Court sittings impacted as barristers go on strike for the first time

CRIMINAL barristers across Ireland have gone on strike for the first time ever in a dispute with the government over a failure to reverse pay cuts to the sector.

They protested outside courthouses around the country from 10am this Tuesday - the first full day of the new legal year.

The dispute revolves around pay cuts that were administered to the legal sector in Ireland as a result of the financial crisis.

Barristers protesting were joined by criminal defence solicitors, who have also withdrawn their services over failures to reinstate cuts to their fees.

Proceedings in hundreds of criminal cases have been disrupted due to the action, with many having been adjourned as a result.

The Bar Council of Ireland has stated that its members feel they have “no alternative but to take this action”.

Speaking outside Limerick Courthouse, Cian Kelly BL (see video) called for barristers to be treated on a par with other public servants in the justice sector.

“We sit in courtrooms every day, and we look around the courtroom and we'd see guards have had their pay restored, prison officers have had their pay restored, probation services court service staff, the judiciary, everybody else in the room, bar us have had their pay restored,” he explained. “We just want a bit of parity.”

This is the first strike of its kind in the history of the State. According to Mr Kelly, barristers have not yet ruled out further action.

“This is a unique situation. This hasn't happened in centuries of our profession in Ireland,” he said. 

“Everything is possible. We have to see what the outcome of today is. Hopefully we can get an amicable solution, because that's what we all want.”

Courts around the country operated at a reduced capacity due to Tuesday morning's action.

The normally bustling Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was very quiet, with the benches reserved for barristers and solicitors both empty.

All 22 cases listed for hearing before Judge Orla Crowe in Court 5 were adjourned to future court dates.

These included six cases due to be sentenced, which were put back to upcoming court dates in November.