Court business in Mayo disrupted by barristers’ one-day industrial action
CRIMINAL barristers have been protesting on the steps of Castlebar Courthouse this morning in an escalation of their dispute over pay rates.
The protest is taking place as barristers nationwide enforce a one-day withdrawal of their services on the opening day of the legal year.
Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court, with Judge Eoin Garavan presiding, sat but all matters listed, including trials, arraignments and sentencing hearings, in the absence of the barristers and State prosecutor Patrick Reynolds, did not proceed.
Most of today’s court business was adjourned into tomorrow by Judge Garavan.
The majority of sentencing hearings listed for today were put back until October 23.
The dispute is over the fees paid to barristers by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) scheme.
The organisation representing the country's barristers has recommended that barristers who work in the criminal courts should withdraw their services for one day in October in an effort to get pay cuts imposed after the financial crash restored.
Today’s sitting of Castlebar District Court has also been affected by the industrial action.
The Council of the Bar of Ireland said it had not taken the decision to recommend the action to its members lightly, but it said it has been left with no alternative.
The Mayo Solicitors Bar Association (MSBA) has called on the government to meet with its members and local solicitor bar associations, the Law Society and the Bar Council of Ireland try to resolve the issues relating to criminal legal aid.
PHOTO: Pictured outside Castlebar courthouse are criminal barristers who have withdrawn their service as part of a campaign led by The Bar of Ireland to secure restoration of fees paid by the State.
Members include Brendan McDonagh, Aine Boyle, Mark Ryan, Brendan Browne, Deirdre Browne, Peadar O'Maolain, Diarmuid Connolly, Grainne Quinn, Dr. Laura Byrne, Pat Murphy, Darragh McDonagh, Patrick J Reynolds and Mary Catherine Duncan. Photo: John Mee Photography"