A NUMBER OF solicitors in Cork have resigned from the criminal legal aid panel.

The resignation follows confirmation from the minister for justice, Jim O’Callaghan, that a €520 flat fee for criminal legal aid would be introduced from Wednesday.

The solicitors made statements to sitting judges at the circuit, central and district courts in Cork today. 

Solicitor Tom Coughlan told Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford at the Central Criminal Court that he and other solicitors had no other option than to tender their resignation from the panel. 

Mr Coughlan, who has an office off Cork city centre, said that he has written to the justice minister to confirm his resignation from the criminal legal aid panel.

“This is an extremely upsetting matter.  I am very upset, my wife is very upset and my entire family is very upset by this. We felt we had no choice given the Minister’s comments. I and others are tendering our resignations from today.”

Since the dispute began earlier this month, solicitors already assigned in cases have been appearing in court to say that they are on record for clients but not in position to act for them because of the dispute. 

The ongoing dispute is causing a major backlog in cases. The majority of cases are being adjourned every day at Cork Circuit Criminal Court during the current session of the court. 

The cases are being adjourned to a future date in the hope that solicitors will be able to represent them at that time. 

Cork solicitor Joseph Cuddigan had announced at Cork District Court on Monday that mass resignations could be expected this week arising out of the ongoing dispute. 

Law society president Rosemary Loftus on Tuesday warned that solicitors across the country are resigning from the criminal legal aid scheme due to the changes.

O’Callaghan increased the proposed new flat fee from €455 to €520 following a week of disruption where thousands of District Court cases were adjourned after criminal defence solicitors withdrew their services in protest.

At present, solicitors are paid around €240 for the first appearance and about €60 for each subsequent sitting. 

On Friday, Loftus warned that the changes would lead to an “exodus” of solicitors from the area of practice by making it unsustainable financially.

On Tuesday she said that “it is our understanding that solicitors from across the country are resigning from criminal legal aid panels”.

“This will have a devastating impact on access to justice,” she added.