Leading criminal lawyers in Northern Ireland are preparing to contest cuts in their legal aid fees. Eight QCs and their juniors are appealing against decisions by Mr Christopher Napier, the Taxing Master in the High Court in Belfast.
He has severely trimmed the £1 million plus bill presented by the lawyers for their work and the Ann Smyth murder trial in 1994. It is the second time in a year that the bill has come before the High Court.
The appeal opens on June 25th.