Brendan O’Carroll has responded to claims that his family members have been involved in a tax avoidance scheme.
Following the release of the Paradise Papers, Mrs Brown’s Boys star Fiona O’Carroll (Brendan’s daughter) was doorstepped by a BBC reporter asking about her tax affairs on current affairs show Panorama.
And now, Mrs Brown’s Boys creator Brendan O’Carroll has furiously responded.
Speaking to The Sun, Brendan said that the reporter was “stalking and ambushing a young woman walking to work alone”.
“They scared the life out of her. Obviously, I was angry. Fiona was in tears. I spent the whole day comforting her.
“Fiona was genuinely confused by this guy, running up, asking her about her wages. She didn’t know who he was, or what he was talking about.”
The Paradise Papers, which exposed the tax affairs of some of the wealthiest people and companies in the world, allegedly revealed that three actors from Mrs Brown’s Boys – Paddy Houlihan, Martin Delany, and Fiona Delany (née O’Carroll) –  were paid through an offshore structure in order to avoid huge amounts of tax.
In a furious letter to Panorama, Brendan accused the show of trying to “tarnish the name” of Mrs Brown’s Boys.
Speaking about his daughter being blindsided by the reporter, Brendan wrote, “She is not an oligarch laundering money through Greek banks, nor does she deal in the arms trade, deal drugs or traffic people.
“She has never committed a crime in her life, she doesn’t have a private yacht or own a collection of luxury cars. She drives a Kia people carrier which is necessary if you have four toddlers.
“None of the Mrs Brown people have a Rolls Royce or a yacht. Yet there seems to be an effort going on to tarnish the name of the show. But I’m sure the viewers know us better, that we are upfront, and always have been.”
“Pro Fid are the agency that represent Paddy Houlihan, Fiona and Martin Delany. We pay them as normal, in euros, on foot of invoice. What Pro Fid do or don’t do once paid is beyond the control or business of my company.
“What I do know is that nobody in our employ has done anything illegal. None of our family nor any cast were listed in the Panama Papers and this feels like a witch-hunt for the sake of it.
“I also know this. Neither myself my wife or ANY company associated with Mrs Brown’s Boys are now nor ever have been involved with any tax avoidance scheme. I have worked very hard for over 20 years to build this company.”
“I reserve the right to take the most severe legal action available to me. (That is lawyer speak) I would have just said F*** Off,” he added.
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