Published date:
“I am deeply disappointed that the industrial action from the Bar Association has further escalated and will affect all Crown Court legal aid cases throughout January.
“I had hoped that the Department of Justice and the legal profession would find common ground following the recently announced reform programme outlined by the Justice Minister. I would urge the Department and the Bar to engage in meaningful dialogue in an effort to avoid this proposed action.
“My thoughts are with those victims of crime, who were already facing a Christmas period worrying about their hearings in the New Year, and will now have added uncertainty and delay to worry about.
“It is imperative that the Criminal Bar Association liaise closely with the Victim and Witness Care Unit and support agencies to give as much notice as possible to any victim or witness that is going to be impacted by this strike.
“Last time there was industrial action I warned that there had been insufficient coordination and communication to mitigate the foreseen impacts on victims and witnesses.
“It is infeasible and would be unforgivable if we end up in a position again where victims impacted by this action get only a few day’s notice of changes to hearing dates.
“Strike action always has the potential to be traumatic to victims and last minute uncertainties will only serve to make that worse.
“Many of those victims have already faced unacceptable delays in their cases reaching court, and this strike will only exacerbate those delays, prolonging their trauma and potentially jeopardising justice.
“In the longer term, we must see work continue to reform the current legal aid system which has long been highlighted as financially unsustainable and in dire need of structural reform.