RTÉ fined €200k over ‘significant error’ in libel

RTÉ was fined €200,000 by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland for the controversial Prime Time Investigates programme, which seriously libelled Fr Kevin Reynolds in what the station described as “one of the most significant errors” in its history.

The BAI said the programme was in serious breach of the Broadcasting Act 2009.

It found the Mission to Prey programme was not fair as it had broadcast “serious, damaging and untrue” allegations about Fr Reynolds, despite his denials and the offer to undertake a paternity test in advance of the transmission. The BAI said the fact Fr Reynolds was a serving priest meant the impact of the false allegations on his reputation was “particularly severe.”