SOLICITORS working in the criminal legal aid system in Portlaoise District Court staged a walk-out this morning in an escalation of the dispute over legal aid payment reforms.

A JUDGE commended a defendant’s legal knowledge before using his case as an example that “75 per cent of the adjournments in this court” were the fault of the state, and not solicitors protesting legal aid changes, as is being widely suggested.

‘We have been forced into this situation to withdraw our services’ – solicitor Barry Fitzgerald

A DAY after the contentious reforms of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme came into force an issue arose at Portlaoise District Court on how a defendant could access treatment to address his addiction issues.