Dublin People
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Place a Classifieds Ad
  • Place a Memorial Ad
  • Place a Planning Ad
Toggle Menu
  • News
    • Southside
    • Northside East
    • Northside West
  • Sport
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Health
    • Motoring
    • Travel
    • Arts & Culture
    • House & Home
  • Community
    • Crime & Courts
  • Business
    • Education
    • Jobs
  • Digital edition
    • Northside People East edition
    • Northside West edition
    • Southside People edition
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Place a Classifieds Ad
  • Place a Memorial Ad
  • Place a Planning Ad

Defence lawyers protest at courthouses throughout Ireland

Padraig Conlon 02 May 2023

Junior and senior lawyers gathered outside courthouses around the country today to protest about the pitiful rates of pay paid to defence lawyers practicing in the District Court under the criminal legal aid scheme.

Barristers practicing in the District Court are paid €25.20 for a remand hearing, €50.40 for a plea in mitigation at a sentence hearing and €67.50 for a full trial hearing.

One of the organizers of the protest, Darren Lalor BL said:

“I believe that it is good for the administration of justice to have people from different backgrounds working as barristers in the criminal justice system.

“It is bad for the administration of justice to create an environment where only people with independent resources can survive in the profession.

“It is time to shout STOP! We must never sit back and become the face of failure – Stand up and be the face for change.”

Mr. William Morrin BL very recently left the Law Library and now refuses to accept briefs under the criminal legal aid scheme.

“I value the time and effort I have made to become a practicing barrister, but it appears no one else does,” he said.

“The sad realisation that I was only filling in the gaps of a dysfunctional system is a bitter pill to swallow.

“Like many, I was propping up the criminal legal aid scheme until more newly qualified barristers came in and took my place and the places of many who have struggled before.”

Ms. Sinead Morrissey is a Barrister at Law candidate in the King’s Inns.

“I have worked so hard to get where I am, and I look forward to getting the Barrister at Law qualification,” she said.

“But to think my passion for practicing in criminal law has been pulled from under me by a broken system is soul destroying.

“My only hope of survival is in another area of law. I have a lot to contribute.”

Ms. Aine Holt BL was called to the Bar in 2022 and is nearing the end of her pupillage.

“It is unjust that cuts made to Criminal Legal Aid pay rates as a result of the financial crisis long ago remain in force and were not unwound in line with common practice,” she said.

“These cuts affect newly qualified barristers who cannot afford to stay in a system that fails to remunerate.

“The criminal justice system is skewed in favour of those with independent finances. It is unjust that a system of justice perpetuates injustice.”

Advertisement

The protest titled “A Celebration of Failure” was supported by a number of senior barristers who do not practice in the District Court. Mr. Luigi Rea BL is a criminal defence practitioner.

“Prosecution and legal aid defence fees are anchored to 2002 rates,” said Luigi Rea BL.

“Cuts made long ago have not been unwound despite economic recovery for some, alongside roaring and corrosive inflation for all.

“How can it be that a DOPEAR1 unit overruled two previous Ministers for Justice as to what fees should be paid to lawyers in serious criminal trials affecting victims and those wrongly accused.”

Mr. Feargal Kavanagh SC practices in the higher courts.

“There is a strong public interest to be served in a properly funded criminal defence system,” he said.

“The criminal legal aid system is not just about representing those who cannot afford to pay – it is about ensuring a fair, reliable, and effective system as required by law for identifying wrongdoers and upholding the rights of victims.

“The State is obliged to provide ‘effective’ legal aid to all those who qualify.

“The present rate of fees under the scheme were set in 2002 or thereabouts.

“To expect that the absence of any increase in rates since would not result in the undermining of the operation of the criminal law system is at best ignorant.

“A full review of the scheme is long overdue.

“Talented young barristers are being forced to leave the practice of criminal law as it is no longer a financially viable career path.

“In my view it is well past the time for barristers practicing criminal law to individually demonstrate that the scheme cannot operate without them and that without it the operation of the criminal courts is impossible.”

Mr. Michael O’Higgins SC also practices in the higher courts:

“Lawyers working in the District Court are providing a very important public service: this includes holding the authorities to account and upholding human and civil rights.

“This is part of the work at all levels in the criminal justice system. It is essential that this work be funded properly at all levels.”

  • Dublin

Post navigation

>
<

Related News

Children’s House Primary 70th anniversary celebrations

Padraig Conlon • 29 Sep 23

Homeless figures down slightly from record high

Mike Finnerty • 29 Sep 23

Bike dumping widespread in Dublin 15, says Councillor

Mike Finnerty • 29 Sep 23
  • FOLLOW
    DUBLIN PEOPLE
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Trending Now

  • United Ireland would be “wonderful” but “cannot be enforced”, say U2
  • Dublin Cycling Campaign marks 30 years of campaigning
  • “No urgency” from An Bord Pleanála on flood protection says Councillor
  • DART station lift is “like something out of a horror movie”


Dublin People Group
Dublin People Northside East
Dublin People Northside West
Dublin People Southside

The Dublin People Group is the largest local newspaper in Dublin, with three popular weekly titles serving the city: Northside People East, Northside People West & Southside People. Each of our titles are compact and available every Monday. Our publications are distributed throughout Dublin’s suburbs to homes, pick-up points and businesses.

DPG Publications Ltd
Unit 3 Robinhood Industrial Estate Dublin 22 Ireland.
Publisher of the following newspaper titles. The Northside People East, The Northside People West & The Southside People Newspapers

  • FOLLOW
    DUBLIN PEOPLE
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Phone: 01-8621611
Advertising: sales@dublinpeople.com
News: news@dublinpeople.com
Planning: planning@dublinpeople.com

  • Contact Us
  • Cookie policy (EU)
  • Privacy statement (EU)
  • Disclaimer
  • Return,Refund and Cancellation policy
  • Advertising and Pricing Policy
Copyright © 2021 Dublin People
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Manage Cookie Consent
We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}
Go to mobile version