Court says using the "V" word no crime in Italy

ROME (Reuters) - Vaffanculo!

Use of the "V-word" -- as common in Italy as the "F-word" is in America and Britain -- is no longer a crime following a ruling handed down on Tuesday by Italy's highest court.

In a decision that had many politer Italians cursing under their breath, the court overturned a 2006 ruling in favour of a deputy mayor whose honour had been deemed offended by a foul-mouthed city councillor.

Article 594 of Italy's penal code includes such offences under a category of honour crimes which carry fines and even jail time in severe cases.

But the high court ruled that the use of Vaffanculo, generally translated as 'f*#% off', was too common in Italy these days to justify penal action.

"Its unfortunately frequent use, sadly widespread ... has changed its impact," the court ruled, while lamenting the "deterioration in language and good manners".

Christian Democrat lawmaker Luca Volonte said the ruling offended him "as an Italian citizen and a parent".

Italy's main consumer rights organisation, apparently worried about the way customers might be treated following the ruling, criticised the high court for backing a cultural slide toward "increasingly vulgar language".

"It leads one to believe that some terms or swear-words might not be insults for the simple reason that they are being used more and more frequently," said Codacons' Carlo Rienzi.