Court delays mount as legal aid row deepens
The solicitors have warned that the scheme is having knock-on effects for victims, vulnerable defendants, and the courts system in Roscommon. Pic: iStock
Court business in County Roscommon is being hit by fresh delays as the ongoing legal aid dispute continues to push cases back, with Judge James Faughnan warning that disruption is set to deepen unless Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan “sees sense” in the coming weeks.
The issue arose again at a recent sitting of Castlerea District Court when another list of legal aid cases was adjourned to a later date due to the withdrawal of services by solicitors.
The dispute, which has been going on since a cap on legal aid fees was put in place on July 1st, is set to cause even more disruption when circuit court proceedings start up again in a matter of weeks.
Judge Faughnan asked in court if there were any developments in the dispute, with solicitor Alan Gannon informing him that there were none.
“Everybody seems to be telling the Minister to engage, but his engagement is to say no. It will ramp up next month with the start of circuit court proceedings. It’s hoped that that will put pressure on the Minister,” he said.
At last week's sitting of Strokestown DC, all but one of the criminal legal aid cases were adjourned due to the dispute.
Roscommon Circuit Court is set to begin on November 3rd, with a four week special sitting immediately beforehand to begin on October 6th.
