A derogation was granted to allow the continuation of some trials, including that of Stephen McCullagh who was jailed for 31 years for the 2022 murder of Natalie McNally.
Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister will accept all the recommendations of a review into legal aid fees and will implement increases to rates and fees.
Criminal barristers in Northern Ireland have been involved in a long-running dispute over fees for legal aid and have been engaged in legal action, which has effectively halted crown court cases involving those who require legal aid.
A derogation was granted to allow the continuation of some trials, including that of Stephen McCullagh who was jailed for 31 years for the 2022 murder of Natalie McNally.
In February, Naomi Long agreed to start an accelerated review into the matter and it was concluded on April 27.
In a written statement on Wednesday, Ms Long said she would “take the necessary steps” to implement its proposals.
They include a 8.66% increase to all criminal legal aid fees and counsel fees for preparing and submitting skeleton arguments on sentencing in the crown court.
There will also be a 26.05% increase to hourly rates for Exceptional Preparation in the crown court.
Ms Long said she is also looking into additional changes to Exceptional Preparation hourly rates and criteria and other associated fees and said she is also extending the 8.66% uplift to civil and family proceedings.
In her statement, Ms Long said these measures will cost an additional £5.4 million a year and said she is “making that investment in the interests of the system, the victims, witnesses and defendants who have been affected by the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) action.”
In a statement, the Bar of Northern Ireland said members of the CBA have been intensively engaging with the Department of Justice on the matter since 2024 and participated in the review.
They said the CBA Committee met Ms Long on Wednesday where she outlined her department’s position in relation to the review’s recommendations, adding: “The wider CBA membership will meet to consider its response as soon as possible.”
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