In other news, it's reported that senior members of the Defence Forces have held a high-level meeting to determine the number of serving personnel with convictions for gender-based violence.

The meeting was convened following the public response to the suspended sentence given to Cathal Crotty, the serving soldier who was convicted of a serious violent assault on Natasha O'Brien in Limerick.

In the Irish Times Fintan O'Toole cites an alarming number of similar sentences for men who have been found guilty of gender-based violence, and describes "a distorted system in which hundreds of people go to jail for non-violent offences and the non-payment of fines but violent and dangerous men go free."

Elsewhere, the controversial WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is due to plead guilty to violating US espionage law, in a deal that will end his imprisonment in Britain and allow him to return home to Australia after 14 years. 

Meanwhile, following the feverish speculation about the possibility earlier this year, Minister for Finance Michael McGrath is expected to be nominated as Ireland’s next European Commissioner following discussions between the Coalition party leaders last night. 

In other news, The 13th annual Spirit of Mother Jones festival takes place in Cork from 25th July. The festival celebrates the life of Cork born Mary Harris, known the world over as Mother Jones who devoted her life to the cause of the trade union and to fighting injustice. 

Zen

Your Zen moment this morning is a performance by A Lazarus Soul of their song Long Balconies in Donore Boxing Club, situated in the Teresa's Gardens council flats in The Liberties.

The performance is filmed by Myles O'Reilly, whose gorgeous films on YouTube have nurtured me through a few days of illness (bloody Covid strikes again...nasty dose doing the rounds at the moment). 

Have a lovely day.

Niall