FURTHER PERSONNEL changes within RTÉ news and current affairs are expected within weeks as the fallout from the Fr Kevin Reynolds libel affair continues.
The retirement yesterday of head of news and current affairs Ed Mulhall and the resignation of current affairs editor Ken O’Shea marks an “interim but significant stage” of personnel reorganisation within the State broadcaster, a senior source indicated last night.
A report to be published shortly by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is expected to find that the Prime Time Investigates: Mission to Prey programme, which libelled Fr Reynolds last year, was unfair and breached his privacy. The authority can impose a penalty of up to €250,000.
RTÉ, which didn’t defend the programme on either of these grounds, yesterday announced the setting up of an external investigation board, chaired by former Northern Ireland ombudsman Maurice Hayes, to make recommendations about RTÉ personnel involved in the programme.
The three-member board will make recommendations concerning both Mr Mulhall and Mr O’Shea, as well as Aoife Kavanagh, the reporter involved in the story, and the executive producer Brian Páircéir. Mr Mulhall has retired on a voluntary severance package currently available to RTÉ staff, while Mr O’Shea has been assigned a role in lifestyle and entertainment programmes at RTÉ 2.
RTÉ is aware of the main findings in the BAI report but has yet to receive the full document and notice of the proposed fine. Under broadcasting legislation, it could appeal an adverse finding to the High Court. A spokesman yesterday refused to rule out this course of action.
News of the personnel changes, along with new journalism guidelines and the creation of an editorial standards board, was delivered to staff in a message from director general Noel Curran.
The changes were prompted not only by the controversy over Mission to Prey, but also by criticism of RTÉ’s handling of last year’s Frontline debate between the presidential candidates. A complaint by one candidate, Seán Gallagher, about his treatment on the show was upheld by the BAI last month.
The Prime Time Investigates strand of programmes is to be scrapped. A new current affairs investigation unit will be set up supplying television, radio and online channels.
Five new posts will be created including a new managing director of RTÉ news and current affairs and a new Prime Time editor. These posts will be advertised externally.
All RTÉ editorial staff will be issued with and trained in new journalism guidelines.
These impose stringent new requirements on programme-makers, including a ban on surprise “doorsteps” of people and the need for clearance of investigative programmes by an editorial board seven days before broadcast.
Mr Curran acknowledged that mistakes can happen in broadcasting and journalism “no matter what changes are made”. However, the mistakes made in the Mission to Prey programme were “very serious editorial failures”.
Mr Curran said it would be “incredibly naive” to suggest yesterday’s announcement would gazump the BAI’s findings and “it is now all over and done with for RTÉ.
“None of this is aimed at avoiding the inevitable response that will come from that [report],” he said.
In the Mission to Prey programme, Fr Reynolds was falsely accused of raping a minor while working as a missionary priest in Kenya, and fathering a child by her. RTÉ was forced to apologise and pay a substantial out-of-court settlement to Fr Reynolds who is the parish priest of Ahascragh, Co Galway.
Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte said he would “hold his peace” until he has seen the findings and recommendations of the BAI. He described the changes as a radical revamp and said they were designed to reinstate trust in the broadcaster.
