Writer Julie Burchill will not face prosecution over an article she wrote which critics claimed whipped up racial hatred against the Irish.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed today there was no case to answer.

Police investigated a complaint by social worker John Twomey who believed her article broke Section 70 of the 1976 Race Relations Act.

Ms Burchill, who lives in Hove, told The Argus that she stood by every word.

She said: "It was a critique of the Irish state and its perverted priests, not of the Irish people."

Mr Twomey complained to police after reading the article by Ms Burchill about Irish celebrations of St Patrick's Day.

The Press Complaints Commission has rejected three complaints about the article, judging the piece "general comment" outside its remit.