Victims suffer ‘additional trauma’ as strike delays court cases

The barristers’ strike was over pay – the chair of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland, Donal Lunny KC, said Crown Court legal aid fees had not risen in 20 years.

Justice Minister Naomi Long agreed at the start of June to accept recommendations made in a review of criminal legal aid, including an additional 8.66% increase to all criminal legal aid fees.

In a vote taken on 18 June 2026, 66% of the members of the Criminal Bar Association voted to return to full service.

In a statement the CBA said: “The escalated withdrawal of services was taken by the CBA as a last resort and in response to a deepening access to justice crisis throughout the criminal justice system.

“Over the course of the action, and in all of its engagement with stakeholders and those affected by its withdrawal of services, the CBA remained united and steadfast, repeatedly stating that it wanted to urgently find a resolution that would enable all barristers to return to work in all Crown Court cases.”

“The CBA welcomes the fact that sufficient progress has now been made to enable full service to resume and appreciates all of the effort and engagement that has contributed to this outcome.

“The Criminal Bar Association is committed to working with criminal justice partners to advance those cases that had been impacted by the withdrawal of services,” it added.

Justice Minister Naomi Long told the BBC that the victims and witnesses affected would “remain the focus as we work to repair the system”.

“Recovery plans published by the Lady Chief Justice rightly prioritise cases involving the most vulnerable and seek to ensure cases ready to proceed are dealt with at the earliest opportunity in the interests of those who have been waiting too long for justice,” she said.

In a statement the Department of Justice called the end of the strike a “positive development” and said it hoped it would “result in a full return to services by all members”.