The Court of Appeal in the UK has reserved its judgment on whether a pregnant woman committed "a crime of violence" against her child when she drank a "grossly excessive" amount of alcohol while pregnant.

The Court of Appeal is being asked to decide in a test case whether a pregnant woman committed “a crime of violence” against her child when she drank alcohol to excess while pregnant.

Drinking during pregnancy could become a criminal offence in the UK, women’s charities have said.

A would-be Ukip councillor has been suspended over offensive comments Nigel Farage said were “entirely inconsistent” with being a member of the party.

US insurance company Assurant Solutions has confirmed it is to pull out of Cork with the loss of up to 170 jobs.

President Michael D Higgins has defended actor Gabriel Byrne as a fine ambassador for Ireland in the wake of his controversial remarks about The Gathering.

Millions of Britons faced travel misery today with planes grounded, rail services cancelled and roads rendered impassable on what is traditionally the busiest weekend before Christmas.

Staff at computer giant Hewlett Packard are to stage a fresh wave of strikes in a row over pay and jobs, it was announced today.

BNP leader Nick Griffin has alleged the three main political parties in the UK were trying to prevent the BNP getting its message across after he had to abandon a press conference outside the Houses of Parliament today.

BNP leader Nick Griffin had to abandon a press conference outside the British Houses of Parliament today after protesters barracked him and threw eggs.

The British National Party has won its its first two seats in the European Parliament.

Scouts travelling on a coach in Canada were tonight involved in a head-on crash with a lorry.

UK housebuilder Bellway today said reservations were 7% lower than a year ago after the credit crunch caused nervous consumers to put off house purchases.

Wallace and Gromit have topped a poll to find the most inspirational figures in the creative arts world.

Two races over the Grand National fences on the same day at Aintree and Haydock’s leg of a £1m (€1.46m) bonus look certain to attract jumping fans to the inaugural North West Masters.

Graeme Evans

Bookies William Hill today said it had struck an agreement to buy 624 betting shops from rival Stanley Leisure in a deal worth £504m (€736.5m).

THE two major drugs gangs in Limerick, based in St Mary’s Park and Ballinacurra Weston, get their supplies from varied sources, according to gardaí.

A further three people have been arrested in connection with the on-going investigation into alleged race-fixing, the City of London Police have confirmed.

McInerney Holdings plc has completed the acquisition of Alexander Developments, an independent house-building firm in the north-east of England.

United Utilities today said an expansion of the home shopping business of Marks & Spencer will deliver a £35m (€52m) revenues boost to its outsourcing arm.

Tony Blair today told of his concern that the British government “handle by the book” the emergence of a possible source for a controversial report on its Iraqi weapons dossier.

UP to 12,000 women may be travelling to Britain for abortions every year - almost double the official figures.

IMPRESSED by McInerney Holdings latest trading forecast, Dolmen Securities have re-iterated their buy recommendation on the share predicting a 33% upside for the stock over the coming year.

A world record bid by five climbers hoping to scale five Irish and British peaks in less than 24 hours has been put on hold because of adverse weather conditions.

Ferrets face a ban on European travel after MEPs voted not to give them passports.