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Nichola Green, deputy chief executive of Victim Support Northern Ireland, highlighted the added trauma that victims and witnesses have endured due to the recent barristers’ strike. She emphasized how the postponement of cases has caused significant distress and, in some scenarios, compounded the emotional suffering for those involved. Victims often find themselves repeatedly revisiting painful experiences as trials are delayed multiple times.
Green described the profound psychological toll this has on individuals, noting that many suffer from sleepless nights, anxiety, panic attacks, intrusive memories, and difficulty concentrating ahead of their court appearances. The disruptions also force victims to take time off work, arrange childcare, and prepare themselves mentally—sometimes spending months summoning the courage to enter a courtroom. The sudden adjournments, especially when caused by the unavailability of legal representation, undo all their preparation and prolong the ordeal unnecessarily. She firmly stated, “That’s unfair. It shouldn’t happen. They shouldn’t be collateral damage in this.”
The strike itself centered on pay issues, as Donal Lunny KC, chair of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland, pointed out that Crown Court legal aid fees have remained unchanged for two decades. In response, Justice Minister Naomi Long agreed to implement recommendations from a review of criminal legal aid, which included an 8.66% increase in all criminal legal aid fees. Following this, on 18 June 2026, 66% of the Criminal Bar Association members voted to end the strike and return to full service.
The Criminal Bar Association released a statement acknowledging the strike as a last resort amid a deepening justice crisis. They expressed their commitment to resolving the dispute and resuming full services at all Crown Court cases. The CBA also pledged to cooperate with justice partners to address cases affected by the withdrawal of services. Justice Minister Naomi Long underscored that victims and witnesses remain the priority as efforts are made to repair the system. She referenced recovery plans from the Lady Chief Justice, which aim to prioritize vulnerable cases and deal with those ready to proceed as quickly as possible. The Department of Justice described the strike’s conclusion as a “positive development,” hopeful it will lead to the full restoration of court services by all members
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