UK - Prince Andrew accused of underage sexual relationship, 1999-2002 *settled* #2

[Mo Thuairim]

Funding of Prince Andrew’s settlement to be raised in parliament

Labour’s Andy McDonald said he will seek assurances public money will not be used when MPs return next week

(...)

“I am going to take the opportunity to raise this issue in parliament because the issue isn’t going to go away until people have that information and receive assurances that public money is not going to be used to in any way contribute to the settlement.”

(...)

Mark Stephens, an international reputation lawyer from the firm Howard Kennedy, said the duke will have to give details of where the settlement money is from or risk more “reputational damage” to the monarchy.

He said: “I think there’s equal concern that it comes from the royal family and what they want to see is that Andrew is paying out of his own pocket – that he’s personally being financially punished here.”

 

[Kemug]

I knew someone who was an abuser of women and a child and contributed monthly to a charity for battered women and children very publicly.

This does not seem like something where PAs true regret for his actions is expressed. It's just a payout to keep quiet a bit longer.

The right thing to do would be wait until the Jubilee celebration is over and come clean, without the whole "I couldn't sweat at the time" weirdness. I think people would appreciate that more than any donations to charity.

I do feel bad for Fergie and PA's kids being swept up in all this.

And for VG's kids - I believe there are 3 teenagers. IMO they have probably been through quite enough, and really don't need to go through any more, let alone have their mother writing a book. MOO

 

[Laura456]

From the SOAR website:
"Giuffre is perhaps the most prominent survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes, but he was not her first abuser. By the time she met Epstein, when she was 16, Giuffre had already been sexually trafficked by another man"

What what?

https://www.speakoutactreclaim.org/about-us

Also say they're not accepting donations yet...hmmm

 

[UK Girl]

From the SOAR website:
"Giuffre is perhaps the most prominent survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes, but he was not her first abuser. By the time she met Epstein, when she was 16, Giuffre had already been sexually trafficked by another man"

What what?

https://www.speakoutactreclaim.org/about-us

Also say they're not accepting donations yet...hmmm

She went on the streets and was picked up by some guy and her dad rescued her and then she met Ghislaine Maxwell.

 

[Laura456]

She went on the streets and was picked up by some guy and her dad rescued her and then she met Ghislaine Maxwell.

Yeah this is an awful start to life for her. I hope her charity is really going to do what it says and that she's transparent about the finances for it.

 

[SouthAussie]

https://www.speakoutactreclaim.org/about-us

Also say they're not accepting donations yet...hmmm

I believe that settlement funds are usually held in escrow (by a 3rd party - usually one of the lawyers), until the settlement is complete and the funds are distributed.

If SOAR is not yet a registered charity (I think they are just setting up, judging by the Get Involved section of the website), they wouldn't be accepting donations yet, I don't think.
There are reporting requirements for registered charities.

imo


"In the Corporate & Commercial Litigation context, it is common to pay settlement funds into escrow by depositing them into the trust account of one of the lawyers, to be released when the action has been dismissed."
https://ca.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com

 

[SouthAussie]

And for VG's kids - I believe there are 3 teenagers. IMO they have probably been through quite enough, and really don't need to go through any more, let alone have their mother writing a book. MOO

Could be a bit of a premature thought. imo

We don't know if VG is going to write a book, and we don't know if her children are (or are not) justice 'warriors' who support their mum's efforts to the max.

A lot of people have a lot of admiration for VG. She has had the guts to stand up, be identified, and tell her story - to the believers, non-believers, supporters, and non-supporters.
It likely hasn't been an easy public path to walk.

Her children may be among the admirers.

They are viewing a strong lesson. Stand up for what you believe in, and try not to be taken advantage of by others just because you are young and gullible.

 

[Dotta]

Prince Andrew 'is relatively CHIPPER' and 'relieved' | Daily Mail Online

 

[Dotta]

The long and sordid saga that ended with royal outcast Andrew settling rape lawsuit | Daily Mail Online

From start to finish.

 

[Laura456]

Prince Andrew 'is relatively CHIPPER' and 'relieved' | Daily Mail Online

I'm sure he is... :|

 

[Dotta]

I'm sure he is

And now a "godly life" can be lived b/c
"All's well that ends well" as a classic said.

 

[Forest_Wood]

Funding of Prince Andrew’s settlement to be raised in parliament

Labour’s Andy McDonald said he will seek assurances public money will not be used when MPs return next week

(...)

“I am going to take the opportunity to raise this issue in parliament because the issue isn’t going to go away until people have that information and receive assurances that public money is not going to be used to in any way contribute to the settlement.”

(...)

Mark Stephens, an international reputation lawyer from the firm Howard Kennedy, said the duke will have to give details of where the settlement money is from or risk more “reputational damage” to the monarchy.

He said: “I think there’s equal concern that it comes from the royal family and what they want to see is that Andrew is paying out of his own pocket – that he’s personally being financially punished here.”

This situation is not going away imo. With the Me Too movement and everything that goes along with this movement, people are no longer willing to tolerate young women being used and abused by men with wealth and power. It’s more than just hush money being paid out. It’s so ridiculous that the RF thinks they can buy their way out of this situation by throwing cash someone’s way and gagging VG from speaking out about it because it will “ruin” the queen’s celebrity. That is so backward thinking imo. This is about honour, integrity, justice, protection of the vulnerable and so on. This is much bigger than Andrew, who's been abusing the purse all throughout his petty, privileged life apparently. People won’t tolerate Andrew, or the royal family, buying his way out of this with their money (which is really the peoples' money collectively over generations of building wealth). I am pleased to see the government taking some sort of action here by at least bringing the payout into the conversation of parliament.

 

[UK Girl]

This situation is not going away imo. With the Me Too movement and everything that goes along with this movement, people are no longer willing to tolerate young women being used and abused by men with wealth and power. It’s more than just hush money being paid out. It’s so ridiculous that the RF thinks they can buy their way out of this situation by throwing cash someone’s way and gagging VG from speaking out about it because it will “ruin” the queen’s celebrity. That is so backward thinking imo. This is about honour, integrity, justice, protection of the vulnerable and so on. This is much bigger than Andrew, who's been abusing the purse all throughout his petty, privileged life apparently. People won’t tolerate Andrew, or the royal family, buying his way out of this with their money (which is really the peoples' money collectively over generations of building wealth). I am pleased to see the government taking some sort of action here.

You do realise Labour have no say here right?

You do know allegedly...and I say allegedly as people know the Mail is full of " sources " and " friends said" but its said the Queen paid the charity part and not the donation to VG...so not sure what the Royal family itself are actually accused of doing and as it stands....he still has not confessed to anything....but no their money isnt ours

One other thing I would say people have never liked Andrew except when he was labelled a hero after Argentina so things havent changed really but I would not say VG is getting a lot of support here either.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

I just had a quick look through the news websites and with everything else going on I had to scroll pretty far down to find an Andrew story.

Have the tabloids been told to dial it down? Or is it a case of one days news is the next days fish n chip wrapping?

 

[UK Girl]

I just had a quick look through the news websites and with everything else going on I had to scroll pretty far down to find an Andrew story.

Have the tabloids been told to dial it down? Or is it a case of one days news is the next days fish n chip wrapping?

In the Mail theres a lot but you would expect that I guess considering its basically got a thing about Andrew. You know seriously I dont think the story for people here as ever been as big as say in America and I did read comments yesterday about the Queen and her health and saying the papers or some were maybe making it worse. Honestly I dont know anyone who is really even following any of it or even cares to be honest. Theres so much going on atm with Covid, Ukraine, cost of fuel and food people have their own worries and many dont even know what to believe to be fair.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

In the Mail theres a lot but you would expect that I guess considering its basically got a thing about Andrew. You know seriously I dont think the story for people here as ever been as big as say in America and I did read comments yesterday about the Queen and her health and saying the papers or some were maybe making it worse. Honestly I dont know anyone who is really even following any of it or even cares to be honest. Theres so much going on atm with Covid, Ukraine, cost of fuel and food people have their own worries and many dont even know what to believe to be fair.

I’m not even seeing much in the Mail? War, storms, death all feature, more war and more weather… even Katie P’s latest face is much further up the front page.

 

[UK Girl]

I’m not even seeing much in the Mail? War, storms, death all feature, more war and more weather… even Katie Price’s latest face is much further up the front page.

ah I forgot about the storms too though our area should be ok and as for the other...no comment lol. You are correct though looking at it there isnt much about it at all now.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

ah I forgot about the storms too though our area should be ok and as for the other...no comment lol. You are correct though looking at it there isnt much about it at all now.

I guess there’ll be no further official statements from either party for a while, and everything else has been said already so nothing much new to report.

Hope all our British posters stay safe through Storm Eunice, sounds like she’s going to be pretty rough in some parts of the country. Charge your phones up, dig out some candles, batten the hatches and make sure you have plenty of tea and milk in stock.

UK - Storm Eunice - February 2022

 

[Mo Thuairim]

Prince Andrew's statement seems to contradict answers he gave me - Emily Maitlis

At the heart of the settlement is the biggest question of all: why is a prince who told me he had "no recollection of ever meeting this lady" now paying her what we understand to be upwards of £10m? I distinctly remember putting Virginia Giuffre's accusations to him directly:

"She says she met you in 2001, she dined with you, danced with you, you bought her drinks in Tramp nightclub and she went on to have sex with you in a house in Belgravia."

And I have the Prince's reply in front of me now. Three words only: "It didn't happen."

(...)

I asked him specifically if he regretted the whole friendship with Epstein. And I remember my own inward gasp when he said: "No, still not... and the reason being that the people that I met and the opportunities that I was given to learn... were actually very useful."

In other words, that friendship was something he still valued two years ago. So why does he "regret" it now? Or does he only regret that it has become a source of such immense subsequent damage?

(...)

The reason I am dwelling on the words he spoke then and now is because the obvious narrative is one of victory for Virginia Giuffre. And indeed, what she has done has been extraordinary. She has put the issue of child trafficking and the victims at the heart of this story on every front page. All credit to her extraordinary determination to see this brought to light.

(Full article by Newsnight interviewer Emily Maitlis at link)

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Or does he only regret that it has become a source of such immense subsequent damage?

Yes!!! And that’s what arrogance gets you.