Brady meets law society on legal aid cuts
Assembly Member for Newry & Armagh Mickey Brady met with Law Society Chief Executive Alan Hunter recently to discuss the impact of legal aid cuts on solicitor’s practices, clients and the community.
Speaking after the meeting Brady told Newry Times, “I am extremely worried about the effects this proposed legislation will have on those who simply cannot afford legal fees.
“We simply cannot operate a legal system in which a section of the public will not have access to legal support. This is morally unacceptable and an affront to equality.
“I met with Mr Hunter in his capacity as Chief Executive of the Law Society to hear his and the Society’s members concerns regarding the introduction of these cuts to legal aid. I have also met with legal professionals in Newry and their concerns are the same.
“They fear that a huge portion of their clients will be forced to do without proper legal representation simply because they do not have the financial means to access this service. I can accept that the legal aid system may be in need of reform but surely there are other ways of streamlining services which will not include cuts to front line provision.
Brady added, “I will be passing all of these concerns to my colleagues on the Assembly’s Justice Committee to be raised with Minister Ford.”
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