DPP’s decision leads to delays in paying defence barristers

A “marked and sudden” change of direction by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) over the handling of criminal legal aid fees is to blame for significant delays in paying defence barristers, according to the Department of Justice.

Last July, the DPP informed the department it was breaking a “longstanding” arrangement in which the director provides information on prosecution legal fees as a benchmark for what defence counsel should be paid.

While legislation ...