Payments by the State to barristers in the civil courts last year soared by 22% to €12m, figures show.

The lawyers involved in the long-running trial of killer Graham Dwyer shared almost €900,000 in criminal legal aid payments last year.

A man has denied before the High Court that he is the person being sought in connection with what has been described as the “racially motivated” murder of man in Manchester more than a decade ago.