Irish legal professionals walk out of Dublin court over pay dispute
Around 200 criminal defence solicitors and barristers walked out of the Criminal Courts of Justice on Monday as the new legal year began in Dublin.
FTMQ News, written by our newsroom0 views
Around 200 criminal defence solicitors and barristers walked out of the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin on Monday, according to The Journal. The Irish Examiner also reported on the walkout. The protest coincided with the start of the new legal year and the return of the Central Criminal Court. [1][2]
The Journal reported that lawyers are protesting a lack of action from Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan to settle ongoing pay disputes. Holly Laher, a criminal defence solicitor for Ferrys Solicitors, stated that confidence in the minister has eroded and called his lack of dialogue a cynical ploy. Defence solicitors expressed serious concerns regarding the tenability of O'Callaghan's position. [1][2]
As FTMQ News reported earlier, criminal defence solicitors have been in a legal aid dispute with O'Callaghan since June. Chief Justice Donal O'Donnell expressed concern about the ongoing dispute, stating that it is a matter of concern to judges. [5]
O'Callaghan is an Irish Fianna Fail politician who has served as Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration since January 2025. He has represented the Dublin Bay South constituency as a Teachta Dala since the 2016 general election. [3]
In short
- Around 200 solicitors and barristers walked out of the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin.
- The walkout took place at the start of the new legal year on Monday.
- Legal professionals are protesting Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan over an ongoing pay dispute.
- Criminal defence solicitors have been in dispute with the justice minister since June.
Sources
Every paragraph above points to the numbered items it rests on. Read the originals here.
- [1]Solicitors extend walkout amid concerns for tenability of Jim O’Callaghan’s jobThe Journal, 1h ago (the report this story comes from)
- [2]Solicitors walk out of courts and raise 'serious concerns' over Jim O'CallaghanIrish Examiner, 2h ago
Background
- [3]Jim O'Callaghan on Wikipedia
- [4]2026 in United Kingdom politics and government on Wikipedia
- [5]Irish Chief Justice raises concern over ongoing legal aid dispute FTMQ News, 2h ago
Our newsroom writes these reports with the help of software, from the 5 sources listed and nothing else, and checks them against those sources. Facts can still be wrong or move on; the originals are the record. Spotted a mistake? Write to daniel@monsterkong.com.
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