Calls for Mitchell to lose Freedom of Belfast over Epstein links
PA MediaThere is growing support within Belfast City Council to remove the freedom of the city from George Mitchell.
His links to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has led to a rethink at City Hall about the honour he received in 2018.
The American diplomat played a crucial role in Northern Ireland's peace process but a number of tributes to him have been removed in recent days, including at Queen's University Belfast (QUB).
Mitchell has denied any wrongdoing and said he regrets having any contact with Epstein.
The latest release of documents indicated a continued relationship between Mitchell and Epstein, following Epstein's first conviction.
The Alliance Party, the Green Party and People Before Profit have said the decision to award Mitchell the freedom of the city should be revoked.
It is the highest civic honour that can be awarded to an individual or organisation.
Other recipients in Belfast in recent years include the sports star Dame Mary Peters, actor Sir Kenneth Branagh and the musician Sir Van Morrison.
Who has called for Mitchell's Freedom of Belfast to be removed?
A former Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Áine Groogan, has written to the council's chief executive asking for action to be taken regarding Mitchell's award.
The Green Party councillor wrote: "Reviewing the Freedom of the City honour and making appropriate changes would demonstrate Belfast City Council's commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity."
The Alliance Party is the third largest party on the 60-strong council with 11 representatives.
Michael Long, its leader at City Hall, said: "While no wrongdoing has been found regarding Senator Mitchell, given the recent developments and ongoing revelations, the Alliance Party believes it is no longer appropriate to award him the Freedom of the City.
"We must ensure that those who receive the highest civic honour on behalf of our city embody and reflect the values of our community."
A spokesperson for the Social Democratic and Labour Party said "given the serious allegations surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and the continued association of a number of high-profile figures with him, both before and after his conviction, it is right that honours and tributes are reviewed".
Epstein files
At the weekend, millions of files relating to Epstein were released, including further references to an earlier claim Mitchell had sex with Epstein victim, Virginia Giuffre.
In a statement on Monday, a spokesperson for Mitchell said he had never met, spoken to or had any contact with Giuffre or any underage women.
Mitchell's spokesperson said that Mitchell "profoundly regrets ever having known Jeffrey Epstein and condemns, without reservation, the horrific harm Epstein inflicted on so many women".
The spokesperson added that he did not observe, suspect or have any knowledge of Epstein engaging in "illegal or inappropriate conduct with underage women".
QUB confirmed the move to sever ties with Mitchell to the Talkback programme on Monday.
He was chancellor of the university from 1999 to 2009.
The university is also to remove the name Senator George J Mitchell, from the Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice.
A bust of Mitchell, which cost £35,000 to create in 2023, has been removed from QUB's grounds.
Mitchell also received an honorary degree from Ulster University in 2006.
The university website states he received an honorary degree of Doctorate of Letters, which usually honours those who have profound and lasting impacts on society.
BBC News NI has repeatedly asked Ulster University for comment.
Epstein, a well-connected financier and convicted sex offender, was found dead by suicide in 2019 while awaiting a trial on sex trafficking charges.
Mitchell chaired the peace talks that culminated in the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, which brought an end to three decades of conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles.
On Sunday, the US-Ireland Alliance said the George J Mitchell Scholarship Program would no longer bear his name.
Previous links between Mitchell and Epstein include a handwritten letter from 2003 released in September during an earlier release of files.
Being named or pictured in the files is not an indication of wrongdoing.
What has Mitchell said?
On Monday, a spokesperson for Mitchell said: "In the recently released documents, an allegation involving Senator Mitchell by Ms Virginia Giuffre is repeated.
"It was first made public in 2020 and denied at the time. That allegation is based on a case of mistaken identity.
"In 2021, Ms Giuffre supplied a photograph to OK Magazine, which incorrectly captioned it as depicting Senator Mitchell standing behind Jeffrey Epstein. The individual in the photograph was not Senator Mitchell.
"The publisher acknowledged the incorrect caption and removed it."
The spokesperson added that Mitchell learned of Epstein's criminal activity only through media reports linked to Epstein's prosecution in Florida and declined or deflected the few invitations to events extended by Epstein's office in the years that followed.
