Stormont Justice Minister hopes review will end criminal barristers’ strike

The Stormont Justice Minister has voiced hope that a review will bring the criminal barristers’ strike in Northern Ireland to an end.

Naomi Long urged an end to the withdrawal of services by the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), claiming victims and their families are being unnecessarily harmed.

The industrial action is part of a long-running dispute over fees for legal aid, which has seen crown court cases involving those who require legal aid effectively halted.

A derogation has been granted to allow the continuation of some trials, including that of the man accused of the murder of Natalie McNally in 2022, and the trial of a man accused of Chloe Mitchell’s murder in 2023.

In March, Ms Long said almost 1,000 court cases, including nearly 200 trials, have been affected by striking criminal barristers.

On Tuesday, she said it was “incredibly disheartening” that the action is still ongoing.

Speaking during questions for her department in the Assembly, Ms Long said the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) is deciding which cases should proceed.

“The ever-decreasing resources at our disposal should not be focused on mitigating avoidable levels of harm, neither should we be trying through derogations to balance the needs of those who have already suffered immeasurable loss and trauma, but unfortunately that is the very real outcome of the CBA decision to continue with their withdrawal,” she said.

“The withdrawal continues to unnecessarily harm victims and witnesses, and will cause damage to the system, which we don’t have the resources to repair.

“It is also to no end as it will not change outcomes.”

Ms Long said she has “repeatedly demonstrated” her commitment to resolve the “ever-changing asks from the CBA”.

“I demonstrated that commitment again when I commissioned the accelerated review, dedicating yet more of my ever-decreasing resources and appointing two independent leads in an effort to address the remaining issues at pace,” she said.

“That review is due to conclude no later than April 27, and I hope it will bring this unwarranted action to an end.”

Ms Long added: “In the interim, it is for the PPS to determine which cases should proceed while the withdrawal is ongoing.

“That was a condition of my commencing the review, it is right that those who properly understand the detail and impact of offences, and who are directly supporting victims and witnesses, assess which cases most need to proceed.

“That assessment will be based on the individual facts of case, including the nature of offence and level of risk of further offending towards complainants and others.

“I do not underestimate the challenge that presents for the PPS, and of course they should not be in the pernicious position of making those decisions.

“I would therefore call on all CBA members to return to full service as a matter of urgency.”