Cancer Society to refuse donations from cigarette-maker's law firm

The Irish Cancer Society is to refuse donations from a high profile law firm.

The Society has taken the stance against Arthur Cox after it emerged last week that JTI, which it advises, had

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JTI is one of the world's largest tobacco firms and owns the Benson and Hedges and Silk Cut brands in Ireland.

The Arthur Cox firm donated €20,000 to the Irish Cancer Society in 2013 and 2014.

Head of fundraising with the Irish Cancer Society Mark Millett said the Arthur Cox contribution was a valuable one, but the Society had to take a stand.

"We rely almost entirely on support from companies and individuals to deliver our free services and help us fund research," he said, "but with smoking being one of the main causes of lung cancer - not to mention other cancers - we had to make this decision."