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Robin Brooke.
Former All Black lock Robin Brooke has publicly
apologised to a teenage girl for groping her at a Fijian resort
in the early hours on New Year's Day.
Brooke read a prepared statement of apology on TVNZ's Close
Up tonight after agreeing to at a meeting with the
15-year-old and her family last week.
"I have at that meeting apologised personally to her and her
family and this apology has been accepted." As a result of
the meeting, Brooke agreed to certain conditions.
"The conditions are to make a public apology, a donation of
$3000 is to be made to a charity of her choice, I'll undergo
(alcohol) counselling, I'll reimburse her airfare, I'll pay
her family's legal fees.
"I now wish to apologise publicly to her and her family for
my behaviour in Fiji that night. It was unacceptable and in
no way provoked by her or any other person."
The 15-year-old Auckland girl said Brooke had twice grabbed
her backside while she was pool-side at a resort at Denarau,
Fiji, on New Year's Eve.
The girl's 17-year-old Australian friend, Jordan Whittaker,
said when he tried to intervene he was grabbed around the
throat by Brooke and threatened. Brooke said he hoped their
meeting would bring closure to the girl and her family.
He did not mention an apology to the girl's friend, but said
he accepted the girl's version of events.
He said he had no memory of the incident.
"It was 3 o'clock in the morning on New Year's Eve. I had had
too much to drink."
It was not until five days after the incident Brooke was told
by a security guard about what he had done.
"Within 20 minutes of finding out I was on the phone to the
Whittakers, I set up a meeting with them. I rang the guardian
of the young lady concerned."
He said he understood the angry reaction of the girl's
parents because he had two daughters of his own.
Before the incident Brooke said he did not think he had a
problem with alcohol, but counselling would help him find out
if he did.
"I welcome that opportunity to find out." Brooke's family and
wife were disappointed with his actions, he said.
He denied that just because he was an All Black he could do
whatever he wanted.
"In this country All Blacks are put up on a pedestal, rightly
or wrongly, but it still doesn't excuse your actions on and
off the field and on this instance and on this occasion, I've
let myself down."
The teenage girl's family had also prepared a statement
confirming the meeting, apology and agreement.
They said no money was sought other than the donation to the
charity and reimbursement of expenses.
Their lawyer, Peter Tomlinson, said the teenager hoped other
people who were the subject of inappropriate behaviour were
encouraged to speak out.
