Brecqhou owners under Panorama's spotlight

THE millionaire owners of Brecqhou accused a Panorama journalist of being bent on revenge after a documentary aired last night criticised their tax arrangements.

The BBC programme analysed the accounts of the Ritz Hotel in London and journalist John Sweeney suggested it has used a series of tax reliefs to reduce its corporation tax to zero.

Mr Sweeney was sued by the Brecqhou owners in France in the 90s and was ordered to pay them 20,000 Francs in damages.

In a statement yesterday morning, Sir David and Sir Frederick's lawyer Gordon Dawes of Mourant Ozanne said: 'The only comment my clients have to make in advance of the programme is that Sir David and Sir Frederick believe this is Mr Sweeney's revenge for being sued for criminal libel in a French court some years ago, as a result of which the BBC had to apologise and pay damages and costs.'