Justice Minister Naomi Long has expressed "profound disappointment" following the decision by the Criminal Barrister Association (CBA) to withdraw services from legally aided Crown Court cases.

In an oral statement to the Assembly, the Minister questioned the timing of the industrial action, noting that it comes during a week when legal aid fees were increased by 16% and an additional £6.15million in funding was being distributed. Of those funds, the Minister stated that barristers are receiving £1.8m.

Addressing the chamber, Naomi Long said: "I know many Members in this chamber will be equally perplexed. The decision of the CBA to effectively hold victims of crime and the wider justice system to ransom in order to leverage further significant fee increases is at odds with reality. It is at odds with the reality of what has taken place since my return to office, with the reality of what has been achieved, with the reality of what the CBA has themselves agreed, and it is very much at odds with the reality of the trauma and suffering of the victims and witnesses who are being impacted by this unreasonable and unwarranted withdrawal of services." The strike action follows a ballot on 11 December 2025, where 89 per cent of voting CBA members supported the withdrawal of services, which commenced on Monday 5 January 2026.

The Bar of Northern Ireland, representing the barristers, argues that the move is a "last resort" following two decades of declining fees and departmental inaction. They claim that the current legal aid system is failing both victims and the accused, placing an "intolerable burden" on legal professionals.

A spokesperson for the Bar stated: "The Department's response has come too late and fallen significantly short of what is required to stabilise a system in crisis. It hasn't addressed the accumulated decline in fees over the past 20 years. It hasn't given any commitment about when, what or even whether any further fee increases will be made, and it hasn't treated criminal barristers equally to others."

The Bar Council has reiterated its willingness to enter into mediation or dialogue with the Department of Justice to resolve the dispute, following a suggestion from the Lady Chief Justice. While acknowledging the significant impact the strike will have on defendants, witnesses, and victims, the CBA maintains that the "alarm has been sounded for a significant period of time" regarding the funding crisis.

The Department of Justice continues to monitor the impact of the action on the administration of justice as the stalemate persists.