Is it unjust to give free legal aid to serious criminals?

The justice minister is reviewing a system that costs €50m a year and that unquestioningly finances repeat offenders, but public defenders would not be cheaper and may involve a conflict of interest, writes Caroline O’Doherty

SALLY HANLON has to prepare victims of crime for cross-examination by a barrister who is being paid by the victim’s taxes to defend the person who has ruined their life.

“There can be a lot of anger and frustration, at the fact that the person who commited a crime against them is being, or, at least, it seems is being, helped out of the situation with free legal aid,” says Ms Hanlon, founder of the Support After Crime charity.