330 jobs go at Elan

The US-owned Elan Pharmaceutical company is to cut its 900-strong Irish workforce by more than a third.

The move, forced on the firm after a disastrous year that has seen its shares value plunge by 95%, will mean the loss of 250 jobs at its plant, which includes a research and development department near Athlone, Co Westmeath, and another 80 at two offices in Dublin, where Elan has its corporate headquarters.