Twelve high risk cases halted by barrister strike

Striking barristers declined to continue working on 12 high risk cases in Northern Ireland, the justice minister has said.

It is understood the cases include nine serious domestic violence cases, one rape and two serious sexual assaults - one involving a minor.

The strike, which began on 5 January, means no Crown Court cases involving people who require legal aid can proceed while the dispute continues.

In a statement, the Bar Council said it was "dedicated towards resolution and doing what is possible to mitigate the worst effects of this action" on the most vulnerable.

Justice Minister Naomi Long told The Nolan Show that 13 cases had been identified as having victims at continued risk from the accused.

"So far my understanding is that the Criminal Bar have only agreed to proceed with one of those cases and have refused the other 12," she said.

Long said "significantly vulnerable" people were being affected.

"I think it's very hard to appreciate just how distressing, how disruptive and how traumatising this is for victims and witnesses," she said.

"It's also incredibly challenging for those who are accused of these crimes, many of whom because of the very serious nature of them will be on remand in prison yet have not been convicted of any offence."

Last week, Long said her department did not have the adequate funds available to award barristers a pay uplift.

The chairman of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland, Donal Lunny KC, said the strike was called because Crown Court legal aid fees had not risen in 20 years.

Long said they had already had a 16% uplift to their fees.

On Wednesday, she told The Nolan Show some of those struggling in the profession were "suffering as a result of a small number of barristers who are hoarding cases".

She said one barrister received more than £3.8m from legal aid in 2025.

"That is the equivalent of what 53 other barristers earned together," she said.

"I am willing to look at pay, I'm willing to look at rates - I'm not taking anything off the table and never have."

In its statement, the Bar Council said it remained committed to constructive engagement with the Department of Justice and other parties to "resolve issues and arrive at a place where criminal barristers can make a full return to Crown Court work".

"No-one should be under any doubt, this action was a last resort," it said.

"Self-employed criminal barristers want to be in court, running and resolving these cases.

"Rather than engage in further media or debate across the airwaves at this time, we should engage urgently in mediation.

"That is the only way of achieving the urgent and pragmatic solution necessary to enable criminal barristers to get back to work and victims to have the access to justice that they deserve".