Barristers in Northern Ireland plan withdrawal from crown court
updated on 18 December 2024
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Criminal barristers in Northern Ireland plan to withdraw their services from all legally aided crown court cases between 6 and 31 January.
The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) said a majority of members indicated their support for the strike at a meeting last week. This action will run alongside the ongoing withdrawal of services in certain categories, which began in November 2024.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has expressed its disappointment and stated that it hasn’t been “formally notified” of the CBA’s decision. A spokesperson said: "The department is moving at pace to improve the system for citizens including recently announced plans to increase fees which we expect to take effect next year."
However, chair of the Bar Council Donal Lunny KC explained that strike action was “inevitable”, noting that fees for legally aided criminal work haven’t increased since 2005. He also said: "Criminal barristers have indicated that the levels of remuneration in the most serious and complex of cases do not allow counsel to provide the expert advocacy that these cases demand and that the public deserves."
Geraldine Hanna, Northern Ireland's victims of crime commissioner, urged the DOJ to "engage in meaningful dialogue in an effort to avoid this proposed action".
She added: "My thoughts are with those victims of crime, who were already facing a Christmas period worrying about their hearings in the New Year, and will now have added uncertainty and delay to worry about.
"It is imperative that the Criminal Bar Association liaise closely with the Victim and Witness Care Unit and support agencies to give as much notice as possible to any victim or witness that is going to be impacted by this strike."
