Suave actor Pierce Brosnan has attacked his native Ireland for its recent ban on smoking in public places.

The 51-year-old complains he has to travel to London to enjoy cigarettes and alcohol with friends, because the new law has destroyed pub culture in his homeland.

He says, "I can only enjoy the boozer in London. In Ireland you can't smoke, so that's slowly changing pub culture. It's a shame. The old cigarettes are good.

"When you are with a bunch of mates at 3am and the ciggies are flying around and you're shooting the breeze, owning the world, ruling the universe and having the best ideas, ciggies are great."

16/12/2004 17:46