Survivors Left Paying Legal Bills | Cork News

The Women of Honour, a vital group representing abuse survivors in the Defence Forces, are sidelined as legal battles in the High Court stall the tribunal’s next public phase. The Department of Defence refuses to cover legal costs for survivors — only funding the Minister and Chief of Staff — forcing victims to pay their own bills, sparking outrage. The group seeks judicial review, arguing it’s deeply unfair given their pivotal role in launching the tribunal. Meanwhile, tribunal chair Justice Ann Power may soon decide if witnesses can get legal aid during proceedings — currently only available post-trial and conditional on truthfulness. A bitter stalemate emerges: the department blames late filings by the survivors’ team, while survivors say the department missed its own deadline. With uncertainty mounting, the tribunal’s progress hangs in the balance — and so does justice for those who’ve already endured so much. 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/b348e63d9a8e41d6