The £5.6 billion takeover of More Than owner RSA by rival Zurich has collapsed after a slump in the Swiss group’s general insurance business prompted it to abandon the deal.

Two Laois brothers who served three-year jail sentences have had their convictions for raping a woman in a Dublin hotel quashed.

Insurance giant Aviva reported a “satisfactory” first half after cost-cutting boosted earnings by 5%, but delivered another blow to investors as it almost halved its interim dividend payout.

Sheilas’ Wheels owner esure warned that premium income growth was set to slow as rates come under pressure amid a car insurance price war.

Two Laois brothers have been granted bail pending an appeal against their conviction and three year sentence for raping a woman in a hotel room.

AVIVA Ireland said it is satisfied with the rate at which premiums are set and said it is not concerned with cost-cutting measures.

Hurricane Katrina was today estimated to have inflicted losses of up to £2m (€37m) on insurance giant Royal & Sun Alliance.

The Special Criminal Court has begun the trial of three men arrested after gardai discovered a large quantity of explosives in a disused fish shop in North Dublin.