Sexual violence cases must be exempt from legal aid dispute, charity urges

Comments come after Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns told the Dáil that 10 out of 12 rape trials scheduled on a date in July could not go ahead due to the action

Clíona Saidléar, executive director of Rape Crisis Network Ireland, is concerned that the dispute has not been resolved ahead of the new legal term beginning in October. File Picture

Sexual violence cases must be given an exemption from the current action being taken by solicitors over the new criminal legal aid system, according to Rape Crisis Ireland.

Executive director of the organisation, Clíona Saidléar, said it is concerned the row between solicitors and justice minister Jim O’Callaghan over the introduction of a flat fee for criminal legal aid cases has not been solved ahead of the new legal term beginning in early October.

Solicitors across the country have been withdrawing their services since the courts returned after the August break in opposition to the flat fee — although some have returned to work.

Ms Saidléar told the Irish Examiner: “We have concerns that we are now starting into the new term and this is not looking like it is fixed, that something has been worked out. 

"That is a concern because it will really begin to impact once the new term starts properly.

“We would call for an agreement that sexual violence cases are exempted from this action.” 

In July, rape survivor Ciara Mangan, founder of the Beyond Surviving charity, said the emotional and financial wellbeing of victims and their families is being put at risk by the ongoing dispute.

Just days earlier, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns told the Dáil that 10 out of 12 rape trials scheduled for the Central Criminal Court on one date in July could not go ahead because of the dispute.

During a session of the joint committee on justice, Law Society of Ireland president Rosemarie Loftus warned there is usually a high volume of trials listed when the new legal term begins in October.

Members of the committee were also told that people accused of domestic abuse and rape can now personally cross-examine alleged victims in court because of the ongoing dispute.