Prince hires another heavyweight to help him over Epstein scandal

THE Duke of York has hired the PR expert who helped exonerate VIPS falsely accused of paedophilia during the Operation Midland investigation, The

Daily Telegraph can disclose. Nicknamed “the backroom fixer”, Mark Gallagher specialises in crisis management and has been brought in to help restore Prince Andrew’s reputation after the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

The appointment comes after The

Telegraph revealed the beleaguered Duke had hired Britain’s most respected extradition lawyer to fend off an FBI inquiry into his friendship with the convicted paedophile.

He has been receiving legal advice from Clare Montgomery QC, whose cli

ents have included Augusto Pinochet, Chile’s former dictator. She is being briefed by Gary Bloxsome, a criminal defence solicitor who has defended British troops against war crime allegations and is understood to have been appointed directly by the Duke.

The 300 clients of Mr Gallagher’s firm have included those linked with false accusations of child abuse by Carl Beech, among them Harvey Proctor, the former MP, and Lady Brittan, wife of the late Lord Brittan, formerly home secretary.

The reputational management force

was assembled following demands by the FBI and US prosecutors to interview the Duke about Epstein.

On Monday, Geoffrey Berman, the US attorney leading the inquiry, claimed the Duke had refused to cooperate. In the wake of his disastrous Newsnight interview, Prince Andrew, 60, said he was “willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required.”

Mr Berman said: “Contrary to Prince Andrew’s very public offer to co-operate, he has now completely shut the door on voluntary co-operation.”

Ms Montgomery and Mr Bloxsome are thought to have concluded the US has no power to subpoena the Duke. But a US source said: “It was his decision to make that statement and as such, he should be held to his word.”

The Duke entertained Epstein at Balmoral, Windsor Castle, Sandringham and Royal Ascot. Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims, claims she was forced to sleep with the Duke three times, including once when she was trafficked to London by Epstein. The Duke has vehemently denied the claims.