County’s criminal justice system in crisis, say local solicitors

New figures from the Courts Service show a dramatic reduction in the number of criminal legal aid certificates being granted by the Roscommon District Court office following the introduction of the new Criminal Legal Aid Scheme in July.

In the Roscommon area, the number of certificates granted fell from 51 in July 2025 to just one in July 2026.

In a letter to the Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, the Law Society has called for the appointment of an independent mediator to help resolve the impasse over the new Criminal Legal Aid Scheme.

Roscommon solicitor Seán Mahon, president of the Roscommon Bar Association, said that the figures provided by the Courts Service were deeply concerning and demonstrated the scale of the reduction in criminal legal aid certificates since the new scheme came into effect. 

"Access to legal representation is a fundamental part of ensuring that the criminal justice system operates fairly and effectively. Solicitors in Roscommon are seeing first-hand the impact that the new scheme is having on the provision of criminal legal aid, leaving many without access to justice.

"These figures should prompt an urgent review of how the scheme is operating in courts across the country. We would encourage the Minister and the Department of Justice to listen to the experience of practitioners on the ground and to take practical steps to ensure that access to justice is protected,” said Mr Mahon.