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The Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime Geraldine Hanna has responded to news that the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) will partially end its industrial action as “not good enough”.
Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime Geraldine Hanna said
“I am deeply disappointed that the Criminal Bar Association’s industrial action is continuing.
“The fact that the CBA will continue to refuse to take new instructions in Category A (murder and manslaughter) cases and retrials and continue to refuse to take new instructions in multi-complainant Category D (sexual offences) cases will continue to add delay and further harm to some of the most traumatised victims in our system.
“This industrial action has added months of unnecessary delay to a system already suffering from chronic and unsustainable delay.
“And who is paying the price for this ongoing feud?
“Once again it will be the victims of crime who are denied justice and the public of Northern Ireland who will rightfully worry that they will be less safe, the longer dangerous people are not brought to justice.
“I welcome the fact that the CBA have voted to partially return in certain Crown cases and have committed to derogation, where a risk of serious harm has been identified, but it is a source of deep frustration and disappointment that industrial action continues in some of our most serious cases.
“This is not good enough and the people of Northern Ireland deserve better. The CBA should get back to work fully and the Department should work at pace to put our legal system on a sustainable footing.”