Barristers’ Month-Long Boycott Halts Criminal Trials Across Northern Ireland

Belfast: So, here’s the scoop. Criminal barristers in Northern Ireland have kicked off a month-long boycott of legal aid-funded crown court cases. This is all part of a bigger fight over their fees, which they feel haven’t been adjusted in ages.

The barristers are stepping back from these cases for the rest of January, and it’s a pretty big deal. It’s not just a small protest; it’s a serious escalation in their ongoing dispute with the Department of Justice. Justice Minister Naomi Long expressed her disappointment over this move, saying it’s going to hit victims and witnesses the hardest.

Back in November, they had already decided to stop taking on new legal aid cases for the most serious offenses. And guess what? That’s not going away anytime soon. Donal Lunny KC, who heads the Bar Council, called this withdrawal “regrettable” but also “inevitable.” He pointed out that the fees for this kind of work haven’t changed since 2005, meaning they’re now worth about half of what they used to be.

Minister Long is trying to push for reforms to the legal aid fees, promising a “significant uplift,” but she also mentioned that it’s going to take time to get those changes through. She stressed that this kind of industrial action isn’t going to speed things up; it’s just going to add more stress to those who really need legal help. So, it’s a tough situation all around.