More Sinn Fein praise for convicted tax evader '˜Slab' Murphy

Conor Murphy said “everyone has a responsibility to pay their taxes,” but defended the Hackballscross man as someone who brought other republicans “along a journey towards peace”.

Speaking on BBC’s Nolan Show, the Newry & Armagh MLA said there were political figures in the Republic convicted of tax offences but not in the same media spotlight.

“There are many people who have been convicted of tax offences, and many of them involved in the political system in the south, and probably none of them convicted through the Special Criminal Court and none of them having the same degree of media attention.”

Mr Murphy added: “He is in the process of an appeal as far as I know.”