009 several people came forward with accusations of sexual molestation against an Italian priest working in the country. The Church gave assurances of an investigation, but this has not taken place...