THE chairman of the Bar Council, Mr James Nugent, has warned against criticising barristers who defend well known criminals in court.
In a statement last night, he said there had been worrying insinuations and allegations in the media which suggested that some barristers should he condemned for complicity in the crime of which the accused stood charged and were to be further tainted by receiving a professional fee for their services.
"Such suggestions are ill informed, misjudged and dangerous at any time but are particularly so in the present climate of understandable fear and confusion which prevails among the general public."
Mr Nugent said defence counsel was paid, like all other professionals, for its work. "It seems to me that these comments are designed to do one one thing only and that is to intimidate counsel from acting for certain accused persons in our society."
Mr Nugent said it was a fundamental right that accused persons have the choice of legal representation in defending themselves.
