No record of Epstein staying in Hillsborough says UK government - but some files were disposed of after six years
The UK government says it has found no record of Jeffrey Epstein staying at Hillsborough Castle in Co Down – the official residence of the Northern Ireland Secretary.
However, it has also said that some of its visitor records will have been destroyed.
The matter was raised in the House of Commons at the start of the month, when DUP MP Carla Lockhart told MPs “he visited Hillsborough Castle on at least one occasion”.
Peter Mandelson, a long-time friend of Epstein, was the Northern Ireland Secretary from 1999 to 2001.
Mrs Lockhart had called for a “full review” of the issue.
UUP leader Jon Burrows had likewise demanded answers from the government over the question.
He had asked for “confirmation as to whether Jeffrey Epstein, or any individual acting on his behalf, visited Lord Mandelson at Hillsborough Castle or at any other location in Northern Ireland while he served as Secretary of State”.
Mr Burrows has now shared the response he has received from the Northern Ireland Office (NIO).
It said that “officials have carried out comprehensive searches of all records held by the department, including those covering Lord Mandelson’s time as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (October 1999 - January 2001)”.
It went on to say: “This has included carrying out electronic searches as well as reviewing physical files from the time.
"As a result of these searches we have not identified any information to indicate that Lord Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein had any official contact during the period October 1999 - January 2001.
"Additionally, the department holds no information that indicates that Jeffrey Epstein ever visited or stayed at Hillsborough Castle.
"It is important to note that the Northern Ireland Office operates under an Information Retention Policy which forms part of our overall Information Governance Framework.
"As a result, the NIO retains information only for as long as necessary for business, legal, regulatory, and accountability purposes, adhering to GDPR and the Public Records Act 1958.
"Records are stored, with key documents selected for permanent preservation or National Archives transfer, while others are securely disposed of post the retention period.
"Visits records were therefore disposed of after three to six years.
"Visits by significant individuals to Hillsborough Castle are recorded in the official visitors’ books and would have been retained for longer.
"These books have been searched for records of Jeffrey Epstein visiting Hillsborough Castle and again no reference to him has been found.
"The UK government has firmly stated it will co-operate fully with all police investigations on this matter.”
Mr Burrows told the News Letter: “I raised this matter with the Secretary of State because the people of Northern Ireland must have confidence in that office and be assured it has acted with integrity.
"While the NIO’s findings regarding the 1999–2001 period are reassuring, they are necessarily constrained by the disposal of records.
"Given the gravity of the Epstein scandal, it was entirely proper that the NIO examined this issue.
"No stone must be unturned in any of the investigations linked to Jeffrey Epstein.”