In a wide-ranging conversation, Samantha gives her perspective on the #MeToo movement. And she also speaks on a host of trending subjects relating to Ireland.
• Samantha believes Sharon Ni Bheolain should’ve quit RTE after discovering that she earned less than her co-anchor Bryan Dobson.
• She also expresses her outrage at George Hook’s controversial rape comments, says she’s dismayed that presenter Dil Wickremasinghe lost her job at the station – and predicts that Newstalk will be hit with further controversies within the next year.
Samantha also states her support for repealing the 8thAmendment – and reveals for the first time that she would have had an abortion if the rape had resulted in pregnancy. She also states that the traumatic court case (dubbed at the time as the trial of the century) was a worse experience than the actual rape itself.
In an interview conducted by Hot Press Senior Editor Jason O’Toole, that will surely have everybody talking – Samantha also says that she forgives Roman Polanski; that it’s pointless to strip disgraced Hollywood stars of their Oscars; and, in a comment that may surprise many, defends Woody Allen by pointing out that he hasn’t be charged with any wrongdoings…
On the George Hook controversy, Samantha says, “The person who rapes somebody is the only person responsible for it – that’s it. Not you. Not the person who didn’t tell on him. Not his mother. Not circumstances. If you rape somebody you did it – no one else. The blame’s on you – period. You can’t say stuff like that. You’ve got to know better.”
She adds, “If he worked for me, he’d be taking a long break because that’s stupid. If you work for me and you’re going to be that stupid then, no, you need a break. And you’ve offended people and maybe they don’t even want you back – so think before you speak.”
On Dil Wickremasinghe losing her job at Newstalk, Samantha says, “It’s bullshit. You can’t protect one person and get rid of her. This is not like 1960. I would predict that within the next year there’s going to be more trouble at that station because things there aren’t being handled correctly.”
On Sharon Ní Bheoláin earning less than her co-anchor Bryan Dobson when they read the news together on RTE, Samantha says, “I hope she quit, or asked for a raise, or threw a fit. But the thing is: the people who are employing you, they’ve known that all along.”
On disgraced journalist’s Tom Humphries jail sentence, Samantha says, “Maybe it’s not enough. It probably wouldn’t have seemed short to me in 1977, but it seems short now. I think people expect more. (Certainly) people who are dangerous need to be put behind bars."
On Rape & 8th Amendment, Samantha says, “There’s no way I was having a baby at 14. No. Not his. It’s 1977. It was your legal right that you could go to your doctor.”
And Samantha adds, “But keep fighting the good fight. Imagine living in America right now? Oh my God! I’m sure you guys will get those laws changed the way you want them. And I’m sure America will eventually sort itself back right.”

On the #MeToo movement, Samantha says, “In the ways that it’s positive, I’m 100 percent in. It was like, ‘Yeah! Let’s show how many people this affects’. And then I was like, ‘Wait! Are we just taking down celebrities here? What about all the people who have problems in their lives that don’t have politicians or celebrities involved?’ I don’t like seeing that it’s gone that way. It was well intended. I’m a little worried that it’s going in directions that are not helpful.”

There is so much more, in what is a truly remarkable and hugely powerful and thought-provoking Hot Press interview.