Long updates Assembly on Criminal Bar Association action
Date published:
Justice Minister Naomi Long today made an oral statement on the withdrawal of services by the Criminal Barrister Association (CBA).
“It is with profound disappointment that I make this statement,” she said.
“It is not a statement I anticipated making in the week legal aid fees were increased by 16 percent; in the week when an additional £6.15 million is being paid into bank accounts; and in the week when Barristers are receiving £1.8m of those funds.
“I know many Members in this chamber will be equally perplexed. The decision of the CBA to effectively hold victims of crime and the wider justice system to ransom in order to leverage further significant fee increases is at odds with reality. It is at odds with the reality of what has taken place since my return to office, with the reality of what has been achieved, with the reality of what the CBA has themselves agreed, and it is very much at odds with the reality of the trauma and suffering of the victims and witnesses who are being impacted by this unreasonable and unwarranted withdrawal of services."
The full statement can be viewed via the following at Oral Ministerial statement - Criminal Bar Association withdrawal of services | Department of Justice
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