Cork solicitor hits back at Minister O’Callaghan’s strike comments

A Cork solicitor has hit back at Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan over comments he made regarding the current solicitors’ strike describing them as grossly unfair and insulting.

Mr O’Callaghan queried why six cases involving allegation of rapes were “the only cases deliberately affected by the withdrawal of services in the Central Criminal Court” on Monday.

Solicitors have since sharply criticised the minister’s comments, arguing that thousands of cases across the country were adjourned on Monday, include robbery, arson, fraud, burglary, violent disorder, drugs offences, and money laundering cases.

Cork-based solicitor Tom Coughlan said the minister’s comments were “grossly unfair and insulting” and called on him to withdraw them.

“I’ve spent 26 years of my career protecting my clients – many of whom are victims of crime, victims of domestic violence,” Mr Coughlan told The Echo.

“In the criminal defence work I do, I am mindful of the complainants, and to posit the notion that solicitors would target rape victims is a tremendous slur on the profession,” he added.

“He said he respects the role of solicitors in the system, to make such an outrageous statement against the profession is unwarranted, unfair and not true.”

He said the minister was trying to create “a narrative which is grounded in misinformation”, arguing that the cases the minister cited where multiple legal aid certificates were issued were in the extreme minority of cases.

“You don’t shut down the Office of Public Works because of one bicycle shed,” he said.

The Law Society said that it has made “numerous” requests for a meeting to Mr O’Callaghan, and said the administration of justice is being disrupted across the country and is “causing real anxiety and distress” to victims of crime, and defendants.

They pointed to comments by the Chief Justice Donal O’Donnell expressing concern at the continuation of the dispute, and a High Court judge due to deliver a judgment on the criminal legal aid issue, who urged both sides to seek a resolution.