A major Northern Ireland sports figure mentioned in the files is former Formula One driver Eddie Irvine.
He previously spoke about his friendship with Ghislaine Maxwell, external and in 2020 said he “wouldn’t be surprised if I’m in Epstein’s black book”, adding he was unaware of their criminal activities.
In 2003, prior to any of Epstein or Maxwell’s convictions, a man called David Wassong emailed the English socialite, external asking if she was going to send him “names and numbers of people to play with in Ireland”.
Maxwell responds with Irvine’s details. She also introduced the former Ferrari F1 driver to other acquaintances the same year, according to emails.
In September 2003, she writes to Jonathan Keidan, external asking if he can help secure Irvine a ticket to a Dave Matthews concert.
He replies, external they are the “hardest tickets to get” but that he’ll make a few phone calls.
In a 2020 interview, Irvine spoke about attending parties organised by Epstein and Maxwell in New York and Miami. He said he saw Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s accuser Virginia Giuffre at one event, but presumed she was about 20.
“I knew Ghislaine reasonably well,” he told The Belfast Telegraph., external.
“I spoke to her from time to time and I spoke to [Epstein] from time to time. Ghislaine was always super sweet and a super nice lady.
“When I was around, it was just a normal dinner, just parties. There’d just be a party where some people would turn up and some people wouldn’t. But about that other stuff, I have no idea.”
He said he has never visited Epstein’s island, his home or was on his plane.