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BRITAIN’S PRINCE ANDREW has said that “at no stage” during his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein did he see or suspect any criminal behaviour.
US financier Epstein was found dead on 10 August in a federal jail in Manhattan as he awaited trial charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. A coroner ruled that he died by suicide.
Since Epstein’s death, the British royal has come under intense scrutiny over his relationship with Epstein. In a statement today, the prince said he was “eager to clarify the facts to avoid further speculation.
“I met Mr Epstein in 1999. During the time I knew him, I saw him infrequently and probably no more than only once or twice a year. I have stayed in a number of his residences.
“At no stage during the limited time I spent with him did I see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction.
“I have said previously that it was a mistake and an error to see him after his release in 2010 and I can only reiterate my regret that I was mistaken to think that what I thought I knew of him was evidently not the real person, given what we now know. I have tremendous sympathy for all those affected by his actions and behaviour.
“His suicide has left many unanswered questions and I acknowledge and sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure.
“This is a difficult time for everyone involved and I am at a loss to be able to understand or explain Mr Epstein’s lifestyle. I deplore the exploitation of any human being and would not condone, participate in, or encourage any such behaviour.”
‘Abhorrent behaviour’
On Monday, the Prince said he was “appalled” by allegations of sexual abuse surrounding Jeffrey Epstein after a video was released purporting to show him at the home of the convicted paedophile in 2010.
“His Royal Highness deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behaviour is abhorrent,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement, reported the Press Association news agency.
The video published by the Mail on Sunday claims to show the prince waving goodbye to a woman as she departs Epstein’s New York mansion in 2010.
Over the years, the financier hobnobbed with politicians, socialites and celebrities, including Donald Trump before he was president and Bill Clinton.
Virginia Giuffre — previously Virginia Roberts — one of Epstein’s alleged victims, testified in 2016 that she had sex with Prince Andrew when she was underage, an allegation Buckingham Palace has repeatedly and strenuously denied.
Prince Andrew was the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment for 10 years until 2011, when he gave up the post following intense scrutiny over his relationships with Epstein and other controversial figures.
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How in the name of God has Brian “doggy dentures” Hayes been elected? Have people been brainwashed again!!
The only good thing is that DSW/Tallaght see’s the back of him :)
Why does everyone hate Hayes so much? Just wondering
Hate is a strong word more like disliked.
Because of his smug im better than you attitude. And he likes to think himself the voice of everything
Cos he’s an arrogant, ignorant runt of a man. Ireland’s own Kim Jong Un!
Excellent comment sir.Won’t be able to watch that doggy ad again without bloody Hayes popping into my head!
Great news! well done Brian!!!!!
Great News, Well done Brian and the lads.
People of Dublin, so you decided to vote in Brian Hayes.
You stupid shower of Jackeen, populist, greedy, gold fish brained fools.
Kind Regards,
The rest of the country
At least we have no Fianna Fail TDs or MEPs!!
I didn’t
Because Ming is a somehow an improvement!
Is your constituency going to elect 2 of his colleagues?
Les, My comment is aimed only at people who have voted for him in Dublin.
Reg, fair and valid point but I’m not going to try and defend the Fianna Fáil vote in the South. They are just as bad as each other at this stage.
I’ve watched Hayes closely over the last 12 months and while I think his smarmy attitude will stand to him in the EP, I’m just amazed that he got the vote!
South combined FF/Fg vote: 57.8%
Midlands Northwest FF/FG: 38.2%
Dublin FF/FG: 28.1%
And it’s the dubs who are greedy goldfish brained fools??
Yes he’ll probably do alright in Europe. I think the choice we had in Dublin wasn’t great to be honest. I wouldn’t vote for Sinn Fein or Fianna Fail and ended up having to give Eamon Ryam a vote!
I love my county .. your constituency just might vote 2 of Hayes’ juniors.
I also love my country, hence why I’m singing at the departure of the Hayes from these shores. He can now use his plainly immense skills at being obnoxious to overpower our European overlords.
Can’t believe anyone would vote for traitorous hack Hayes. He couldn’t defend Ireland interests at national level, how’s he going to do at European level?
I actually feel kinda bad for Ryan. He’s not the worst of them like!
Yeah, Ryan seemed one of the most genuine and honest. I think he would of achieved a lot with the greens in Europe.
This guy Ryan put me off the road after paying my car tax for 40 yrs, with a demand of €951 p.a. for my old Pre-2008 €800 car while those who could afford new cars got the low tax. Good Riddance …
Pensioners forced to subsidise the road tax of those who can afford new cars …….. Disgusting.
Political Parties are Private Clubs that pass Pro-Lobby Laws not Pro-Citizen … Vote Independents.
> “This guy Ryan put me off the road after paying my car tax for 40 yrs, with a demand of €951 p.a. for my old Pre-2008 €800 car while those who could afford new cars got the low tax.”
The Greens didn’t change the rules under which pre-2008 cars are taxed.
If your tax is €951 it is because you have a car with an engine >2.1L. You knew (or should have known) the car had a large engine size when you bought it. And you knew (or should have known) that cars were taxed based on their engine size when you bought it. Large engine, more tax.
Even if you went below 2.0L, your tax would be 33% cheaper. If you were willing to go to 1.5L, it would be halved.
In any case, the Greens didn’t change the rules under which pre-2008 cars are taxed.
The Greens and FF forced pensioners off the road with their UNFAIR regressive car tax. This did not happen in the UK. Tax must be by consent and comply with Canons of Taxation …. FAIRNESS being key.
UK car tax did not rise sharply on the cut off date for existing car owners, as their MPs originally planned. After a public outcry, they reversed the decision. UK cars registered before the UK (March 2006) cut-off stayed in a lower band. The Tax was not made “retrospective” as in the Irish case -suited the “Car Lobby”. http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-reviews/36960/beware-tax-trap#ixzz32x9GX4bP
Pensioners forced by Greens to subsidise the road tax of those who can afford new cars .. Disgusting.
Political Parties are Private Clubs that pass Pro-Lobby Laws not Pro-Citizen … Vote Independents.
At least Ryan has principles he sticks by. Childers has done nothing but run with the hare and hunt with the hounds. How many parties was she a member of before going independent?
Ryan’s principles are flexible to say the least. A self serving man. An A typical politician.
I listened to Childers in the debates. She hid most of the time and said nothing of substance when prompted to speak. Utterly directionless. Friendly mother of the girl next door face and historical name. That’s it!
A one way ticket for Brian Hayes please …
If he had a extra tongue he’d lick himself…
To the people who voted for ANY FF candidate.Would you support the nazis if they had made a comeback a few years after the war with a basic promise that they’ll do better if you give them another chance?? This is pathetic and we deserve what we get if we’re going to vote so foolishly
Who the fup voted for Hayes. who the fup is still voting FF you lot be on drugs!
I wonder who’ll Nessa will cosy up to next? A political opportunitist of the finest calibre.
Congrats Brian Hayes despite the begrudges
Yes its fantastic. Now we won’t have to see or hear from him again until the next election.Sweet!
I will just say one thing about Ryan carbon tax+vat on carbon tax
2 of the worst MEPs possible. Nessa will join or leave any party just to be elected. Imagine them with that embarrassing moron the Ming. This country deserves all it gets.
Great news that Brian got the seat in Europe. He is the best man for the job. Ha, Ha, Ha to all you negative, begrudging, useless lefty A$$H0L€$ who never did a decent days work in your lives. No to this, no to that, no to everything. Only yes you want is the freebies you think you’re entitled to. Go P1$$ off.
All party’s in Ireland are lefty we don’t have any right wingers
Couldn’t agree more
John James. You seem to have the odd idea that people of a left wing persuasion do not work or even support the idea of work whereas actually left wing politicians are for those who actually do the work. Not those who sit back and reap the benefits of those who work without lifting a finger themselves. I presume you are one of the latter John.
Anything is better than Hayes for Tallaght .
Eamon Ryan would be very welcome here.
So the labour party and FG take the remaining seats, same old….what protest vote?
So fg and labour both take seats and all there talk of protest votes must be a protest against competence
Well done to Nessa Childers-she was right to leave the Greens when she did and right to leave Labour-she showed some morality by doing this-both the Greens (who i am a former long standing member of) and Labour deserve what the electorate did to them! !
Well done to Lynn Boylan too-a very nice, friendly and bubbly person! And I’m not a SF supporter!!
Nice, friendly and bubbly. Excellent qualifications for the job.
Both Hayes and Childers look gutted for Ryan eh.
At least the Greens didn’t get a sniff at politics again TFFT
The Greens should probably leave out the Dublin SW by-election. Not fertile territory for Ryan. That’ll look like a SF-FF battle with SF heavily favoured right now (going on local results).
FFS
Childers played a blinder there jumped ship when she saw her gravy train being derailed by Labours unpopularity. Between this and the last European election nothing but silence.
Did the same with the Greens in ’08 and she only joined them when she failed in the Labour selection process in ’04. One of the most cynical and opportunistic politicians out there imho (and that’s saying something)
I love my county. Get a wig
Why? Do you know how the EP works? Or how an MEP works for that matter?
It seems that the Labour hierarchy did not get the message about the various departures. Ness aChikders would not have been elected had she remained in the Labour Party.
A political party which moves too far from its core values has no political future.
In Ireland you can vote far left or slightly less left but ultimately we have no right wing option and for all the people who don’t know right wing does not mean racist…look it up the term right wing was first used in France in the1700s
Loving the thought of Martina and Nessa getting properly acquainted!!! C’mon Nessa – join us & let the centenary be a blast…Delighted Ireland’s two most qualified candidates are there….
Nessa (so called indo) Childers , has described Eamonn (Give me more’s) departure as a mistake , didn’t take long for her to drop the indo disguise and show her TRUE Labour colours….shame on ALL you that voted her , I DIDN’T , I can sleep sound in my bed tonight !!!!
43% Dublin turnout , shame on the jackeens.
A non vote is a shame…..but a spoiled vote proves NOTHING to the Government….It’s a waste of a vote , people died in this country for you to vote Dublin and Ireland , not feckin WASTE it !!!!!
You’d just love to open palm slap Hayes just to try and see if it would fix his cock eyed-ness.. If you’re lucky it might take the smug look off his face..
What were the 49.2% doing on Friday?
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