'This is intolerable': Judges criticise solicitors' withdrawal of service

A new trial date needed to be set for a sexual abuse case involving a child complainant as court heard solicitor in case withdrew their services on the original trial date in June

The complainant had prepared their victim impact statement and was due to travel to court for the sentence hearing on Tuesday but was advised last night that it would not be going ahead due to the withdrawal of services. File picture

Two High Court judges have criticised solicitors withdrawing their services as they were forced to adjourn trials and sentencing matters involving child complainants and serious sexual offending.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott was told on Tuesday that a new trial date needed to be set for a sexual abuse case involving a child complainant. The court heard that the solicitor in the case withdrew their services on the original trial date in June. The child complainant is in counselling.