A teenager and her mother who are fighting for women from Northern Ireland to receive free abortions on the NHS in England are to have their case aired at the UK's highest court today.

A costly court ruling yesterday put the spotlight on the terms of the debt deal that Providence Resources struck with Melody Finance late last year, as the Barryroe oil and gas explorer led by Tony O’Reilly Jnr unexpectedly lost a multi-million euro legal dispute with an international drilling company over delays in the Celtic Sea.

A property developer is waiting to hear whether he has won the latest stage of a legal battle with two of the UK’s best-known businessmen over control of a £1bn (€1.16bn) company which owns three of London’s most famous hotels.

British National Party leader Nick Griffin fought off a bid to have him declared guilty of contempt of court today.