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“The true cost of this industrial action will be borne by victims of crime.
“The decision by the Solicitors Criminal Bar Association to recommend that solicitors join the action on 4 November, will cause more confusion and heartache for victims due to attend court.
“The short notice given of this action will make it much more difficult for the Victim and Witness Care Unit (VWCU) to notify victims in time, with knock on impact on witness support services at court when planning support provision for Monday morning.
“This strike action was always going to be traumatic to victims and these 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.
“I recognise the right of our legal profession to take industrial action and acknowledge their legitimate concerns regarding legal aid fees and payment timeliness.
“However I find it extremely troubling that there has been insufficient coordination and communication to mitigate the foreseen impacts on victims and witnesses.
“In the longer term, we must confront the reality that the current legal aid system is financially unsustainable and in dire need of structural reform.
“This situation has persisted for far too long, with numerous reviews and recommendations over the past decade going unaddressed. The delay in implementing meaningful changes has contributed to the current crisis.
“This is particularly intolerable given that the work of the legal profession in the criminal courts is demanding both personally and professionally. The criminal justice system relies on skilled and dedicated legal practitioners to function effectively, and their ability to earn a fair living is crucial to maintaining access to justice.
“I trust the soon to be published review of criminal legal aid will explore a range of options to address the chronic issues plaguing our system. It is imperative that any solutions maintain access to justice whilst also upholding our duty to serve victims of crime.
“I intend today to write to the Bar of NI, the Solicitors Criminal Bar Association and the Department of Justice to urge them to engage in an intensive dialogue to reach a swift resolution to this dispute. All action must be taken to mitigate the harm to victims.”