O’Callaghan wrapped for “unfair” comments by Ward

Fine Gael TD Barry Ward has continued his criticism of Fianna Fáil’s Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan.

Having criticised changes to Ireland’s immigration laws in recent weeks (with Ward saying he “fundamentally disagrees” with the changes brought forward by Minister O’Callaghan), the Dún Laoghaire TD has criticised the Minister for his behaviour during the ongoing legal aid row.

Minister O’Callaghan came in for fierce criticism last week after alleging that criminal defence solicitors deliberately chose to walk out on rape trials.

Changes brought forward by Minister O’Callaghan, with the aim of clearing a backlog in Ireland’s legal system, have created an even bigger backlog, with the industrial action rumbling on since July.

Minister O’Callaghan’s changes, which mean that solicitors will be paid a flat fee for their services regardless of how many days a trial goes on for, have been greeted with industrial action by legal professionals.

Minister O’Callaghan claimed that cases were “deliberately affected by the withdrawal of services in the Central Criminal Court were those involving allegations of rape”. 

Ward criticised Minister O’Callaghan for his words, saying that they were “emotive and wrong.”

Ward, himself a practising barrister, told Minister O’Callaghan, “there is no evidence to suggest that solicitors were deliberately targeting rape cases. I think it is very unfair and I think you should consider withdrawing your remark because you don’t have a basis for it.”

Minister O’Callaghan claimed that he wasn’t trying to “antagonise” solicitors with his remarks, and defended himself by saying, “I do have a responsibility to point out the information that is given to me by the Courts Service.”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin defended his Minister, saying that the Dublin Bay South TD “says it how he sees it.”

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties called on Minister O’Callaghan to retract his remarks.

“Such comments risk further embedding a serious impasse, when what is urgently required is constructive engagement and a resolution,” the organisation said.

“As the Minister for Justice, this responsibility lies with him. It is important now that the Minister aims to de-escalate and resolve the dispute, to vindicate the justice rights of all.”

Social Democrats TD and justice spokesperson Gary Gannon has called the proposed reforms a “complete disaster” and has “put our criminal justice system on the verge of collapse.”

The Dublin Central TD criticised the Minister’s “get-tough approach” and commented, “instead of using excuses, the minister should be sitting around the table with the Law Society with a view to finding a resolution to this highly damaging dispute. 

Labour MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin speculated that there is an ongoing leadership battle in Fianna Fáil, which is why “public services and the courts are grinding to a halt.”

“Two of the contenders can show how tough they are; this is the contempt they have for the public,” he remarked.