Owen Glenn denies abuse claim

Owen Glenn. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Millionaire philanthropist Sir Owen Glenn, whose inquiry into domestic violence and child abuse has been shaken by resignations, has denied a decade-old allegation of abuse.

Fairfax Media today reported Sir Owen entered a plea of no contest after he was charged with abusing a young woman in Hawaii in September 2002.

The no contest plea means he neither admitted nor denied the charge, which was brought before before the courts in 2003 and dismissed the following year.

Court documents, seen by Fairfax Media, show Sir Owen was arrested at Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel early on September 10, 2002, and charged with "abuse of family or household members".

The documents reportedly show he was accused of intentional, knowing or reckless physical abuse of the woman, whom Fairfax did not name in its report.

In a statement to Fairfax, Sir Owen denied the allegation. He said he regretted not taking the matter to court, but had decided after two years of dispute to resolve the case to avoid further "horrendous court costs" and to bring the matter to an end.

"It saddens me that yet again it appears the New Zealand media is delving into my personal life to fill their pages while New Zealand is ranked the third highest country in the world for rape and this issue goes virtually unreported."

The court documents reportedly show the charge was dismissed in August 2004 following a six-month period of probation.

Sir Owen has since signed two declarations that he has no history of violence towards women or children - one for the Glenn Inquiry, which has been shaken by resignations, and one for the White Ribbon anti-violence campaign, for which he has applied to become an ambassador.

The founding director of the $2 million Glenn Inquiry, Ruth Herbert, resigned in May, which was followed by a number of other resignations.

The inquiry board's chairman, Bill Wilson QC, told Radio New Zealand he had been informed about what had happened in Hawaii.

He said he was confident there was nothing to the abuse allegations and it was not surprising the charge was was dismissed.

Mr Wilson said the inquiry members were confident Sir Owen's declaration was accurate.

White Ribbon campaign manager Rob McCann initially told Fairfax Media it had not been aware of the charge, but said today said it was aware of the charge and would consider it in Sir Owen's application to become an ambassador.