DANA’S BROTHER SUES BRITISH POLICE FOR £5M
THE brother of Eurovision winner Dana is suing Scotland Yard and prosecutors for up to £5million (€5.8million) in damages in a landmark case after he was cleared of historical sex offences.
John Brown, 67, has initiated proceedings at the High Court in London for alleged malicious prosecution and misfeasance in a public office.
The married father-of-three says he was dragged into police attempts to secure ‘celebrity’ prosecutions in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal owing to his famous sister.
The singer, now 69, achieved worldwide fame when she won the contest in 1970 for Ireland with All Kinds of Everything.
Legal papers claim police ‘deliberately chose not to pursue’ basic lines of inquiry that would have undermined their case against Mr Brown.
It is thought to be the first time that a defendant acquitted in a historical sex abuse trial has attempted to sue for malicious prosecution.
Mr Brown and his sister – full name Dana Rosemary Scallon – have received messages of support from Cliff Richard and DJ Paul Gambaccini, who were falsely accused of historical sex offences.
Prosecutors had claimed Dana covered up claims of sexual assault against her brother for more than 30 years.
But in 2014, he was acquitted of five counts of indecent assault
‘Dragged into Jimmy Savile net’
against two women who claimed they were abused when under the ages of 13 and 16 in London, Essex and Northern Ireland in the 1970s.
The civil claim accuses officers of failing to analyse passports showing the first complainant was not in the country at the time of alleged offences. The woman, now in her 50s, also said she was abused at a house in north-west London owned by Dana before it had been bought by the star.
The second complainant said she had been abused at a property in Derry which had not been built at the relevant time.
Police originally investigated seven prosecution witnesses from Mr Brown’s trial for perjury and perverting justice following an original complaint.
After an inquiry lasting 17 months, prosecutors told Mr Brown in 2019 that there was insufficient evidence.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick was served with his new civil action in July. It alleges officers were abiding by a policy that ‘victims were to be believed’ following the high-profile failure to bring Savile to justice during his lifetime. Mr Brown said he was ‘dragged into the Savile net’, noting his 2014 trial began shortly after those of celebrity agent Max Clifford, entertainer Rolf Harris and presenter Stuart Hall.
The complaint to the police says: ‘The prosecution of Mr Brown was pursued without reasonable or probable cause and with malice. It also seems the officers were under pressure from superiors to achieve a “positive result”.’ Mr Brown said his claim has been bolstered after seeing how the Met hounded innocent men, including politician Harvey Proctor in the botched Operation Midland VIP paedophile probe.
Abuse claims became public knowledge in 2011 when Dana, who also served as an MEP, was campaigning to become President of Ireland.
Mr Brown said: ‘I am a member of the public. I just happen to have a celebrity sister, but they took me into the Savile net. What they did to Cliff, Harvey Proctor… it’s unforgivable. My case was different as I ended up in court.’
Mr Brown said since his acquittal he has suffered from PTSD and has already paid more than £200,000 in legal fees attempting to clear his name.
Breaking down in tears, Dana said: ‘This has affected our family, our health. Despite being found not guilty, the doubts persist.
‘It’s very hard for John to do what he is doing, emotionally and financially.’
A Met spokesman confirmed a civil claim ‘has been received and is being considered’ but declined to comment further. A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: ‘We are unable to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.’