Sir Sean Connery reacts to claims he endorsed violence against women

Sean Connery has reacted angrily to claims he endorsed violence against women, insisting that no level of abuse could ever be justified - reports the Scotsman.

The former James Bond actor sparked a row with officials at Holyrood last week by pulling out of an appearance at the Festival of Politics in Edinburgh.

Sir Sean was furious with George Reid, the Presiding Officer, for announcing that he would ask the actor about his views on slapping women. The SNP supporter telephoned Mr Reid and told him he would play no part in the festival.

Now Sir Sean has told friends he would never justify violence against women and was worried the Festival of Politics would be dominated by his views.

The controversy over Sir Sean's approach to hitting women goes back to 1965 when he was quoted in Playboy magazine as saying: "You can do a woman a lot more harm by moral torture than with a slap."

Yesterday, a source close to Sir Sean said the actor had been "hurt and annoyed" his alleged comments from the past had been dragged up.

The source said Sir Sean had told friends: "I don't believe that any level of abuse against women is ever justified under any circumstances."

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