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Barristers threaten strike over unpaid fees

Barristers in Northern Ireland who have been waiting more than four years to be paid for work on criminal cases are threatening to boycott new hearings until the pay dispute is resolved.

There are about 100 barristers in the Criminal Bar, and senior barristers have threatened strike action over unpaid legal fees. They have warned they could start sending back solicitor briefing papers on cases as soon as this Friday.

The Bar Council is currently in talks with the Northern Ireland Court Service in Belfast in an attempt to reach a settlement. It is understood that The Bar Council has suggested lawyers are owed up to £40m in back payments, with some having to wait more than three years before being paid.

The dispute centres on payments for criminal cases that last more than 21 days, which are known as Very High Cost cases. A payment structure was set for Very High Cost cases in 2005 but fees have yet to be paid out. Barristers are also angry at delays in payment relating to children's care cases, which had fees reset in 2000.

They also want an increase in legal aid fees for cases in magistrates' courts, which remain unchanged since 1993. A spokeswoman from the Courts Service said discussions were continuing to avoid the need for industrial action.

Industrial action would mean trials would have to be put back, people would go unrepresented and it would create many backlogs in the system.

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