Virginia Giuffre's family praise charities for cutting ties with Duchess of York

"It is commendable that these seven charities have cut ties with Sarah Ferguson in light of her connections to Epstein. This decisive action sends a strong message about accountability and the need to confront those who support the horrific child trafficking network established by Epstein and Maxwell. We should follow the example set by these organisations and take meaningful steps to protect the vulnerable and uphold justice."

"Ms Giuffre was "was systematically failed by nearly every powerful institution that was meant to protect her", they said, before commending the "forceful response" from the charities and adding: "In absence of governmental accountability, we urgently need stronger public condemnation of the men and women involved in propping up Epstein's horrific child sex trafficking network here in America to begin pursuing real justice.""

Several charities severed ties with the duchess after news that she apologized to Jeffrey Epstein in April 2011 following a prior public disowning. Virginia Giuffre, who died in Western Australia aged 41, was a prominent accuser of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell and settled a 2022 lawsuit alleging the Duke of York sexually assaulted her when she was 17; the duke denied the claim and ever meeting her. Giuffre's relatives praised the charities' actions, urged stronger accountability in America, and said she was systematically failed by powerful institutions. The duchess's spokesperson said the apology email followed a menacing phone call from Epstein.

Read at Irish Independent