Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson says it is 'sheer madness' to think that a jury trial could have been held in the case of Thomas 'Slab' Murphy.

Mr Murphy was convicted of tax evasion last week, with Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams saying he was denied his rights as the case was heard by the Special Criminal Court.

However the North's outgoing First Minister Peter Robinson says that it was an appropriate place for this hearing.

But Mr Adams has reiterated comments he made over the weekend, calling the use of the Special Criminal Court to hear the tax evasion case against Murphy as "extraordinary".

Mr Adams says Mr Murphy was not treated fairly, as such cases should not be heard before a non-jury court.

Gerry Adams, a TD for Louth, told LM FM that while Sinn Féin is opposed to tax evasion, people's rights should be respected.

"In a way this has nothing to do with Tom Murphy, this has got to do with the right of a citizen to be tried by a jury of his peers, as opposed to - in this case - and it is quite extraordinary, that the non-jury Special Criminal Court heard this case. Now, that's just wrong, it's unfair".