Prince Andrew could be arrested if he goes to the US, warns prominent lawyer

Updated
Prince Andrew makes a speech in the opening ceremony during day one of the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium.
A lawyer has stated that Prince Andrew may be detained in America if he travels there (PA)

Prince Andrew is facing calls to cooperate with US investigators over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal but a top QC has warned he may be arrested if he enters the country.

Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, a prominent human and civil rights lawyer working in Scotland, said that if the Duke of York were her client she would advise him not to fly to America to speak to the FBI.

The Labour peer, who defended Moors murderer Myra Hindley during a trial in 1974 for attempting to escape from Holloway Prison, warned if the prince was to fly to the US, he might be arrested and unable to leave.

Prince Andrew's Newsnight interview was a PR disaster (BBC News)
Prince Andrew's Newsnight interview was a PR disaster (BBC News)

Baroness Kennedy said: "I wouldn't be wanting to send him there because I would be very concerned that suddenly he might be arrested and not able to leave the US.

"I would be very anxious about that."

The Baroness said that the FBI could speak to Prince Andrew in the UK instead, “in the ways that we have of mutual assistance”.

Read more from Yahoo News UK:

Immigrants fly into the UK on paragliders, claims UKIP election candidate

Alex Salmond 'lay on top of woman and tried to rape her'

Head teacher jailed after sexually exploiting children as young as four

Speaking to the BBC, the QC said: "If I was his lawyer I would absolutely have advised against him taking part in this interview.

“I would have got a very clear sense that he wasn't going to be able to handle it very well."

FILE - This March 28, 2017, file photo, provided by the New York State Sex Offender Registry, shows Jeffrey Epstein. Two correctional officers responsible for guarding Jeffrey Epstein the night before he took his own life are expected to face criminal charges this week for falsifying prison records. That’s according to two people familiar with the matter. The federal charges could come as soon as Tuesday and are the first in connection with Epstein’s death.. (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP, File)
Prince Andrew's links with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein are at the heart of the scandal (AP)

She criticised the Duke’s "very weak language" for describing child sex crimes as “unbecoming”, and described his reaction to questions posed by Newsnight journalist Emily Maitlis as “shocking” and “ill-considered”.

Buckingham Palace confirmed today that Prince Andrew would still be able to attend certain high-profile events, including Remembrance Sunday and Trooping the Colour, despite his announcement that he is to stand down from public duties.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK

Advertisement