JOHN Brown, the brother of Eurovision winner Dana, has been cleared of all counts of historical sex abuse.
The 60-year-old, from Bracknell, Berkshire, faced five counts of indecently assaulting two schoolgirls at various locations in England and the North of Ireland during the 1970s.
He denied all the charges and was cleared this afternoon at Harrow Crown Court in West London.
Earlier this morning the jury found him not guilty of two charges relating to the first complainant, a woman who alleged she was abused when she was under the age of 13.
They returned this afternoon to clear him of the remaining three charges, relating to a girl who alleged she was abused when she was under the age of 16.
During the case prosecution lawyers claimed that Mr Brown had conspired with his sister, Dana Rosemary Scallon, to cover up years of abuse. Ms Scallon, a London-born Irish MEP and two-time candidate in Ireland’s Presidential elections, was branded a liar who produced a “slick presentation” in court.
Reports said Ms Scallon closed her eyes and appeared to cry as the jury returned their final verdicts. They were then said to have hugged in the courtroom before being congratulated by other family members.
Reading a statement outside the court afterwards, Mr Brown said he had always been innocent and that the last three years, since the allegations were first made to British police in 2011.
He also pointed out that the jury had concluded that his sister did not lie in her testimony.
During the trial, the defence likened the case against Mr Brown to “an episode of Father Ted”.
Mr Brown’s lawyer, Martyn Bowyer, said the claims had been fabricated by the alleged victims and their families following bitter disputes over money and a shared business interest.
