LABOUR LEADER IVANA Bacik has called on the Government to launch a “thorough investigation” into any Irish links contained in the so-called Epstein files, saying the Taoiseach cannot delay action on the matter.
Her intervention follows a letter sent onearlier this month by Labour’s foreign affairs spokesperson Duncan Smith to the Taoiseach seeking an interrogation of documents released by the US Department of Justice relating to Jeffrey Epstein.
Among the material circulating online is a document where Ireland is mentioned, labelled file EFTA00038674.
The document in question summarises a call made to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center on 22 October 2024.
In the email, a woman alleges she was trafficked as a child and brought to Ireland “for politicians and notable men” before being flown to Epstein’s private island, Little Saint James.
A portion of the file. US Department of Justice
US Department of Justice
Bacik said the allegations were “horrific and debased” and praised the “strength and courage of survivors in coming forward”.
“I have a clear message to any survivor of any abuse: The Labour Party stands with you,” Bacik said in a statement this evening.
The Labour leader confirmed she met with Epstein survivor and podcast host Lisa Phillips in Dublin last week and committed to pursuing the issue politically.
“I will be asking the Taoiseach next week to release all files related to Ireland and Epstein – redacted to protect victims and survivors. We need to know what activities of Epstein were carried out in Ireland, and call out his network of abusers. ”
Smith, Labour TD for Dublin Fingal East, said it would be “quite unacceptable” to rely on “happenchance or citizen journalists” to uncover material that should properly be examined by Garda Síochána with a view to criminal prosecution.
In his letter to the Taoiseach, he asked whether any formal process had been put in place to examine the tranche of 3.5 million documents released in the US for references to Ireland and, where necessary, to seek international police co-operation.
The issue was also raised in the Dáil last week, where the Tánaiste Simon Harris said he was “appalled, sickened and disgusted” by the conduct detailed in the files.
“My understanding is that there has not been specific information in relation to the Garda,” Harris said, adding that he would discuss the matter with the Taoiseach and Minister for Justice.
Harris urged anyone with relevant information to contact gardaí.
Separately, speaking in a pre-recorded interview on The Late Late Show this evening, Phillips called for a “thorough investigation” into the Irish claims.
“I’m here to meet with some power leaders and do a little push to do the right thing, to investigate her claims and anyone else who was in the files,” she said, describing what she alleged was a “global human trafficking ring”.
The Department of the Taoiseach said its “thoughts go out to anyone who suffered at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein or any of his associates” and reiterated that anyone with information should contact police.
