€20m paid to legal aid lawyers last year

Barristers and solicitors earned a total of almost €20 million last year under the Criminal Legal Aid scheme.

Payments from the State to solicitors amounted to €11,363,333 (£8,949,352) under the scheme, while €8,473,540 (£6,673,455) was paid to barristers, according to figures from the Department of Justice.

As in previous years, the highest-earning solicitors were Mr Terence Lyons, who received €1.115 million (£878,443), followed by Mr Michael Staines, who was paid €1.006 million (£791,781). Both men run leading criminal law practices in Dublin.

Eighteen solicitors earned over €126,974 (£100,000) in legal aid fees, according to the figures.

The highest-earning barrister under the scheme was Mr Barry White, who received €333,000 (£262,108). He was followed by Mr Luigi Rea, who earned €315,000 (£248,221), and Mr Anthony Sammon, with earnings of €262,000 (£206,150). Sixteen barristers earned over €126,974 (£100,000) from the scheme last year.

Women lawyers barely figure among the more prominent earners. Just one of the 17 top-earning solicitors under the scheme is female: Ms Gráinne M. Malone received €170,274 (£134,102). Two of the highest-earning barristers are women. Ms Caroline Biggs €172,994 (£136,244), and Ms Marie Torrens €166,739 (£131,318)

Not all payments under the scheme were for large amounts. The average payment to 718 solicitors was about €11,809 (£9,300), and the average paid to 364 barristers was €23,278 (£18,333). Seven solicitors earned less than €63.49 (£50) from the scheme last year.

Mr Barry White £262,108; Mr Luigi Rea £248,221; Mr Anthony Sammon £206,150; Mr Michael O'Higgins £179,571; Mr Sean Gillane £169,858; Mr Hugh Hartnett £157,407; Mr Blaise A. O'Carroll £154,852; Mr Peter Finlay £144,316; Ms Caroline Biggs £136,244;

Mr Bernard Condon £134,652; Ms Marie Torrens £131,318; Mr Brendan Grehan £131,238; Mr Patrick Gageby £119,209; Mr Patrick Marrinan £112,098; Mr Paul McDermott £107,887; Mr Damien J. Colgan £100,425.

Mr Terence Lyons £878,443; Mr Michael Staines £791,781; Mr Terence Hanahoe £316,673; Mr Philip Hannon £288,794; Mr Garrett Sheehan £284,762; Mr Michael Hanahoe £284,543; Mr John M. Quinn £248,118; Mr Frank Buttimer £224,244; Mr John Feaheny £217,388;

Mr Ted McCarthy £171,726; Mr Michael Kelleher £158,856; Mr John O'Doherty £140,924; Ms Gráinne M. Malone £134,102; Mr Neil McNelis £127,431; Mr Donal J. Daly £123,853; Mr Anthony O'Rourke £119,615; Mr Aeneas McCarthy £103,907; Mr John P. Gaffney £100,457.