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Wronged Irish priest says life was horrific after accusation of rape

DNA test revealed he did not father teenager’s child in Africa

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral.com Staf Writer

Published Sunday, November 20, 2011, 7:31 AM

Updated Monday, November 21, 2011, 11:29 AM

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Fr Kevin Reynolds

Photo by Google Images

The priest wrongly accused by Irish television of raping a teenager in Kenya and fathering her child has revealed how he was advised not to take on the might of state broadcaster RTE.

Fr Kevin Reynolds has received over $1.5million in libel damages from the Irish station after the false accusation were made earlier this year in the Prime Time Investigates programme ‘Mission to Prey.’

The priest, asked to stand down from his current parish work in Galway while he fought the case, had to take a paternity test which proved negative and take RTE to Dublin’s High Court before the station admitted they were wrong.

Speaking to the Sunday Independent, he said: "I feel very relieved it's all over. It has been an awful and devastating experience. So, so, so distressing -- not only for me but for my family and for my parish.

"I want to say now, I do not have any feelings of revenge or anger. I just want to get over this and on with my life.

"I am not looking for blood. I'm not looking for any revenge. As a priest, of course, whoever wrongs me, I will forgive them and I can say from the bottom of my heart they are forgiven."

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Reynolds had offered to take a paternity test to prove he was not the father, but the program went ahead and accused him anyway.: "Of course, it tested my faith. It rattled me in every respect. Not only socially, but also spiritually.

"But I knew from day one I had a clear conscience; I knew it was not true. And my faith remains intact as it was -- as strong as ever.

"The worst day was signing a form to say that I would freely withdraw from all public priestly ministries. That was very difficult.

"But the lowest point of all was driving to Dublin alone on the eve of when the programme was to be aired. Driving out of my priesthood, out of my parish in a complete daze, wondering what on earth had happened. My whole world had collapsed.

"That's an experience I wouldn't like to relive. I didn't sleep that night and there was no sleep for many, many nights after that."

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edmicca | Nov 24, 2011, 08:19 AM EST

Collette2, a priest is wrongly accused by the RTE of raping a child. He didn't do it. Rather than comment on the great injustice done to him, you go off on an idiotic jag, saying the woman was probably paid off, etc. What a fool. You wouldn't know a bone if you fell over one.

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Collette2 | Nov 23, 2011, 01:35 AM EST

What's the matter edmicca, getting to close the bone. You know damned well I'm right.

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edmicca | Nov 22, 2011, 10:43 PM EST

Collette2 and BeHonest aren't just stupid - they're amazingly, uniquely stupid. You hand a moron a keyboard and suddenly it fancies itself a mind.

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Collette2 | Nov 22, 2011, 03:34 PM EST

eiremudg, how can you be so gullible, whose to know if the woman wasn't paid off to retract her claims. It happens more times that you would care to know, so too with sex-abuse issues, charges are dropped, and you hear no more because of confidentialities signed.

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Collette2 | Nov 22, 2011, 03:26 PM EST

Most sensible comment eiriamarch, but I doubt it. The innocent and decent priest's have their hands tied out of obedience, their bishops knowing full well "they have it all under control". The controversy of the spilling of seed and consequences would be averted if celibacy was otional and clergy could marry. No wonder there's no respect for children.

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warlocks | Nov 22, 2011, 02:38 AM EST

Not all Catholic Priest's are Evil or Pedophiles. a few Bad apples can seem to make the rest Bad. but its not so many are Great Men of God who help mend broken souls. We have to be careful not to treat them all as Bad priest's

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elremdg | Nov 21, 2011, 06:34 PM EST

i know 2 filipino priests who have been wrongfully accused of having affairs. the first one is from new jersey, and a gay seminarian accused him falsely of sexual harassment. the poor priest was proven to be innocent after the seminarian himself confessed he created the story to malign his pastor because he alleged he was not treated well; and wanted money, the next one is another filipino priest who was accused by his detractors as having fathered a son in australia. the woman came up to say that her son was the accused priest's son; and just by looking at the little boy, he didnt even show any features of the accused priest. the caucasian-looking boy is contrast to the very filipino-looking clergy. later the woman retracted her accusations and went into hiding back down under. what do we do to those wronged priests. they didnt get any back-payment for the wrongful accusations. i am beginning to believe that many other catholic priests were wrongfully accused to get money. let us pray for our beloved priests.

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GeorgeDillon | Nov 21, 2011, 03:35 PM EST

Toornagrena: "The real culprit is the catholic hierarchy.." Oh look, another "Blame The Victim" idiot.

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eiriamach | Nov 21, 2011, 03:01 PM EST

Thinking about it, I wonder whether the $1.5 million goes to the ACP rather than Fr. Reynolds himself. That money would be useful, considering that the ACP is planning a meeting of the Assembly of the Irish Church for May. I'd hope, though, that they'd reserve most of the award as a defense fund. Then innocent priests would have a financial as well as a moral reason to set a great precedent by cooperating with Gardai and standing trial if necessary to vindicate themselves, despite the maneuvers of the bishops. But most of all, I hope for justice for the victims of sexual abuse.

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eiriamach | Nov 21, 2011, 02:44 PM EST

@CommonSenseNow: his lawyers worked pro bono, no fee, for the ACP. DNA testing and a sizable settlement have vindicated Fr. Reynolds. His good name has not been destroyed, and RTE looks like a villain for assuming his guilt. And since he was the victim of a false accusation, he will likely experience an outpouring of sympathy, like that below. All this, not suppression of news about allegations, IS justice. These outcomes provide a good reason for priests to trust in institutions of secular justice. Sometimes courts of law do the work of God; sometimes, religious institutions obstruct God's work. There is always a hearing for the voice that urges "innocent until proven guilty." This is a universally-respected principle of justice. Why did church insiders not shout "innocent until proven guilty"? Unfortunately, Church officials have been effectively obstructing the criminal investigations that could lead to trials and verdicts of guilty or not guilty. The silence of the bishops who have prevented cases from reaching the courts has thundered in the ears of the public to the point that Church voices calling for a restrained attitude of "innocent until proven guilty" would sound hypocritical. Nonetheless, I'd expect RTE reporters to strike a better balance after this precedent, if only to avoid liability. They should continue reporting because media attention may be the best way to deter pedophiles and cover-ups. Congratulations to Fr. Reynolds and to ACP! Let's pray that the many others who have been denied justice by the silence of Church officials will begin to share in the great blessing of justice accomplished.

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CommonSenseNow | Nov 21, 2011, 02:07 PM EST

To BeHonest: "Why did he seek money ? Surely a vindication of his good name was all that was required." - Yeah right. How much money did he have to spend on lawyers to clear his name? Do you suppose the press might continue to shoot the reputation of priests without evidence if they only had to apologize every time? When a big dividend is paid out, the press might think twice about getting they're facts straight first - or they'll get hit in the pocket book. Besides, do you know if the priest kept the money? For all you know it could have been given to charity.

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BeHonest | Nov 21, 2011, 02:01 PM EST

Let's start the movement to get priest out their working for a changing, I have never ever received a house visit from a catholic priest, yet the mormons and Jehovah have called several times. I think Irish catholic priests are extremely lazy and do practically nothing to advanced the Word of God, I loved to be proved wrong, but all I see is very little from them, they are the authors of their own downfall. What you sow you reap ! When religion is removed from the primary schools curriculum, if priests don't start working there won't be a catholic church in 30 years. All I see from priest is All talk and absolutely no action, sermons are boring and little or no time spent on comprising them, who are they fooling, a few words jotted down on the back of a envelope and then they think they can inspire their flock, get real, wake up and start doing what the Lord ordained them to be doing, serve, serve serve. Noel

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BeHonest | Nov 21, 2011, 01:51 PM EST

Can Fr Kevin tell everyone what on earth is he going to do with €1.5 million euros. Why did he seek money ? Surely a vindication of his good name was all that was required. I go to church most days, and day by day I grow more disillusioned by the greed I see with Irish priests ! Why do they look for money of pensioners, when they are paid a handsome salary from the parish ?.. I think ally of priest should get out more and roll up their sleeves and start working for a change. In the Bible the Word of God, Jesus tells his disciples not to take an extra tunic or sandals. So where this greed with priests come from, why do they need mansions when the poor haven't roofs over their heads ? Can anyone explain and tell me what all these singing priest do with the massive royalties they get from their CD and TV performances. And why do they beg when they have loads of money, please tell me. Noel

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Tooreenagrena | Nov 21, 2011, 10:52 AM EST

Its justice that this priest has been found to be innocent and a reminder to journalists to be cautious in their approach and more professional in their research but they are only the messanger. The real culprit is the catholic hierarchy who created the conditions for this sort of persecution by their immoral cover up of the truth. Lets not forget that.

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JOHNTOBIN | Nov 21, 2011, 04:48 AM EST

I fully agree with the comments made by Toronthab regarding the Catholic Church.Look at the wonderful reception Pope Benedict is receiving in Africa.The people that are usually attacking the Catholic Church on this site are strangely silent.I wonder why?

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