Dana sobs with relief af ter libel victory over false abuse claim
She wins six-figure sum over ‘cover-up’ report
DANA Rosemary Scallon wept outside court yesterday after she was awarded a ‘substantial’ six-figure sum in damages against a newspaper who she said falsely claimed she was complicit in a cover-up of child abuse.
Following her settlement of the libel action, the Eurovision winner and former politician trembled with tears in her eyes as she opened up about the damage the article had done to her.
She told RTÉ News the libel was a direct and brutal attack on all she believes and values and on her good name and integrity.
As well as receiving the massive sum, an apology was also read out at the High Court in Belfast on behalf of the Sunday World over false claims connected to her brother John Brown.
In 2014 Mr Brown was unanimously acquitted of historic child sex abuse charges.
Ms Scallon, 67, sued after an online report by the newspaper wrongly alleged she had given evidence at her brother’s trial about steps taken in relation to him. Those claims were completely without any foundation.
Outside court, Ms Scallon, a former Independent Presidential candidate, said she brought the lawsuit because the article falsely stated that she had covered up child abuse.
‘The story was a direct and brutal attack on all that I believe and value, and on my good name, my integrity, my character and my public and private life,’ she said. ‘This false reporting told readers that I had lived a lie.
‘After 50 years in showbusiness, in business and in politics I have never taken redress in a court, I’ve never gone to a court.
‘I felt that I had to in this case because what happened to me could happen to anybody.
‘You spend basically your lifetime trying to build your good name, your reputation, your integrity and because of a lie or a false story or a false headline as happened in this case, where it was also on Facebook, that is all really destroyed.
‘I know this could happen to anyone and I feel that there comes a time when you have to take a stand and ensure that it’s redressed and that the truth is put out there so that’s why I felt I really was forced to come here today.’
She said the ‘most hurtful part was the ‘false headline and story that I had covered up child abuse and therefore that I had previously lied’. She added: ‘It has been a really difficult time and really difficult for our children. Very difficult because it robs you of a sense of confidence it made me afraid because I would always assume that some people would believe it.’
She added that her stance echoed that taken by ‘Cliff Richard, Louis Walsh and others’ who had taken successful libel actions.
When asked if the controversy was the reason for her absence from the public arena in recent years, Ms Scallon broke down.
A jury was set to be sworn in for a defamation trial expected to last for up to three days.
But instead, following discussions, Judge Paul Maguire yesterday was told the two sides had reached a resolution.
As part of the settlement, counsel for the newspaper read out a statement confirming an undisclosed payout is to be made to the singer. Counsel Brett Lockhart said: ‘In a sundayworld.com website publication of July 10, 2014, and on our Facebook pages, false allegations were made and published in respect of Dana Rosemary Scallon.
‘These groundless allegations defamed Dana Rosemary Scallon and reflected very badly on her character, good name and reputation.’
Mr Lockhart continued: ‘We unreservedly withdraw these allegations and have agreed to pay to Dana Rosemary Scallon a six-figure sum in damages and her legal costs. We wish to apologise sincerely to Dana Rosemary Scallon for the distress and harm caused to her family.’
Ms Scallon first achieved fame after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970 with All Kinds Of Everything. The Derry singer then went into politics in 1997 and served as an MEP for Connacht-Ulster.
Stance echoes ‘Cliff, Louis and others’