As reported by RTE many cases had to be adjourned, and a single judge issued more than 25 bench warrants at the Dublin District Courts in the CCJ as defendants simply did not turn up. 

One defendant told the court that he had used the same solicitor for over 25 years but was now finding that he would not answer the phone. 

Solicitors have been withdrawing their services since June in opposition to the “one accused, one fee” model for criminal legal aid that was introduced by justice minister Jim O’Callaghan on 1 July. Under the new scheme solicitors will receive one fixed fee of €520 for representing a legally aided person before the District Court. Previously solicitors were paid €239.38 for a first appearance and €59.86 for each subsequent appearance.

The strike affects all but two solicitors firms in Dublin. 

Mr O’Callaghan told The Journal’s The Candidate podcast that there was a “very vocal group” of solicitors opposed to the reforms, but that many others were happy to work under the new scheme. He stressed that work was ongoing in the District Courts.

Solicitor Kate McGhee told the Press Association that while the minister “is continuously describing our jobs like we stand up for five minutes and that’s the end of it”, the “reality is there is so much more to the job” on top of looking at evidence and advising their clients.

Ms McGhee added: “For the minister to be saying that the courts are operating just fine is nothing short of laughable – but it’s also simply a lie because unless he is being told fibs in the Department of Justice, the fact is no one can pretend that this is going ahead even half as normal.

“It is at a standstill. There’s no other way of describing it.”