Cork Solicitors Threaten Full Withdrawal from Legal Aid Panel Over Flat Fee
Cork solicitors threaten to withdraw from the Criminal Free Legal Aid panel on July 1st if Minister Jim O’Callaghan implements a €455 flat fee. This action, involving 50 solicitors, would halt court proceedings, adjourning hundreds of cases. The dispute arises as legal aid costs in District Courts nearly doubled to €37 million by 2024.
Solicitors in Cork threaten to escalate industrial action and withdraw from the Criminal Free Legal Aid panel if Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan introduces a flat fee for all criminal work on Wednesday, July 1st. Approximately 50 solicitors on the panel in Cork city and county have agreed to resign.
Minister O’Callaghan proposes a flat fee of €455, replacing the current payment schedule. Lawyer Tom Coughlan stated that 90 percent of solicitors on the panel would resign if the Minister unilaterally imposes this proposal, leading to a «100 percent reduction in costs» for the scheme in Cork due to lack of participation.
This full withdrawal would significantly impact court proceedings, potentially adjourning up to 250 District Court cases daily and 250 sentencing hearings by July 10th at Cork Circuit Criminal sessions. Solicitor Joe Cuddigan informed Judge Miriam Walsh of the proposed escalation, predicting major disruption to both district and circuit courts. Judge Dermot Sheehan described the situation as «a mess.»
Since the dispute began earlier this month, solicitors have appeared in court but not acted for clients, and no new free legal assignments have been made. Cases are being adjourned, and defendants are making bail applications without representation. The Department of Justice notes that District Court legal aid costs nearly doubled from €19 million in 2015 to €37 million by 2024, driven by increased offenses attracting aid and multiple certificates for single incidents.