Justice O Moore stated the proceedings “weighed heavily” on Dana.

Today the High Court in Dublin has granted applications by Dana to strike out 10-year-old defamation actions issued against her. Mr Justice Brian O Moore acceded to motions applications made by Counsel Mr Eamonn Dornan BL to strike out the defamation proceedings issued against Dana. 

Susan Stein and Susan Gorrell, both relatives of Dana, issued proceedings against her arising out of a statement made when she was a candidate for election to the office of President of Ireland during an interview with TV3 on 14^TH October 2011. The TV3 interview related to her assertions that false allegations of a sexual nature had been made against her brother John Brown.

Dana asserted the allegations were made as part of a campaign of threats, bullying, lies and deception by the Plaintiff’s in order to attempt to destroy her good character and integrity. 

Our client strenuously denied the claim and later issued a formal request seeking security for costs against the two named Plaintiff’s. 

On 30/06/2014, at the point of commencement of criminal proceedings against Dana’s brother, John Brown, TV3 who were named as second Defendants in the action against Dana, agreed a settlement with Stein and Gorrell. They did so without advising or seeking the consent of Dana leaving her to defend the action by herself. 

As expected John Brown was fully acquitted on all charges after the jury returned a unanimous “not guilty” verdict. 

After an initial refusal by the High Court, the Court of Appeal granted an Order for security for costs in favour of Dana. At no stage was any effort made to comply with the order of the court. The successful applications today were brought against a background of ongoing delay by the Plaintiffs. 

Speaking after today’s successful strike out of the proceedings, solicitor Kevin Winters of KRW LAW stated, 

“We welcome the court’s decision to throw these cases out. Dana has waited over 10 years to get to this point. In granting the applications Mr Justice O Moore stated the proceedings “weighed heavily” on Dana. 

The rulings amount to complete vindication of Dana and her brother John Brown who has suffered terribly as a result of unfounded allegations.”

Following todays rulings KRW LAW also added, “We are delighted at the dismissal of these unfounded claims. The courts were used to pursue a personal malicious vendetta against Dana and her family.

Whenever the Court of Appeal granted Dana her 2018 security for costs application it established the Plaintiffs had the means the pursue the case but they failed to do so. This speaks volumes. “