Cork City Council declines to comment on George Mitchell link to Epstein

Cork City Council has declined to comment on whether the Freedom of the City will be taken away from former US senator and former chairman of the Belfast Agreement talks, George Mitchell, over his links to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Earlier this week Queen’s University in Belfast cut ties with the 92-year-old, removing his name from the Institute of Global Peace, Security and Justice.

In a statement the university said the decision was made following the emergence of new information contained in the Epstein files released last week, which include references to Mr Mitchell.

“While no findings of wrongdoing by senator Mitchell have been made, the university has concluded that, in light of this material, and mindful of the experiences of victims and survivors, it is no longer appropriate for its institutional spaces and entities to continence to bear his name.”

In 1998 Cork City Council opted to give Mr Mitchell the Freedom of the City in recognition of what was then described as his “exceptional commitment to the cause of lasting peace, justice and harmony in Northern Ireland”.

In a statement Cork City Council said that it “notes the decision” of Queen’s University Belfast.

“The Freedom of Cork was conferred upon former senator George Mitchell, at the request of the then lord mayor, to recognise his role in the Northern Ireland peace process. 

"This once-off award was conferred upon him several years before there was public knowledge about the first allegations against Jeffrey Epstein.

“The City Council has no further comment on the matter at the moment.”