CRIMINAL barristers in Northern Ireland striking indefinitely from today have called for urgency in addressing the “crisis” in the justice system.

Donal Lunny KC, chairman of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland, said barristers will not resume work on legally aided crown court cases “until the department shows the pragmatism and the urgency that’s required to resolve the issue of crown court fees.”

Counsel in the region had already withdrawn their services in some legal aid-funded cases last year due to the long-running dispute with Stormont’s Department of Justice.

Barristers plan to increase their action from Monday by not participating in any current cases before the crown courts.

“It’s important to recognise that it was very much a last resort step,” Mr Lunny said.

“As to how much of an impact it has, that’s very much in the hands of [Britain’s] Department [of Justice].

“The department, if they want to deal with this crisis — and there is a crisis in the criminal justice system aside from this strike — there is a crisis in the system that the department aren’t showing any urgency in attempting to tackle.”