Martin criticises RTÉ delay in admitting Reynolds mistake

THE Archbishop of Dublin has criticised RTÉ for the delay in admitting that Fr Kevin Reynolds had been wrongly accused on a Prime Time Investigates programme of sexually abusing a teenager and fathering a child.

Calling for independent regulation of broadcasters and the press in the wake of the case, Dr Diarmuid Martin said the Catholic Church had learned from the child abuse scandals and so must the media.

Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland ahead of the meeting of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, Dr Martin said: “Press freedom is a vital element of our society. Investigative journalism has done much good for our society, but we need to have forms of regulation which are independent.