Buttimer warns over cuts to legal aid pay as he earns €750k

The top earning criminal legal aid lawyer in the country, Frank Buttimer, said yesterday that if legal aid pay rates are reduced any further, it will become uneconomical for lawyers to provide a legal aid service.

The high profile Cork solicitor made his comments after Department of Justice figures show that Mr Buttimer earned the top amount in legal aid payments for the third year in a row last year when he received €757,678 (incl Vat). The amount received by Mr Buttimer follows the solicitor receiving €714,865 in 2012 and €889,659 in 2011.

The figures released follow the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter confirming earlier this week that the amount in fees paid out last year through criminal legal aid payments rose by €760,000 to €47.78m.

The total amount paid out under the scheme totals €50.8m and the additional monies include fees paid for experts’ reports.

The figures released yesterday show Mr Buttimer’s practice received over €200,000 more than the practice of solicitor Cahir O’Higgins, who received €575,966.

The best-paid barrister in the country last year through criminal legal aid was Anthony Sammon SC who received €343,087.

The second best-paid barrister was Brendan Grehan SC who received €336,703. Mr Grehan is to defend in the Central Criminal Court later this year Sanjeev Chada, aged 43, of Ballinkillen, Bagnalstown, Co Carlow, who is charged with the murder of his sons, Eoghan, 10, and Ruairi, 5, at Rosbeg, Westport, on Jul 29, 2013.

Other high profile barristers to feature include Michael O’Higgins SC (€304,839), Sean Gillane SC (€238,687), Brian McInerney BL (€311,388) and Luigi Rea BL (€300,525).

Another notable appearance on the list is former triple Olympic gold medallist, Michelle Smith de Bruin who last year more than doubled her legal aid earnings increasing from €21,041 in 2012 to €48,685.

In an interview yesterday, Mr Buttimer said that the €757,678 is inclusive of 23% Vat and is paid arising from the work of four solicitors, including himself, on the legal aid panel at his practice and also supports the salaries of three administrative staff.

He said: “Lawyers have accepted significant cuts to their pay, like other sectors, but if there is any further reduction in legal aid rates, it will make it uneconomical to provide a legal aid service.”

He added: “I would challenge the Government to see if the legal aid service could be done any cheaper or made more efficient than the current system — in my opinion, it could not be.”