Devlin: 'It was stupid and I apologise'

Radio announcer and TV presenter Martin Devlin. File photo / Dean Purcell

Sports broadcaster Martin Devlin, the 'celebrity' charged with disorderly behaviour after an incident in central Auckland in December, has apologised after his name suppression was lifted this morning.

Devlin, 46, was arrested on the morning of December 29 after sitting on the bonnet of his and his wife's car on Quay Street.

The incident was witnessed by a police officer in the vicinity and Mr Devlin was charged.

"I have no problem in admitting that I behaved like a right plum that morning on Quay Street," said Devlin in a statement today.

Devlin said he, his wife, TVNZ spokeswoman Andi Brotherston, and their two young sons missed a ferry sailing because he was watching a football game.

"As a result, the atmosphere was a little frosty and my wife dropped me at the terminal and drove away without realising my bag and wallet were in the boot.

"I walked across Quay Street into a lane of traffic to stop the car and get my bag.

"Once stationary, for some inexplicable reason I sat on the car's bonnet.

"It was stupid and I apologise."

He denied media reports he and Brotherston had been arguing.

"In an unconfirmed and unattributed report by the NZ Herald and herald.co.nz (sic) last week, the newspaper claimed that my wife and I were having a "rowdy tiff" on Quay Street. In yesterday's Herald on Sunday in another unofficial report, the newspaper claimed we were having a "blazing row". Those reports were incorrect. In fact, we weren't actually talking to each other," said the statement.

Devlin was to have appeared in court on January 20 on a charge of disorderly behaviour.

But his lawyer had the case called a day early after Devlin was accepted into the police diversion scheme.

Because he was granted diversion, Devlin's case was excused.

It had been expected Devlin would retain name suppression until at least February 7, when arguments for and against keeping his identity a secret were to be presented to the court.

However, name suppression was lifted at a hearing at Auckland District Court this morning.

His lawyer Jenni Smith represented him in court. She stood and asked that the name suppression for her client be lifted.

Devlin issued a statement for release after the hearing, apologising and expressing his hope that interest in the case would wane now that he has been named.

"I sought name suppression in an effort to try and protect my children from being identified and embarrassed by my behaviour.

"Obviously the only effective way to prevent that was not to do it in the first place."

Read Devlin's statement in full here.