Woman who accused Justin Trudeau of groping her breaks silence

The woman who claimed Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister, groped her 18 years ago has come forward to defend the allegations.

Former journalist Rose Knight broke her silence to stand by her claims after Mr Trudeau said he did not recall any "negative interactions" when the story resurfaced last week.

Mr Trudeau, an avowed feminist, was asked to comment on a report that he had groped a journalist during a music festival in Creston, British Columbia in 2000.

"I issue this statement reluctantly, in response to mounting media pressure to confirm that I was the reporter who was the subject of the Open Eyes editorial, published in the Creston Valley Advance in August of 2000," Ms Knight said in a statement to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

"The incident referred to in the editorial did occur, as reported. Mr Trudeau did apologise the next day. I did not pursue the incident at the time and will not be pursuing the incident further. I have had no subsequent contact with Mr Trudeau, before or after he became prime minister".

In the original report Mr Trudeau, who was 28 at the time, was also quoted as saying "I would never have been so forward" had he known she was a reporter.

Speaking to reporters in the central city of Regina last week, Mr Trudeau denied acting inappropriately.  "I remember that day in Creston well, it was an Avalanche Foundation event to support avalanche safety," he said.

"I had a good day that day," he added. "I don't remember any negative interactions that day at all."

Mr Trudeau became involved with the charity after his younger brother Michel died during an avalanche in 1998.

The Prime Minister refused to say whether he intended to open an investigation into the issue, given his party's zero tolerance policy on sexual assault.

But he added: "I respect the fact that someone else might have experienced that differently".

Mr Trudeau also stressed that "it's not just one side that matters" in such cases and that society should reflect on this issue.

"Often a man experiences an interaction as being benign or not inappropriate and a woman, particularly in a professional context, can experience it differently. We have to respect that," he said.