Taoiseach urged to investigate Epstein's Irish links
Labour leader Ivana Bacik has called on Micheál Martin to investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘multiple trips to Ireland’.
Her party has demanded that an investigation be opened into the notorious sex offender’s Irish connections.
Ms Bacik said she had met with Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips in London on Thursday.
Jeffrey Epstein. Pic: Rick Friedman/Rick Friedman Photography/Corbis via Getty Images
She told Extra.ie: ‘I did speak with Lisa generally about the many references to Ireland in the Epstein files.
‘We need more information about the trips. I’ve called on the Taoiseach to request full disclosure of all references to Ireland in the files from the US Department of Justice, as we believe there is more information still not in the public domain.
‘It beggars belief that the Taoiseach has been so slow to take action to investigate any Irish links that may be contained in the Epstein files.’
Labour leader Ivana Bacik. Pic: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie
The files consist of millions of pages of documents released by the US Department of Justice – the most recent tranche in late January.
Ms Phillips is a former model from the US who has spoken out about her experiences as a survivor of Epstein and has become an advocate for other women who came into contact with him.
She is currently campaigning for a meeting with Britain’s King Charles, as she calls for a public enquiry in Britain.
Lisa Phillips in conversation with Patrick Kielty on The Late Late Show. Pic: Andres Poveda
Now in her 40s, Ms Phillips was 21 when she met the financier and was sexually assaulted by him.
She has said it was only after his death in the US in 2019 – by suicide while detained on charges of sex trafficking girls as young as 14 – and meeting other survivors that she started to understand the truth of what had happened to her.
This week, she has been continuing her campaign for more answers about King Charles’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s involvement with Epstein. Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Pic: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie
On the Late Late Show in February, Ms Phillips said she came to Ireland after another survivor revealed she had been trafficked through Ireland.
‘It’s not just in the US. It’s a global human trafficking ring,’ Ms Phillips said.
When asked by host Patrick Kielty if she thought abuse may have happened in Ireland as Epstein’s plane landed here several times, she said: ‘What I do know from talking to survivors is Jeffrey didn’t fly without a harem of girls.’
Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Pic: US Department of Justice
It has been reported that Epstein was on his private jet as it flew in and out of Dublin, Waterford, Shannon and Belfast.
The Irish stops – varying from hours to days – were uncovered during a review of hundreds of flights clocked up as the billionaire’s notorious ‘Lolita Express’ private jet flew around the globe.
Epstein’s aircraft touched down in Dublin on May 2, 1996, and was seen here in 2000, 2002 and 2008.
Ms Bacik said Labour’s foreign affairs spokesman Duncan Smith had written to the Taoiseach in February requesting more information about Epstein’s trips here, ‘yet we have seen no action coming from this Government’.
A Government spokesman said yesterday that the ‘revelations and allegations’ contained in the Epstein files were ‘shocking and disturbing’.
He urged anyone with ‘information’ about allegations in the files to contact gardaí. In February this year, Tánaiste Simon Harris appealed to anyone who may have information in relation to claims made in the Epstein files to go to gardaí.
It was reported then that gardaí were not investigating any allegations relating to Ireland in the files, which include an allegation from a woman claiming that she was trafficked to Ireland as a 13-year-old child.
Labour’s Duncan Smith said the statement was ‘not the only concerning document’ released in the files relating to Ireland.
He said: ‘Within them is an email from one David Wassong to Ghislaine Maxwell and it reads “are you going to send me the names and numbers of people to play with in Ireland”.’
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