I could have handled it better, says Benson-Pope

David Benson-Pope

Finally, six days after the "shower girls" allegations surfaced, David Benson-Pope has relented and fronted up to provide some answers to the many questions hurled in his direction this week.

The strain of the last few days was clearly apparent on Mr Benson-Pope - at times during the Herald's 40-minute interview he seemed close to tears.

The Social Development Minister spent much of the interview fondly describing his teaching career.

"In the classroom I was really very unorthodox, never inappropriate, but very funny. I didn't just have a pointer with a tennis ball on it, I had a wee hammer, which had a concertina squeak. I used water pistols, rock music. I used an academic gown for effect. I entertained kids and, goodness me, they learned mountains."

Mr Benson-Pope also spoke of the effect the "hurtful" allegations had on his twin 15-year-olds - who attend Bayfield High School - and his wife, Jan Flood.

He said he regretted putting his colleagues through the saga and admitted that at times he could have handled it better.

But the overwhelming question at the end of the interview was why Mr Benson-Pope had not fronted on the issue at the beginning of the week and, arguably, saved his party, his leader and his family so much trouble.

Charge: Four women - Rachel Davie, Jennifer Ottley, Jo Woods and Geana Earl - say Mr Benson-Pope entered the girls' dormitory without knocking early in the morning when the girls were getting dressed.

Reply: I never said I didn't go into the dorms.

(He said he did it only when appropriate and always gave a warning).

Charge: When told the women say he entered when they were undressed and that he did not knock:

Reply: Well, that's not true. I would never deliberately put myself in a circumstance where I put myself at risk like that.

Charge: Mrs Ottley and Ms Davie say Mr Benson-Pope entered the girls' bathroom while they were showering and yelled at them to get out. Both women acknowledge he could not see them.

Reply: It is clear that there was no claim I went into the showers. But if I made them feel uncomfortable, I'm sorry, that wasn't what I intended. But it [is] perfectly normal for you to bang on the wall and say get out of there.

Charge: That he entered the girls' dormitory again in 1998 while girls were undressed. This was the year after the school policy changed.

Reply: I may have done in the normal course of procedures. The changed policy didn't prohibit or forbid males going into the dorms. But you would never do it without warning. A bang on a door, can I come in, or an appropriate warning.

Charge: That he slapped Geana Earl on the thigh and called her a failure during an abseiling incident.

Reply: Of course I touched her. I would have had my feet on hers trying to get her, stop her moving the wrong one at the wrong time. But slap her I didn't. And more important Jill Armstrong, who was there, confirmed that.

Charge: That he misled Parliament when he said in May last year that he was not aware of any complaints of any kind.

Reply: If I had been really sensible a year ago, I would not have added: "I'm not aware of any complaint of any kind". I made a mistake. I've acknowledged it, and the Prime Minister has rebuked me for it.

Charge: That he misled the public when he said the allegations were a "nonsense" even though a complaint was made to the school at the time.

Reply: That was in reference to the stuff that Wishart [Ian Wishart editor of Investigate Magazine] posted, which I still say was outrageous. He was making accusations to me that were deeply offensive as a long-term professional. I taught for 24 years and I am really proud of my teaching history.

I felt really constrained through all of this, because I have deliberately not attacked anyone, or I have tried not to. I deliberately tried to be a professional and not put people down and not make those attacks.