Court clears Dana's brother of all counts of historic sex abuse
John Brown, Dana's brother, has been cleared at Harrow Crown Court of five counts of historic sex abuse.
Brown, 60, was cleared of indecent assault against two girls under the age of 13 and 16 at several locations in Northern Ireland and England during the 1970s.
A jury of six men and six women found him not guilty of two charges relating to the first complainant earlier today and later acquitted him of the three remaining counts relating to the second this afternoon after a total of 11 hours and 54 minutes deliberation.
Brown, of Bracknell, Berkshire, had denied all of the claims or that his 62-year-old sister helped him to cover up the allegations.
Wearing a grey suit and white shirt, he stayed calm as he was acquitted at Harrow Crown Court in north west London.
Ms Scallon, who was in court to hear the verdicts, closed her eyes and appeared to cry as the jury foreman returned the verdicts.
The pair hugged in court and were congratulated by other members of their family before leaving the courtroom.
Speaking outside court, Brown said that he was planning to spend time with his wife and children following the acquittal.
“I’m just delighted it’s over, it’s been a nightmare for my family for the past three years,” he said.
“It’s been horrendous but I can pick up and move on now.
“I went in innocent and I leave innocent and the jury made it clear with their verdicts that there was no cover up and that my sister and I did not lie. I leave without a stain.
“It has been a horrendous time but I have been supported by my family, wife and children.
“We all suffered and we all went through a dark period.
“It was their support and especially my sister, her family and my friends who helped me with their prayers.”
Asked about how his sister had been portrayed by the prosecution, Brown said: “When this came out in 2011, it was to derail her presidential campaign, that was the purpose.
“She was accused of a cover up and accused of lying – that both of us lied and covered up – but the jury has found out that was not the case, that we told the truth. We didn’t have anything to cover up.”
