Irish missionary priest wins massive libel damages

[BlueSapphire]

An Irish priest on the African missions has received almost $1.5million in a libel settlement from Irish national broadcaster RTE after it claimed he had raped a teenage girl and left her pregnant in Kenya in 1982.

Fr Kevin Reynolds, a priest with the Mill Hill Missionary Society, will receive the ‘significant’ sum in compensation and aggravated damages after the untrue claims were broadcast in the ‘Mission to Prey’ TV programme.

irishcentral.com/news/Irish-missionary-priest-wins-massive-libel-damages-134109323.html

 

[Anathama_Sit]

Greetings BlueSapphire,

This is indeed good news. Thank you for sharing this.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[TempleofTheSoul]

I’m very happy for Fr. Kevin that he won the settlement but sad too… because many people who watched the RTE program and are unaware of the lies told and the court case will still believe that he did these horrible things.

I will keep Fr. Kevin and RTE in my prayers…

God bless

 

[Spyral]

Typical anti-catholic RTE bandwagoning. I’m glad they got libelled. Also the title ‘Mission to Prey’ is epically lame!

 

[Nimzovik]

All too often such bogus claims of Rape and molestation go unchallenged because of the damage to one’s reputation. Is not another name for the evil one -‘the accuser?’

Of course all legitmate accusations need to be addressed. However one is innocent until proven guilty as opposed until accused.

 

[Hokomai]

I understand the Irish law on libel to be similar to the British, which I know a bit about (though I,m no expert). The onus of proof goes on the person making the statement to prove it on the balancce of probabilities. ‘Free speech’ does not have the same weight that it does in the US. This makes it harder for the publisher to defend than int he US. when I first glanced at this, I expected it to be a case where the publisher of the statement simply did not have enough evidence to defend it, leaving open the possibility that the statement was none-the-less true. Not so. Fr Kevin’s action in having a paternity test and his resolute denials backed up by credible statements by those who knew him at the time basically prove the falsity of the statement. Well done Fr Kevin, and shame on the journalists who failed in their job to report facts accurately, and to investigate fully. This should not discourage those who are victims from coming forward, and I hope it does not. The facts of this case should also not be imported into other cases. Each stands (or in this case falls) on its merits.

 

[jannes]

I hope the media who screamed so loudly at every accusaton and insinuaton against the clergy finds space to devote the same enthusiasm to the restoration of this missionary’s reputation.Somehow I don’t think so.I still wonder where were the lawyers for the clergy throughout this terrible ordeal.Yes we know many accusations were true but many were obviously bogus.Why wasn;t more defense put up , Sandusky’s lawyers have already come to the front on TV and other media defending him .Why were so many priests assumed guilty even after death when they couldn;t defend themselves ?.Now we’re hearing the lawyers are defrauding the accusers what goes round??

 

[Holly3278]

I am very happy for Fr. Kevin Reynolds. It is sickening the way a lot of the media is anti-Catholic.

 

[Santi2]

I am very happy for Fr. Kevin Reynolds. It is sickening the way a lot of the media is anti-Catholic.

Sadly, it is not just the media, Holly. Have you read of Archbishop Dolan’s airport encounter?

As I was waiting with the others for the electronic train to take me to the terminal, a man, maybe in his mid-forties, waiting as well, came closer to me.

“Are you a Catholic priest?” he kindly asked.

“Sure am. Nice to meet you,” says I, as I offered my hand.

He ignored it. “I was raised a Catholic,” he replied, almost always a hint of a cut to come, but I was not prepared for the razor sharpness of the stiletto, as he went on, “and now, as a father of two boys, I can’t look at you or any other priest without thinking of a sexual abuser.”

…

catholicnewsagency.com/column.php?n=1524

I am happy for Fr Kevin and wish that other priests, who find themselves in similar situations, are able to do file counter lawsuits.

 

[Hokomai]

Archbishop Dolan can write!

 

[centurionguard]

All too often such bogus claims of Rape and molestation go unchallenged because of the damage to one’s reputation. Is not another name for the evil one -‘the accuser?’

Of course all legitmate accusations need to be addressed. However one is innocent until proven guilty as opposed until accused.

I’m all happy with all sincerity for this priest.

However; in speaking unrelated to priest sexual scandals within the Church which only God alone knows the actual number.

Your claim

**All too often such bogus claims of Rape and molestation go unchallenged because of the damage to one’s reputation. Is not another name for the evil one -‘the accuser?’ **

takes the huge number of confirmed Rape Statistics at the other far end of the table as if to say…and I here this so many damned times (“It’s ((“always”)) the person who is Raped who’s at fault”) ** The reason so many who are Raped don’t go to court is #1. the Justice system itself is grossly flawed. #2. It only adds more greater traumatic suffering for the Rape Victim.**

The majority of Rape, Incest, and Child Abuse Victims in this confounded world live in Silence. A Silent Hell.

 

[Nimzovik]

**CenturionGuard: **Much concurrence with your sentiments. The problem with the Law and popular opinion is that it paints with a very wide brush.

Yes it is a shame that that much rape and molestation goes on unreported. Perhaps the biggest offender that facilitates this mechanism IMHO, is Planned Parenthood.

I also note that it is about time the* female* molestor gets her due recognition. I would think that this is far more prevalent in terms of under-reporting than one can imagine.

 

[centurionguard]

**Centurion Guard: **Much concurrence with your sentiments. The problem with the Law and popular opinion is that it paints with a very wide brush.

Yes it is a shame that that much rape and molestation goes on unreported. Perhaps the biggest offender that facilitates this mechanism IMHO, is Planned Parenthood.

I also note that it is about time the* female* molester gets her due recognition. I would think that this is far more prevalent in terms of under-reporting than one can imagine.

Yes it is a shame that that much rape and molestation goes on unreported. Perhaps the biggest offender that facilitates this mechanism IMHO, is Planned Parenthood.

I agree with you 2000% on that note. Planned Parenthood is one of Satan’s organizations.

I also note that it is about time the* female* molester gets her due recognition. I would think that this is far more prevalent in terms of under-reporting than one can imagine.

Being a Victim of Gang Rape and Torture at Gunpoint I’m all too aware that Women are capable of being rape assailants too. And yes there are some women who do molest children, although its very rarely reported because society has stereotyped that men are the only ones who rape due to the actual fact that men are the greatest gender who rape women. men and children. It’s a ugly despicable world we live in.

 

[Santi2]

I do not know how I would have reacted under same circumstances, Jharek. I can only pray and hope that I can be as calm and humble as Archbishop Dolan. Sometimes one struggles with the desire to employ face-to-my-handbag

 

[OriginalJS]

I understand the Irish law on libel to be similar to the British, which I know a bit about (though I,m no expert). The onus of proof goes on the person making the statement to prove it on the balancce of probabilities. ‘Free speech’ does not have the same weight that it does in the US. This makes it harder for the publisher to defend than int he US. when I first glanced at this, I expected it to be a case where the publisher of the statement simply did not have enough evidence to defend it, leaving open the possibility that the statement was none-the-less true. Not so. Fr Kevin’s action in having a paternity test and his resolute denials backed up by credible statements by those who knew him at the time basically prove the falsity of the statement. Well done Fr Kevin, and shame on the journalists who failed in their job to report facts accurately, and to investigate fully. This should not discourage those who are victims from coming forward, and I hope it does not. The facts of this case should also not be imported into other cases. Each stands (or in this case falls) on its merits.

I believe this to be accurate. Stated more briefly, in the UK the defendant in a libel suit has to prove that everything he published was true . In the US a plaintiff has to prove what the defendant said was false. In court this difference is huge. It is much more difficult for a plaintiff to win in the US than in the UK. I know from experience that lawyers are often hesitant to take on libel cases in the US and advise clients to just let the matter die down.