Five Costa Concordia staff jailed

Five people have been convicted in Italy over the Costa Concordia disaster. The cruise ship struck rocks and capsized off the Italian coast in January last year, killing 32 passengers and crew. There were around 40 Britons on board but all of them escaped.

Today five employees pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter and negligence. But the trial of the ship's captain continues.

ITV News reporter Lewis Vaughan-Jones reports:

The five people jailed over last year's Costa Concordia shipwreck disaster were handed sentences ranging from 18 months to almost three years after agreeing plea bargains.

Roberto Ferradini, the crisis coordinator of Costa Cruises, received the longest stretch of two years and 10 months.

The ship's hotel director, two bridge officers and a helmsman were the others sentenced.

The trial of Concordia's infamous captain Francesco Schettino, who stands accused of causing the accident, has been adjourned while further tests on the doomed ship are carried out.

Five employees from the Italian cruise firm that operated the stricken Costa Concordia have been convicted of manslaughter, the Associated Press has reported.

The cruise liner, run by Costa Crociere, rammed into rocks in January last year in a shipwreck that killed 32 people.