An Ahascragh priest is set to bring a defamation case against state broadcaster RTÉ in the High Court next month.
The action comes after an apology issued last week by RTÉ to Father Kevin Reynolds for defaming him in a Prime Time Investigates programme on May 23. The programme accused Fr Reynolds of raping a woman and fathering her child while working as a missionary in Kenya in the 1980s.
In its apology, RTÉ said that Fr Reynolds was completely innocent of the allegations.
After the allegations were made, Fr Reynolds was forced to step aside as parish priest of Ahascragh while an investigation took place.
Fr Reynolds, who from the beginning continually denied the allegations, received a standing ovation when he was reinstated last Sunday.
The defamation case has been listed for hearing in the High Court on November 15 next.