WATCH: Striking Limerick barristers don't rule out further protests

OVER 20 criminal law barristers gathered outside Limerick Courthouse this Tuesday to plead their case for legal aid fees to be increased.

Emergency public service pay cuts during the financial crisis have left barristers fees at 2002 levels or down over 40%. 

The  median income in Ireland at the moment for a barrister is €46,000 said Cian Kelly BL, Limerick representative on the Bar Council. He was joined by many colleagues including some of the best known barristers in Limerick - Mark Nicholas, Brian McInerney, John O’Sullivan and Pat Barriscale. 

Mr Kelly (watch video) said since 2008 when the financial emergency cuts were made across the board to the public sector, the bar council have been trying to engage for the restoration of fees paid to barristers. 

“We are being paid the same as in 2002. While we got support from the Department of Justice and Director of Public Prosecutions and different stakeholders it is ultimately the Department of Public Expenditure. We’re not even getting a response from them which is frustrating,” said Mr Kelly, who agreed when it was put to him that it was “a slap in the face”.

He agrees that there are people at the top of the profession who do very well and “nobody is denying that but like in a lot of professions it is people down the line that are very different”.

“For example, in sport, people at the top do very well but it is the people at the bottom that are different. We are very conscious of the fact that we are trying to attract a much more socio-economically diverse profession and from outside what people think of a traditional barrister. It is trying to get people from different backgrounds but people have financial restraints.

“When somebody is doing law in UL or Galway or Cork they are being offered enormous money by different corporations to go in house - that is why it is more difficult to attract talent. It is an incredible job to do - I love it and I know most of my colleagues love it as well. We are representing people at the most difficult time that they will ever face in their lives. It is a privilege but people want to be able to make a decent living - pay the mortgage and everybody’s costs are going up at the moment,” said Mr Kelly.

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The barrister said standing outside the courthouse is not something they want to be doing. 

“Everybody wants to be inside representing their clients, getting people the best results that we can get for them in court and setting out their story. The protest isn’t for an immediate restoration of fees. We are simply asking the Government to put us into a mechanism with a fixed finish - let that determine the fees. We are not putting a gun to anybody’s head saying we want x per cent - put us into the scheme and we are happy to plead our case,” said Mr Kelly, who didn’t rule out further strikes.

“Hopefully we will see something in the Budget in the next couple of weeks. If not everything is on the table. We have to look at every possible option. This is a unique situation. People have been doing this job in Ireland for centuries and this has never happened before. I’m not ruling out further protests and I’m not ruling anything in. Hopefully we can get an amicable solution as that is all we want,” concluded Mr Kelly.

Many Limerick solicitors practicing criminal law also withdrew their services this Tuesday in support of their legal colleagues but did not gather outside the courthouse.

Julianne Kiely, president of Limerick Solicitors Bar Association, said they also wish to add their voice in protest at the ongoing situation in relation to criminal legal aid fees for solicitors that has continued now for well over a decade.  

“Cuts were imposed during the difficult financial years and despite promises at that time that fees would be restored, this never came to pass. 

"The criminal legal aid fees paid were higher in 2009 than they are today. They were slashed to their lowest in 2012 and have remained at that level since. It has become increasingly difficult to remain in practice given the level of fees paid and in the face of ever rising inflation and cost of living," said Ms Kiely.