Debra Byrne reveals more Young Talent Time abuse allegations

Singing icon Debra Byrne is determined to expose the truth after making fresh allegations of abuse while appearing on Young Talent Time.

Singer Debra Byrne claims host Johnny Young and music legend Ronnie Burns made inappropriate remarks and advances to her as a teenager.

Australian singing legend Debra Byrne is determined to expose the truth after making fresh allegations of abuse while appearing on Young Talent Time.

Byrne claims host Johnny Young and music great Ronnie Burns made inappropriate remarks and advances to her as a teenager when she starred on the show.

In April she repeated claims with a series of emotional Facebook posts that she was a victim of sexual abuse.

On Monday she took to social media to say Young and Burns spoke to her about the size of her breasts and Burns inappropriately kissed her and did the same to others.

Burns told the Herald Sun he was aware of the allegations but declined to comment further other than to say it was “just not true”.

The Herald Sun is not suggesting Byrne’s claims are true, only that they have been made.

In the post Byrne wrote: “Johnny Young spoke to me about my breasts and how he could assist in the growth of my breasts. It was highly sexually inappropriate advice. On more than one occasion Johnny Young spoke to me in a way that would now be a criminal act.

Debra Byrne on Young Talent Time.

“Ronnie Burns spoke to me about the size of my breasts and why they were small.

“Johnny Young told me what he would like to do with his c--k and where he would like to place it. Ronnie Burns stuck his tongue into my mouth while giving me a 16th birthday kiss good night. I have been told by one female ex member of YTT, Ronnie did the same to her and others.”

She continued: “Johnny and Ronnie have been close friends and confidantes since the sixties. I may never receive an apology or be supported by others that have similar experiences but that will not deflate my determination in exposing the truth regarding these men.”

Byrne declined to comment further but is still seeking legal advice.

Burns fronted the Melbourne band The Flies in the early 1960s, followed by a solo career and then was a member of Burns Cotton & Morris in the 1990s.

In 1998 he and wife Maggie founded Appin Hall, a children’s refuge facility. Their daughter Lauren Burns won a gold medal in taekwondo at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Responding to Byrne’s allegations, Young said he wished the former Young Talent Time star well and hoped she can “find some peace”.

Her posts were made on the eve of the Young Talent Time 50th anniversary in April. Byrne said she found it disgraceful and disgusting having been asked to appear on the show’s reunion by Young.

Ronnie Burns

She said she has suffered throughout her life as a result of childhood trauma.

At the time she tearfully posted: “Oh I haven’t moved on, that’s not why I said no to a reunion. My reason is I find it very difficult to move on from what happened to me as a child.

“When I decided to confront John about the sexual abuse that occurred, of course his responses were very aggressive and victim shaming, telling me that I was crazy, that he would never do anything like that.

“It was pretty much impossible to talk to anybody and if you did, for whatever reasons, the adults in your life didn’t know how to manage it,” she said.

“Didn’t know how to deal with it and really there was probably no services available to help deal with it. If you did, it was an excruciating process for the victim of the abuse.”

In 2014, Byrne posted on Facebook that she was sexually assaulted in a swimming pool while filming a segment for the show.

Young, who hosted the much-loved singing and dancing variety show which became the staple of Saturday night family viewing, said he had nothing but respect for Byrne and hoped she would work through her ongoing issues.

Byrne, who recently starred in The Music of the Night — The Songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber, will be on tour in August.