‘There is more to George Hook than one comment..’ Broadcaster says he’s moved on after suspension over ‘rape’ controversy
GEORGE Hook has admitted he “had no difficulty parking” the uproar over his rape comments after he apologised.
The 76-year-old broadcaster was suspended from Newstalk for three months after he suggested on air that a sexual assault victim had to bear some responsibility for her attack.
The outspoken radio star was subsequently dropped from his High Noon slot and replaced by Dr Ciara Kelly.
George, who now presents a Saturday morning show on the station, said he “doesn’t look back” on the controversy.
The Cork man said: “It was live radio, I made a mistake, I’ve apologised, and I will again if you want me to. But what am I going to do now?
“Do I not go to the golf club and play a round of golf ? Do I not go to Supervalu to do the shopping? Does my whole life stop? No, my life goes on.
“I paid a fairly high price. I just think, it’s done. For me there’s more to George Hook than one comment in September.”
Speaking in the new edition of VIP Magazine, George revealed the scandal brought him and his wife Ingrid closer together.
He said: “She was a rock throughout. And after almost 50 years of marriage this has in fact brought us together.
“I only look at the positives and that
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was one big positive. I’ll always remember at the height of the thing, my solicitor advised me to get out of town.
“So I said, OK, and I said it to Ingrid. She, however, said, ‘I’m not going to be forced out of my house, I’ll tell you what, let’s go to Supervalu and buy double rations for the siege’.
“So we came back from the supermarket armed to the teeth and all the paparazzi were surrounding the house, banging on my window and knocking on my door.”
George said he thinks there are lots of people in Ireland who share his views, including being against the repeal of the Eighth Amendment.
He added: “The world is now a more liberal place and if you don’t agree with the mainstream, you’re dead meat.
“But I believe there are plenty of people in Ireland like me, which is why the first ever ‘conservative’ radio show in Ireland is going to be on Newstalk every Saturday 8am to 10am.
“I believe there’s a tonne of people who believe in God. As I do. I think there’s a tonne of people who are against Repeal the Eighth.
“And we are going to discover – I think, at worst – that the Repeal vote is going to be close. Or at best, that it might be defeated. There is no certainty it is going to be won because roughly half the population are against it.”
Do I not go to the golf club? Do I not go to do the shopping? GEORGE HOOK
VIP