The father of murdered Irish student Nicola Furlong has described Paddy Power’s decision to allow bets on the Oscar Pistorius trial as “disgusting” — asking if the bookmaker would put up odds if his own children had died.

Paddy Power has defended its decision to take bets on the outcome of the Oscar Pistorius murder trial and run high-profile adverts promising to refund losing bets if the South African is found not guilty.