Irish justice minister accuses striking solicitors of targeting rape cases

Irish Justice Minister Jim O Callaghan accused striking defence solicitors of targeting rape cases as a legal aid dispute escalated on October 19, 2026. Independent.ie and The Irish Times both report that O Callaghan expressed deep concern over rape cases being affected by the withdrawal of legal aid services. The Irish Times reported that O Callaghan denied claims of chaos in the courts despite the action. [1][2][3][4][5]

defence solicitors, particularly in Dublin, began withdrawing legal aid services in July following the introduction of a new flat fee system for District Court cases, according to The Irish Times. The Irish Times reported that the action expanded on Monday to cases in the Central Criminal Court, including custody and children cases. [2][3][4]

O Callaghan is scheduled to tell the Oireachtas justice committee on Tuesday that rape trials were the only cases deliberately affected by the withdrawal on Monday, The Irish Times reported. Criminal defence solicitor Michael Finucane rejected the claim that rape or any specific cases were targeted. Justice committee chairman Matt Carthy criticised the handling of the issue by O Callaghan, who maintained he will not reverse the new legal aid rules. [2][4]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, criminal defence lawyers have been engaged in a pay dispute with O Callaghan since June. More than 200 solicitors and barristers walked out of the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin earlier in October as the new legal year began. [7][8]