Board was unaware of 'Prime Time' issue

THE BOARD of RTÉ remained unaware of problems surrounding the Prime Time programme, which libelled Fr Kevin Reynolds, for four months, according to its chairman Tom Savage.

The board first learned of problems with the programme, entitled Mission to Prey, at its regular meeting last September. The programme was broadcast the previous May and Fr Reynolds’s lawyers began legal action the following month.

Mr Savage said that in a large organisation such as RTÉ, the board is not informed on an ongoing basis of every issue that crops up. But as soon as the programme about Fr Reynolds became a major issue, the board was informed.

“Whether it’s Prime Time as a programme, or Prime Time Investigates, there are many issues which cause ripples externally with people complaining. But we only hear about it when it actually becomes a real issue internally,” Mr Savage told Newstalk’s breakfast programme yesterday.

He denied the board was kept in the dark about the problems surrounding the broadcast. He said there was “a bit of a delay” before the board was informed, which he attributed to “the issue of the paternity test” which Fr Reynolds offered to undergo in order to disprove the programme’s claim that he had fathered a child while a missionary in Africa.

Last week, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland fined RTÉ €200,000 after publishing a report which was heavily critical of the programme. It said that Fr Reynolds first offered to undergo a paternity test on May 18th but RTÉ broadcast the programme, with the allegation, on May 23rd.