ReutersStaff at a Belfast hospital were disciplined after a plaque marking the official opening by the Duke of York went missing, according to emails seen by the BBC.
The plaque sparked an investigation by health officials after it was removed without permission from Belfast City Hospital in January 2022.
It comes after Prince Andrew faces civil action in the US over allegations of sexual assault – claims he denies.
The Belfast Trust said that while the plaque had been recovered, staff’s “behaviour” had been dealt with “in accordance with the trust’s disciplinary procedures,” and that no decision had been made to restore the plaque.
Prince Andrew officially opened the Belfast City Hospital tower in June 1986, and a plaque marking the occasion was placed near the front entrance.
It disappeared after the Duke of York was sued by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed he assaulted her in 2001 when she was 17.
The case was settled out of court without Prince Andrew accepting responsibility, but agreed to pay an unspecified amount to Ms. Giuffre and her charity for the rights of victims.
Among the controversies, military titles and royal patronages were returned for the late Elizabeth II.
At the time, the Belfast Trust said the plaque had been removed “without direction” and had launched an “wherever possible” investigation.
ApartAccording to emails obtained by BBC News NI, the trust carried out a “significant event audit” of the plaque’s removal, which took several months.
The incident was investigated by an independent consultant appointed by officials, according to an email from a senior staff member in December 2023.
The member of staff said that “action was taken to address the behavior of staff in accordance with the trust’s disciplinary procedures”.
In another email, he said the plaque had been removed “due to the sensitivity arising from the allegations circulating in the national media at the time”.
Pacemaker PressDisciplined staff ‘shocking’
The trust received a complaint in January 2022 that said the plaque “caused offence” and asked that it be removed, according to the email.
Social Democrat and Labor Party (SDLP) health spokesman Colin McGrath described the idea of disciplined staff over the matter as “outrageous”.
The Stormont councilor said that “if anything, they have done themselves a disservice by removing the reference”.
“Either return the staff or return the commemorative display for Prince Andrew. I know which side I will be on,” he added.
People Before Profit (PBP) Assembly member Gerry Carroll said the hospital should not have a plaque bearing Prince Andrew’s name.
“I have no doubt that workers and the general public will be shocked to learn that this exists.
“Hospital workers should not be reprimanded for expressing their opposition.”
‘in storage’ plaque
In a statement, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust said no decision had been made to restore the plaque at the city’s hospital.
“A thorough investigation has been carried out by the Belfast Trust, and action has been taken to address the behavior of staff in line with the trust’s disciplinary procedures,” said a spokesman.
“A decision has not been made regarding the plaque, and it remains on hold.”
Premier Video / PADetails of the plaque have emerged ahead of the latest series of TV drama Prince Andrew’s main interview with reporter Emily Maitlis for BBC Newsnight.
Interview 2019, many consider it a “car accident,” see the Duke of York speak candidly about his friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Part three Amazon Prime Series The very Royal scandal comes months after the rival dramatization of the Newsnight interview, Scoop, released on Netflix.
In the week after the plaque disappeared, several Northern Irish political parties have asked that the Union flag not be flown at Belfast City Hall to mark Prince Andrew’s birthday.
Board members later agreed to goinstead decided it should be flown on July 1 to mark the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
