Dana Rosemary Scallon told a court yesterday she knew her brother would be “guilty until proven innocent” in some people’s minds following allegations of sexual abuse.
The former Eurovision winner said she felt “it would have been better to be charged with murder” when the claims about her brother, John Brown, surfaced during her 2011 Irish presidential election campaign.
Brown faces five counts of indecent assault against two girls under the ages of 13 and 16 in the 1970s. He denies all the charges.
In the third week of the trial, the jury heard evidence from defence witnesses Dana, her husband Damien Scallon, brother Gerald Brown and the defendant’s wife Patricia Brown.
Describing the moment she heard the claims for the first time in 2008, Dana said: “I was completely shocked. Everyone in that situation is guilty until proven innocent in many people’s minds. Anyone in this court could get accused and they would be guilty until proven innocent.
“I knew there were allegations out there and it was to attack me, not John. If it had been true they would’ve taken action in 2008, so when it was put to me I was truly shocked.”
The defendant’s wife, Patricia Brown, told the court her husband “would not be living under the same roof” as her and their children if any of the claims were true.
Former singer and Ulster-Connaught MEP, Dana consistently denied covering up the abuse allegations for more than 30 years during four hours of giving evidence in the witness box at Harrow Crown Court yesterday.
Claire Howell, prosecuting, said: “The suggestion that any public figure had covered up sex abuse is a devastating accusation.”
Dana replied: “I was told it would be better to be charged with murder, especially during an election campaign.”
Long time ago
Ms Howell then put it to Dana: “The fact is Mrs Scallon, you and (the alleged victim’s mother) learned about these allegations a long time ago and you decided to keep things quiet, didn’t you?”
“I absolutely, did not,” she replied.
The All Kinds of Everything singer told the jury of six men and six women that the first alleged victim had never been to visit her at her home in Wembley, London, where one assault is alleged to have taken place.
She also denied that the girl, now 47, had ever stayed with her during her coastal summer seasons in the 1970s when, it is claimed, she was touched inappropriately by Mr Brown.
Asked by Ms Howell if she may have just forgotten, Dana said: “No, I only did three summer seasons.
“I’m not searching among 12 or something. I remember those summer seasons and she wasn’t there. I knew who was coming into my home.”
The first alleged victim is suing Dana for defamation in Ireland following a television interview in which she said the claims were lies. The action started after she refused to apologise for the statement.
Ms Howell asked: “And when you spoke on television, what sparked the defamation action was a request for an apology, wasn’t it?”
Dana replied: “How can I apologise for something that didn’t happen?”
Dana’s husband Damien, who was next to take the stand, then denied ever being told about the abuse by his wife until the 2008 court case. He also insisted the first time he met the first alleged victim was in 1978.
‘Not at scene of abuse’
The court then heard testimony from the defendant’s brother, Gerald Brown, who insisted he had never heard of allegations against his brother before they appeared in the press in 2011.
He also denied an earlier claim he was in the room when his brother allegedly abused the second alleged victim.
Mr Brown’s wife, Patricia, then took the stand as the final defence witness in the trial.
She said: “If I thought he was guilty of these things he would not be living under the same roof as me and my children.
“Our children are in their 20s and they choose to still live at home.”
The trial continues.