Teenagers appeared in court in Ireland without legal representation as a solicitors' strike continued, The Irish Times reported on Thursday. The paper attributed the situation to the ongoing industrial action by solicitors.
The dispute has sharply reduced the number of criminal legal aid certificates being issued. The Irish Examiner reported that certificates fell by 93 percent, while Midwest Radio reported a major drop in such certificates in Mayo. RTÉ.ie and the Irish Examiner both reported that the Law Society has called for a mediator to help resolve the legal aid dispute.
The row centres on reform of legal aid fees, according to the Irish Independent, which reported that dozens of solicitors have broken ranks amid the disagreement. The material reviewed did not include further detail on the strike's duration or the specific fee proposals at issue.
The accounts from the outlets describe a system under strain, with the decline in certificates leaving some defendants, including minors, to face proceedings on their own. The figures cited by the Irish Examiner and Midwest Radio point to the scale of the disruption to criminal legal aid work.
What to watch next: whether a mediator is appointed and whether the fall in legal aid certificates continues.
