Sir Cliff Richard takes to the stage for the first time since sex abuse allegations emerged as he starts 75th birthday tour

  • Singer was mobbed by fans outside comeback gig in Killarney, Ireland
  • Ignored questions about police probe into abuse claims dating to 1980s 

By Kieran Corcoran for MailOnline

Published: 15:03 EST, 26 September 2015 | Updated: 18:42 EST, 26 September 2015

Sir Cliff Richard has taken to the stage on his 75th birthday tour - the first time he has played a concert since being hit by sex abuse allegations. 

The singer was mobbed by fans at the INEC stadium in Killarney, Ireland, where he began the tour on Saturday night.

And not long after Sir Cliff looked energetic on stage as he danced around under a laser light and wielding a microphone on a glowing green stand. 

Rocking out: Sir Cliff Richard is pictured above performing in his first concert since sex abuse allegations against him emerged
Rocking out: Sir Cliff Richard is pictured above performing in his first concert since sex abuse allegations against him emerged

Rocking out: Sir Cliff Richard is pictured above performing in his first concert since sex abuse allegations against him emerged

Bright lights: The singer was accompanied by a laser show as he performed hits from his substantial back catalogue

Bright lights: The singer was accompanied by a laser show as he performed hits from his substantial back catalogue

However, he stayed silent in response to questions put to him about the abuse claims, which first emerged more than a year ago.

He refused to address the police inquiry into him, and instead replied to fans cheering him on, whom he thanks.

Sir Cliff also spoke about his fragile voice, which he said he needed to be 'a little precious' about.  

The singer, famous for hits like Living Doll, has previously dismissed the claims against him as 'absurd and untrue'. He said that he had 'never, in my life, assaulted anyone'.

Comeback concert: Sir Cliff Richard gave a thumbs-up and waved to fans as he headed in to the INEC stadium in Killarney, Ireland, ahead of his first show in more than a year
Waving: Sir Cliff thanked the fans waiting for him but didn't address sex abuse claims

Comeback concert: Sir Cliff Richard gave a thumbs-up and waved to fans as he headed in to the INEC stadium in Killarney, Ireland, ahead of his first show in more than a year

The singer was interviewed under caution but he has not been arrested and no charges have been brought.

Fans in Killarney jumped to his defence. One devotee was Bernie Downes from Oxford, who first saw Sir Cliff perform in 1969, and his seen him in concert more than 200 times.

She said: 'I'm really happy that Cliff is doing another tour to celebrate his 75th birthday and everything else.

'He's had a lot of problems over this last year with people he knows, close friends, Cilla Black's death and things in his personal life. It all started with that Jimmy Savile.'

Mobbed: Many devotees said they think the allegations against him are nonsense, and sympathised with his struggles

Mobbed: Many devotees said they think the allegations against him are nonsense, and sympathised with his struggles

Betty Carroll, from Liverpool, first saw Sir Cliff in the city's Empire club in 1959, but did not see him again until 1986 when she began travelling worldwide to catch his shows.

'Someone is trying to get him somewhere,' she said about the allegations.

'I don't believe a word of it.'

'John Lennon once said something horrible about him and I said to him "if I was you I'd hit him" and he said it's his opinion and everyone's entitled to that.'

Ready for the return: Sir Cliff is pictured here rehearsing for his comeback tour, which will come to the UK after starting out in Ireland

Ready for the return: Sir Cliff is pictured here rehearsing for his comeback tour, which will come to the UK after starting out in Ireland

Joan Batten, from Penmaenmawr in north Wales, was in the same church as Sir Cliff, St Paul's in Finchley, north London, for six years from the late 1960s.

'These people who laugh about him have not met him or seen him in concert,' she said.

Ms Batten, who played badminton with Sir Cliff and attended parties and dinners with him, said: 'He's a complete and true gentleman.

'There's absolutely no other side to him, what you see is what you get.

'I've never seen him be nasty to anyone.'

Still got it? Sir Cliff poses with a guitar in front of seats at the INEC stadium

Still got it? Sir Cliff poses with a guitar in front of seats at the INEC stadium

Allegations against Sir Cliff emerged last year after South Yorkshire police questioned him over the claim, which dates from the 1980s and involves a male alleged victim.

In a much-criticised incident, the force tipped off the BBC before raiding his house, which allowed the broadcaster to fly a helicopter over the home and beam live footage of the search around the world.