St Patrick’s Day float referencing Epstein files draws condemnation in Ireland

Charities call display, which mimicked a sexual assault, ‘an act of public grooming’ that normalises sexual violence Rape crisis charities in Ireland have condemned a St Patrick’s Day float that mimicked a sexual assault and featured signs saying “Epstein files”. Rape Crisis Ireland called the display “an act of public grooming” that normalised sexual violence, while politicians labelled it a disgrace. The trailer, pulled by a tractor, featured people in wigs pursuing a female character who screamed and was pinned down on a mattress. There were also Irish flags and bunting, a makeshift cage and a sign saying “Prince Andrew goin to jail”. One of the signs misspelt the name of the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as “Epstien”. The float joined several parades in the west of Ireland on Tuesday, when the republic celebrated its patron saint. It passed through Headford in County Galway and Kilmaine, Shrule and Ballinrobe in County Mayo. Organisers later apologised and said they had not known in advance about the float, which they said was offensive. After noticing the display, organisers in Ballinrobe abandoned a planned second lap of the town. Clíona Saidl