Flat Fee Fiasco Halts Waterford Courts | Waterford News

Waterford courts ground to a halt as 218 cases are postponed—blamed on legal aid solicitors staging a protest against a new flat fee of 520 euros per defendant, regardless of case complexity. The Law Society warns this one-size-fits-all fee will drive lawyers off criminal aid panels, jeopardizing access to justice for the most vulnerable, including those with mental health issues or addiction. Critics say the Department of Justice ignored their input and failed to account for complex or sensitive cases, while the minister stands firm on the plan—sparking a looming crisis as summer recess looms and backlogs swell. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/49080b2c1181fb60