Criminals to pay back legal aid

Published Friday, 03 February 2012

Those convicted of crimes in Northern Ireland will have to pay back their legal aid, if they have sufficient means, under new proposals out for consultation.

The Justice Minister wants to reduce Northern Ireland's legal aid bill. (© UTV)

Local legal aid costs are among the highest in the UK and Justice Minister David Ford has said he's determined to reduce spending as much as possible.

"I believe that where there are defendants in the Crown Court who can afford to pay for the costs of their defence, they should be required to do so upon conviction," Mr Ford said.

He has stressed that the proposals will only target those who can afford to pay.

"This is not about penalising those of modest means, but will be targeted at those defendants who are convicted and can clearly afford to pay for their own representation," he confirmed.

New legal aid rules introduced by Mr Ford last year - which saw solicitors' fees reduced in high-cost cases - sparked a protest which saw a number of law firms withdraw their services.

The dispute was later resolved, following talks between the Law Society and the Department of Justice.

Comments

4 Comments

Jamesbelfast in Belfast wrote (110 days ago):

Yes I do believe criminals should be made to pay for all the legal costs for prosecution, defence, victims, and police investiagtion costs. Even if they don't have money now but if they aquire sufficient money years later costs should still be made ot pay. What concerns me most is how anyone who has sufficient monies can claim legal aid in the first instance - sounds like there is little or no investigation into criminals financial affairs before legal aid is granted. Is this another blunder by the Law Society and/or the Dept., of |Justice.

David in BELFAST wrote (110 days ago):

Mr ford said "I believe that where there are defendants in the Crown Court who can afford to pay for the costs of their defence, they should be required to do so upon conviction". Lets face it if they could have afforded to pay for their legal costs to begin with then it begars the question WHY GIVE THEM LEGAL AID TO BEGIN WITH.

Tomc in Belfast wrote (110 days ago):

In my opinion, once convicted the criminal should have to pay all costs. If you're innocent then you'll have no problem pleading not guilty, however for those who use not guilty pleas to play the system, it may just put them off stringing the court along.

rob in belfast wrote (110 days ago):

If they can pay it back why do they get it in the first place ?