Mayo jury panel asked to return on Wednesday in anticipation of dispute resolution

Mayo solicitors may lift withdrawal of service in dispute over legal aid reform if High Court grants stay on introduction of regulations

By Anton McNulty Published 6th Jul 2026, 13:30 BST Judge Eoin Garavan asked jury panel to return on Wednesday due to dispute Mayo solicitors may lift withdrawal of service in dispute over legal aid reform if High Court grants stay on introduction of regulations Sign up to our Mayo Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Mayo Live within your account.

A panel of Mayo jurors were asked to return to Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday in anticipation that trials will commence if a dispute over legal aid reform is resolved.

The introduction of a controversial new criminal legal aid payment model resulted in Mayo solicitors withdrawing their services in both the circuit and the district court last week.

As a result, no trials or sentencings could go ahead last week which has resulted in a backlog of cases in Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.

A High Court application brought by a Dublin solicitor requesting a stay on the regulations coming into effect is due to be heard in Dublin tomorrow. If the stay is successful, it is anticipated that solicitors will suspend their dispute with the Department of Justice and criminal cases can go ahead.

At this morning's call-over in Castlebar courthouse, Patrick Reynolds, counsel for the prosecution, asked that the jury panel return on Wednesday afternoon in anticipation that the dispute will be resolved.

“For the court's benefit, I suggest that a number of matters be returned to Wednesday and I would ask the jury panel to come back on Wednesday. There are moves afoot which may result in a resumption of normal service after tomorrow.

“I am making these remarks in anticipation...I don't know of course but I suspect what will happen,” he told Judge Eoin Garavan.

There were up to 16 cases listed for trial called at this morning's call-over with the barristers representing the defendant's informing Judge Garavan that they were present as a courtesy to the court but they received no instructions from their solicitors due to the dispute.

Five of the cases were adjourned to Wednesday with the hope that a jury will be empanelled to hear evidence while others were adjourned to later in the month.

The jury panel which consisted of between 70 and 80 men and women from Mayo were then informed by Judge Garavan that their services would not be needed today. He informed them to return at 2pm on Wednesday afternoon but if they are not required they will be informed by text message.

Judge Garavan thanked the jury panel for attending but added that the court has little control over what work they can do while the dispute between the solicitors and the Department of Justice continues.

“The cases cannot proceed while this dispute is ongoing but on the other side it is a dispute that could suddenly cease. There are indications that something may happen this week but I have no idea frankly.

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“Unfortunately we do not require juries to be selected today but I may need you on Wednesday afternoon. If you hear nothing I will require you to be here at 2pm on Wednesday.

“If you do hear anything it will be not to turn up and the ongoing legal aid dispute continues and therefore this kind of work cannot be done,” he said.