British monarch Queen Elizabeth (left) and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson this morning

This morning.

UK House of Lords, London

“My government’s priority has always been to secure the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union on 31 October.…”

“My government intends to work towards a new partnership with the European Union, based on free trade and friendly cooperation….seizing the opportunities that arise from leaving the European Union”.

“My government remains committed to working with all parties in Northern Ireland to support the return of devolved government and to address the legacy of the past.”

UK’s Queen Elizabeth opening Parliament at the Houses of Westminster this morning

Queen Outlines Government’s Agenda (BBC)

Pics: BBC

Meanwhile…

The British Home Office has won its appeal against an immigration tribunal ruling which found that people born in Northern Ireland are not automatically British.

The woman at the centre of the case, Emma DeSouza, from Magherafelt, Co Derry, applied for a residence card for her US-born husband Jake. She made the application identifying herself as an Irish citizen.

The UK Home Office rejected the application on the grounds that it considered Ms DeSouza a British citizen. Officials told her she could either reapply identifying herself as British, or renounce her UK citizenship and reapply as an Irish citizen.

Um.

Tribunal finds against Derry woman in British citizenship case (RTÉ)

Women hold a Catalan pro-independence “Estelada” flag in Barcelona this morning Spain’s Supreme Court sentenced nine Catalan leaders to prison terms ranging from nine to 13 years for sedition and misuse of public funds for their role in a failed 2017 independence bid.

This morning.

Protests were immediately staged across Catalonia as Spain’s Supreme Court sentenced nine Catalan leaders to prison terms of between nine and 13 years for sedition for their role in a failed independence bid in 2017.

The long-awaited verdicts were less than those demanded by the prosecutionwhich had sought up to 25 years behind bars for former Catalan Vice President Oriol Junqueras on grounds of rebellion.

Catalonia leaders jailed for sedition by Spanish court (BBC)

‘An outrage’: Catalonia and the world reacts as separatist leaders handed jail terms (The Local.es)

Pic: AFP

Free Halloween?

Via Dublin City Councuil:

The Cauldron of Smithfield event which is brought to life by Dublin City Council is back and it is guaranteed to thrill and terrify!

From the 23rd – 30th October, the Smithfield and Stoneybatter Cauldron Tour will be visiting locations around Dublin 7 where it will be holding mini festivals in several locations.

On October 31, in Smithfield Square, there will be some fantastic activities for you to sink their teeth into, including our 1,000ft zip line and our daunting Giant Climbing Wall…..

…We have also added ‘Halloween Town’, a special area for families with younger kids. Featuring Magic Shows, Puppet Theatre, Circus Acts and more…All FREE

The Cauldron of Smithfield

Things to do on Halloween to broadsheet@broadsheet.ie marked ‘Things To Do On Halloween’. No fee.

Dublin Fire Brigade tweetz:

This is a genuine photo. Firefighters came across this on an inspection of a building this Fire Safety Week 😮

3 fire hazards….. Ok one is pretty obvious, can you spot the other 2?

Yikes.

Anyone?

Here’s How.

The lively current affairs podcast presented by William Campbell (above right).

William writes:

Paul Cullen, the Irish Times Health Editor(above left) is a lifelong cyclist, but some bike enthusiasts thought an article of his – and many others in his paper – are victim-blaming vulnerable road users who suffer the most in collisions.

In our discussion, I mentioned a number of articles and scientific studies, including this analysis of the reporting of deaths of vulnerable road users by Joe Lindsey, and this study by Kelcie Ralph et al. I also mentioned that international and Irish studies indicate – contrary to popular imagination – motorists break traffic laws more frequently than cyclists….

Listen here

Here’s How

Members of media outside Dublin Castle in February 2017, as the Disclosures Tribunal took place

This morning.

At 10.30am in Dublin Castle.

The Disclosures Tribunal will reconvene with Mr Justice Sean Ryan presiding.

It will be examining Garda Nicky Keogh’s claims that he was mistreated after making allegations of Garda collusion with a drug-dealing operation in the Midlands.

In May 2014, then Independent TD Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan told the Dáil:

“[Garda Nicky Keogh]’s greatest concern with the drugs operation in November 2009 is that there was a systematic and orchestrated effort by high-ranking Garda officers to induce and coerce citizens, in this case citizens with no previous criminal conviction, to buy drugs from drug dealers, putting them in personal danger, and sell the drugs in turn to undercover gardaí without making any profit, thus boosting crime detection figures concerning arrests, charges and convictions. The result of this operation was that these mostly young citizens of the State, who had no previous drug convictions, now have serious drug convictions.”

Mr Justice Ryan has already said the tribunal will not be examining the claims made by Garda Keogh which, he says, prompted his alleged mistreatment.

Previously: ‘Delay May Have Allowed The Evaporation Of Evidence’

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