Rape claim man 'rebuilding life'

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The mother of a man who sued a woman who accused him of rape says her son can now rebuild his life after she agreed not to repeat the claim.

David Brown, 25, was arrested after a party at his home in Portrush, County Antrim, in 2007.

He was released without charge, but took a civil case after the woman was said to have repeated the allegation in public.

Alana Brown said she could not rest until her son's name "was cleared".

"As it is a small area, and it had been brought out, there was always going to be whispering and innuendo - no smoke without fire, that sort of thing," she said.

"But he can now go into the area where he lives and know that this woman is not allowed to repeat those allegations."

The case was settled out of court, the High Court heard on Wednesday.

Legal first

It is understood Mr Brown's family re-mortgaged their home to pay his legal costs.

The libel action, the first of its kind brought in Northern Ireland, did not cover any claims made to police as they are covered by privilege.

Instead, it focused on what had allegedly been said about Mr Brown in the area where he lived and worked.