Nearly 2,500 criminal cases delayed by Northern Ireland barristers’ strike

The data, obtained by BBC News NI, shows that 2,457 Crown Court cases were affected during the withdrawal of legal aid-funded services between 5 January and 18 June. They comprised 415 trials, 1,563 arraignments and 479 plea and sentencing hearings.

Criminal barristers voted to resume work earlier this month after reaching agreement with the Department of Justice over legal aid fees.

Victim Support Northern Ireland said the delays had caused significant distress for complainants and witnesses.

Deputy chief executive Nichola Green said those supported by the charity had reported “considerable distress and, in some instances, additional trauma” as cases were repeatedly postponed.

“When cases are postponed, sometimes repeatedly, victims are forced to relive the process over and over again,” she said.

“We regularly hear from victims who describe sleepless nights in the weeks leading up to a trial. They experience heightened anxiety, panic attacks, intrusive memories, and difficulty concentrating in general.”

She said many also had to take time off work, arrange childcare and prepare themselves psychologically, only for hearings to be adjourned at short notice because legal representation was unavailable.

The dispute centred on criminal legal aid fees, which the chair of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland, Donal Lunny KC, said had not increased for Crown Court work in 20 years.

Earlier this month, Justice Minister Naomi Long accepted recommendations from an independent review of criminal legal aid, including an 8.66 per cent increase in all criminal legal aid fees. In a ballot on 18 June, 66 per cent of members of the Criminal Bar Association voted to return to full service.

The association said the withdrawal of services had been a last resort in response to what it described as an access to justice crisis, adding that it was committed to working with justice partners to progress cases delayed by the dispute.

Ms Long said complainants and witnesses would “remain the focus as we work to repair the system”.

“Recovery plans published by the Lady Chief Justice rightly prioritise cases involving the most vulnerable and seek to ensure cases ready to proceed are dealt with at the earliest opportunity in the interests of those who have been waiting too long for justice,” she said.

Victims Commissioner Geraldine Hanna welcomed the end of the strike, saying it would come as “a great relief” to victims of crime awaiting hearings.

However, she added that it remained “simply not acceptable that a public service which affects some of our most vulnerable citizens was effectively on indefinite hiatus” for such a prolonged period.