Minister to query solicitors' withdrawal from rape cases

Updated / Tuesday, Jim O'Callaghan said the public have a right to answers over what happened Mícheál Lehane By Mícheál Lehane Political Correspondent The Minister for Justice will call on solicitors to explain why cases involving allegations of rape were, in his words, "deliberately affected" yesterday in the dispute over changes to the legal aid scheme. Minister Jim O'Callaghan will tell the Oireachtas Committee on Justice that the public are entitled to an answer as to why this was the case. A majority of solicitors working in criminal legal aid across the country have been in dispute with Minister O'Callaghan since a new €520 flat-fee payment for legal aid cases was introduced in July. The minister insists that legal aid continues to be granted ; solicitors continue to provide representation, and defendants continue to receive legal services throughout the State. However, he will acknowledge that, particularly in Dublin, a number of solicitors have withdrawn services which has impacted court hearings. But Minister O'Callaghan will state that despite this, in the Central Criminal Court yesterday, the majority of cases proceeded without issue. Five trials continued in the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, with both Waterford and Limerick unaffected . There were also 12 new trials listed in the call over in Dublin yesterday. In two of those cases, the jury was sworn in, and the cases will commence today. A guilty plea was entered in a third case. Three trials were adjourned to 20 October on application, unaffected . Six cases were adjourned due to the withdrawal of services by solicitors. The minister will point out that every one of these was a case involving an allegation of rape. He will place on the record his deep concern that the only cases "deliberately affected ". The minister said he will continue to engage with the Law Society, adding that he has already agreed to a number of changes to the new scheme. Watch: Minister Jim O'Callaghan discusses the legal aid dispute on RTÉ's Six One News We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preferences More stories on News Courts Ireland Politics