For the past decade, Ireland has enjoyed a period of sustained influence in British political life – throughout Brexit, via Joe Biden’s Washington, now with a Corkman advising a prime minister whose instincts were forged in Northern Ireland.

But with the sacking-then-resignation of Peter Mandelson, former ambassador to the United States, this era of limited Hiberno-imperium may be about to come to a screeching halt.

Where to start with this strange diplomatic butterfly effect? Mandelson’s abstract links to financier/paedophile Jeffrey Epstein – who died in prison in 2019 – were a matter of public knowledge long before the once-New Labour minister was appointed as ambassador in 2025.

But No 10 says Mandelson failed to disclose the full extent of their friendship at the time of vetting. When a tranche of Epstein files was released last September, Mandelson was exposed and subsequently fired from his post.

Then this week a new raft of documents arrived – this time showing Mandelson had allegedly leaked confidential information about Gordon Brown’s resignation to Epstein in 2010 and that he had told his friend about an upcoming €500 billion bailout of the euro the same year.

Next up, there is $75,000 (€63,000) Mandelson was said to have received from Epstein, which........

© The Irish Times