Parish welcomes reinstated priest

HUNDREDS of well- wishers gave a standing ovation to a priest who returned to his parish yesterday after being cleared of allegations he fathered a child in Kenya 30 years ago.

A crowd of more than 600 packed into St Cuan’s Church in Ahascragh to welcome back Fr Kevin Reynolds, with flags and bunting erected in the east Co Galway town as their parish priest was reinstated.

Fr Reynolds stepped aside from his ministry after an RTÉ Prime Time Investigates programme last May incorrectly claimed he had raped a girl in Kenya and fathered her child in 1982.