'Deeply regrettable': Disruption at Limerick District Court as solicitors continue industrial action
“I WILL be withdrawing my services today, Judge,” Solicitor John Herbert announced at today’s sitting at Limerick District City court.
The majority of criminal cases before Limerick District City Court have been adjourned due to the ongoing industrial action of solicitors operating within the legal aid system, June 25, 2026.
Joining the industrial action was Solicitor Tom Kiely, who described the situation as “deeply regrettable”.
When asked how long the industrial action is to continue, Mr Kiely stated: “Unfortunately, due to the lack of any constructive engagement from the Department of Justice, we cannot say how long the withdrawal of services will continue.”
“A genuine commitment to respectful dialogue and a willingness to postpone the implementation of the current proposals would allow these disruptions to end immediately,” he said.
The solicitor believes the legal aid reforms “will severely and negatively affect vulnerable accused persons, juveniles, and vulnerable witnesses.”
“They will also restrict a person’s right to access legal representation, creating significant disruption and uncertainty in the courts.”
Mr Kiely’s stance is part of a national industrial action, where solicitors of the District Court have withdrawn their services in protest of the Department of Justice’s legal aid reforms.
The withdrawal of services for legal aid cases does not apply to juvenile cases or for the representation of those in custody.
It has been confirmed that all solicitors operating on legal aid in Limerick city and the county District Court have withdrawn their services for criminal legal aid cases, with the exception of Solicitor Sarah Ryan’s firm.
The legal aid reform is due to be implemented on July 1, 2026, and will see the introduction of a flat fee for criminal legal aid for each case - regardless of how many offences an individual has been charged with.
The present system allows solicitors to be assigned a new legal aid fee for each appearance, and for each charge their client has before the court.
The proposed new system would see the current payment scheme scrapped.
The Department of Justice has claimed that the current legal aid fee structure has caused unnecessary adjournments.
This claim has been denied by many solicitors working within the legal aid system in the district court.
A survey carried out by the Law Society Gazette of over 200 criminal solicitors found that with the proposed new system, over 70% of solicitors would be “unlikely” or “very unlikely” to continue taking on criminal legal aid cases in the District Court.
This, the Law Society Gazette says, raises serious concerns about the future availability of legal representation in the District Court.
At the time of publishing, the Department of Justice has not yet entered negotiations with those undertaking industrial action.
Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme