Barristers protest outside Tullamore courthouse during strike action

Barristers taking strike action gathered outside court buildings across the country today, including in Tullamore, to protest at the level of legal aid fees they are paid.

Midlands-based barrister Eugene Deering shared a picture on social media this morning of himself and his colleagues on strike in Tullamore.

Today's action is the first time barristers working in criminal law have undertaken strike action.

They said the dispute was due to the Government's failure to reverse cuts to their pay imposed in the aftermath of the financial crash.

The strike action disrupted proceedings to hundreds of criminal cases which were adjourned by judges today.

The Bar Council of Ireland its members who work in criminal law had been left with no alternative but to take industrial action.