HUNDREDS OF MASS-GOERS IN CO GALWAY GAVE A STANDING OVATION TO A PRIEST WHO RETURNED TO HIS PARISH YESTERDAY, AFTER BEING CLEARED OF ALLEGATIONS THAT HE FATHERED A CHILD IN KENYA 30 YEARS AGO.

ST CUAN’S CHURCH IN AHASCRAGH WAS DECORATED WITH FLAGS AND BUNTING, AS MORE THAN 600 PARISHIONERS PACKED INTO THE CHURCH TO WELCOME FR KEVIN REYNOLDS BACK TO THE PARISH.

FR REYNOLDS WAS REINSTATED TO HIS MINISTRY YESTERDAY AFTER STEPPING ASIDE FOLLOWING AN RTE 'PRIME TIME INVESTIGATES' PROGRAMME LAST MAY WHICH CLAIMED HE HAD RAPED A GIRL IN KENYA AND FATHERED HER CHILD IN 1982 WHILE MINISTERING THERE AS A MILL HILL MISSIONARY.

RTE LAST WEEK ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEFAMATION AND APOLOGISED, AFTER A PATERNITY TEST PROVED HE WAS NOT THE CHILD'S FATHER.

FR REYNOLDS HAS ISSUED LIBEL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE STATION.

THE AHASCRAGH CONGREGATION GAVE HIM A STANDING OVATION WHEN HE ENTERED THE CHURCH AND TWO FURTHER STANDING OVATIONS FOLLOWING ADDRESSES DURING 10AM MASS.

THE BISHOP OF ELPHIN, DR CHRISTOPHER JONES, SAID THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS DELIGHTED TO WELCOME FR REYNOLDS BACK.