Politicians in the North defend character references for tax evaders

Two politicians in the North say they have no regrets about giving character references to two brothers who pleaded guilty to massive tax evasion.

Patrick and John McParland, who own the Canal Court Hotel in Newry and the Carrickdale Hotel in Co Louth, were were fined more than £1m (€1.4m) and given four-year suspended jail sentences for failing to declare money in 20 offshore bank accounts.