Criminal assets - Time to stop free legal aid for the rich
Arguably, in the majority of cases, access to free legal aid is justified for those accused of serious crimes who cannot afford representation. But there is something seriously askew with a state system that enables infamous criminals to get away without paying legal fees when they are visibly flaunting the trappings of wealth, living in expensive houses, driving around in big cars, and taking frequent holidays abroad.
At the other end of the scale, a district court judge has criticised parents who are prepared to pay “handsome and princely sums” to secure bail for their children but are not prepared to pay legal fees. As Judge John Neilan put it “there is something radically wrong when parents can put €500 on the table for bail” but allow their children to avail of free legal aid.