14,000 people on low incomes used legal aid in 2007

LEGAL Aid helped almost 14,000 people on low incomes last year, with most cases relating to marriage breakdown and child custody disputes.

Launching the Legal Aid Board’s annual report, chief executive Moling Ryan pointed out there had actually been a drop in the number of family-related cases in 2007 but warned numbers could rise again in the harsh economic times ahead.

Family law-related issues accounted for 85% of cases in advice centres.