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Original poster

Oh Prince Andrew is getting SUED by Virginia Robert's

999 replies

LaurieFairyCake · 09/08/2021 23:54

That will be interesting

OP posts:
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5
DuncinToffee · 13/08/2021 13:27

I meant what possible decent excuse could there be?

That is what it comes down to in the end, isn't it.

Blossomtoes · 13/08/2021 13:34

@AnnunciataZ

The RF's support of him is appalling. Sophie Wessex does a lot of work with charities working with women who've been the victims of sexual violence and Camilla has spoken out against domestic abuse. I don't know how they can put up with being at Balmoral with him each year. I know they probably do it for the Queen but still, it doesn't quite square with me.
I don’t think that’s entirely fair. Nobody’s responsible for the behaviour of their family members. At least Balmoral is big enough for them to have minimal contact, should they choose.

I can see this being settled out of court - which is itself an admission of guilt - and Andrew’s real punishment will be that he spends the rest of his life as an embarrassment who has to skulk out of public view. It’s quite possible that once the Queen’s protection has gone he’ll be estranged from the rest of the family.

diddl · 13/08/2021 13:34

"I meant what possible decent excuse could there be?"

That's a good point really isn't it.

I mean she was to work Epstein as a trainee masseuse whilst he paid for her to train?

I think that would give some parents pause for thought?

Perhaps her father felt he "knew" Epstein through the Mar a Lago club?

It's hard to fathom isn't it?

KidneyBeans · 13/08/2021 14:04

I can see this being settled out of court - which is itself an admission of guilt - and Andrew’s real punishment will be that he spends the rest of his life as an embarrassment who has to skulk out of public view. It’s quite possible that once the Queen’s protection has gone he’ll be estranged from the rest of the family.

Agree. It won't go to court and I suspect once the queen has passed he'll essentially be exiled from the family

Plumtree391 · 13/08/2021 14:06

@Roussette

I wonder if she also experienced an element if grooming/coercion - firstly from her father, then from Epstein

Yes, this is touched upon in the podcast. He was an unpleasant father, and she went for the same sort of man in Epstein.

That also comes across very strongly in the documentary, 'Epstein's Shado: Ghislane Maxwell'. She had a different idea of what was normal to most of us and was naturally attracted to power; for a significant time, she was quite besotted with Epstein.

Both father and lover allegedly commiited suicide, abandoning her to fend for herself.

However, a grown woman sourcing young girls for her, of all things, 'boyfriend' to abuse, is worlds apart from anything her father did. It's so unpalatable!

Ghislane married somebody, a millionaire by all accounts, a few years ago; I wonder what he makes of it all. It wouldn't surprise me if he filed for divorce and she topped herself.

DuncinToffee · 13/08/2021 14:15

@diddl

"I meant what possible decent excuse could there be?"

That's a good point really isn't it.

I mean she was to work Epstein as a trainee masseuse whilst he paid for her to train?

I think that would give some parents pause for thought?

Perhaps her father felt he "knew" Epstein through the Mar a Lago club?

It's hard to fathom isn't it?

I think the issue is more why these men didn't question the fact why there were so many young girls in the house/yacht/island for their sexual pleasure. What decent excuse can there be?
Roussette · 13/08/2021 14:27

Ghislaine won't be topping herself. She is watched and checked on every 15 minutes, after the Epstein fiasco. She has in fact tried to sue the Prison to stop these regular checks because of sleep disturbance, to no avail.
They can't make another mistake

Yes, I think Maxwell was besotted with Epstein. She would've done anything for him, hence the procuring of young girls.

As for why these men didn't question all these young girls flitting around, there are none so blind as cannot see. Maitlis questioned PA on this, he thought they were staff or some were hidden away when he was in a property.
However, there is footage out there of him at the door of the NY Mansion and a young girl running out the door after Epstein, and then back in again, and she honestly looks about 13. So so young. He is there in the Mansion, who on earth does he think she is.

diddl · 13/08/2021 14:38

"I think the issue is more why these men didn't question the fact why there were so many young girls in the house/yacht/island for their sexual pleasure."

Well the ones who took advantage wouldn't care, would they?

JE was perhaps good at sussing out who he could "trust".

PearlFriday · 13/08/2021 14:38

So glad VG is suing him. She is a strong woman which is no mean feat after a less than supportive family background.

meercat23 · 13/08/2021 15:01

To those suggesting that VG and others young girls and women who were used by Epstein and his contacts appeared to be happy with what was going on and therefore consented to it. Just how do you think that paedophiles and other sexual predators ever get girls and women under their control. Yes some may do it by brute force but very often they do it through the process of grooming. This involves manipulation, creating a false narrative, maybe gifts and benefits. These are used to convince the girls and women that what is happening is in their interests and that they are happy about it. Later, or even sooner, the victims of this grooming may realise exactly what kind of situation they are in but any lack of any such realisation does not in any way negate the fact that they wre being used and exploited either for the sexual gratification or for the financial benefit of others.

So, VG and others may well have 'gone along with everything' for a time. I don't know whether they did or did not but either way, they were exploited and abused and those that did so deserve to pay the price for that.

One additional point. I read this morning that VG's father was commenting and expressing the hope that VG gets her day in court. I think he and the parents of other young girls used in the same way maybe needs to examine their own conscience about whether they were vigilant enough. I have a DD who was pretty headstrong when young and we battled constantly but I would have had a thousand questions about the kind of 'job offer' that drew VG in.

Roussette · 13/08/2021 15:06

Well.... bearing in mind she was living on the streets at age 13, was abused by sex traffickers then, and in and out of foster homes... I don't think her father was much in her life.

Roussette · 13/08/2021 15:08

Just read this...

According to the New York Post, the civil suit will be heard via a telephone conference on 13 September at 4pm New York time, as scheduled by Manhattan federal court Judge Lewis Kaplan. Kaplan states in his order that Giuffre’s lawyers should prepare themselves to potentially discuss the status of serving Andrew with the suit, should he fail to retain a lawyer and respond to the complaint launched by Giuffre by the hearing date. It is not yet known if the royal and Giuffre will be required to be on the call themselves.

Plumtree391 · 13/08/2021 15:28

meercat23 Fri 13-Aug-21 15:01:44
To those suggesting that VG and others young girls and women who were used by Epstein and his contacts appeared to be happy with what was going on and therefore consented to it. Just how do you think that paedophiles and other sexual predators ever get girls and women under their control. Yes some may do it by brute force but very often they do it through the process of grooming. This involves manipulation, creating a false narrative, maybe gifts and benefits.
.......
That is so true! It's heartbreaking when you consider some of the young girls will almost consider their abusers to be parental figures. They know how to pick girls who are looking for a 'home' in which they will be cared for. It's a scenario I have come across in the past a few times.

PearlFriday · 13/08/2021 15:30

Yeh a quick glance at wikipedia shows she was catnip for a predatory paedophile.

KidneyBeans · 13/08/2021 16:39

@Plumtree391

meercat23 Fri 13-Aug-21 15:01:44 To those suggesting that VG and others young girls and women who were used by Epstein and his contacts appeared to be happy with what was going on and therefore consented to it. Just how do you think that paedophiles and other sexual predators ever get girls and women under their control. Yes some may do it by brute force but very often they do it through the process of grooming. This involves manipulation, creating a false narrative, maybe gifts and benefits. ....... That is so true! It's heartbreaking when you consider some of the young girls will almost consider their abusers to be parental figures. They know how to pick girls who are looking for a 'home' in which they will be cared for. It's a scenario I have come across in the past a few times.
Well you've changed your tune - a day or so ago you were agreeing with posters that said VRG 'chose' to be with JE and 'didn't look like she was a victim of sexual assault' in the photograph Confused
endofthelinefinally · 13/08/2021 16:52

Ignorance about safeguarding is demonstrated over and over again on MN.
I think part of the problem is that only certain professions have any training and even then, sometimes the training is not very good, very infrequent, not mandatory.
Add this to the current pressure from certain groups to undermine and get rid of safeguarding entirely, you can see how so many people just don't get it.
Look at how many groups/classes of men (and some women) have got away with child abuse, trafficking etc for decades. The rich and privileged are right up there with the other "sacred castes", in plain sight.

knittingaddict · 13/08/2021 17:57

I've just started the Hunting Ghislaine podcast and am on episode 3 already. I knew the story from other podcasts, but this one is very interesting. I can think of a few people on here who would benefit from listening to it. Doubt they will though.

Plumtree391 · 13/08/2021 18:29

KidneyBeans:

Well you've changed your tune - a day or so ago you were agreeing with posters that said VRG 'chose' to be with JE and 'didn't look like she was a victim of sexual assault' in the photograph
.........

I agreed with some of what that poster said, Kidney. I don't remember any comments about that photograph but will take your word for it.
I certainly haven't changed my tune regarding trafficking or exploitation of young girls generally, I've seen too much of it, and I am no hypocrite.

The Hunting does sound interesting.

Roussette · 13/08/2021 18:33

It is interesting isn't it Knitting

An adored daughter who was put on a pedestal by her sadistic father ... now languishing in a NY jail awaiting trial

SamiReed1 · 13/08/2021 18:37

Just what parts of what Pixie said, did you agree with, @Plumtree391 ? When you agreed that she didn't look unhappy in the photo? I bet you won't answer because you scurry away and simply don't answer anything put to you that is inconvenient. You never answered Roussette's question about the link. You also said that Virginia was not held against her will.

She clearly was.

So why don't you have the ovaries to answer, instead of hoping we will ignore the horrible things you've said. Just what is it, that you agree with that Pixxie7 wrote?

And why did you say Virginia wasn't trafficked, and why did you say Virginia took the picture when she didn't, Maxwell wanted the picture taken.

Lets see if you have the ovaries and the good faith to answer this.

Roussette · 13/08/2021 18:44

Whilst I don't agree with very many posts of Plumtree's I would like to think that we have educated some on this thread. And if that's the case with Plum (don't honestly know) we should be pleased about that.

But please bear in mind I'm drinking Wine after a friend dropped round and feeling mellow Grin not always the case

Maireas · 13/08/2021 19:02

@KidneyBeans
@Roussette
Meanwhile on the Royal Family thread about Andrew that same silly question has been asked about VR looking happy in the photo.

Roussette · 13/08/2021 19:09

Oh heck... off to rip someone something about that then!

Maireas · 13/08/2021 19:11

@Roussette

Oh heck... off to rip someone something about that then!
Go for it!
Roussette · 13/08/2021 19:11

Can't find it... have looked. I know we're not meant to link but.....