100% Redress Cllr Joy Beard has warned that vulnerable people and families in Inishowen are being failed by a growing legal aid crisis.
This comes after concerns were raised with her by Lifeline Inishowen, an organisation that provides vital support to individuals and families experiencing domestic abuse, family breakdown, child access disputes and other crises.
Correspondence received from the Legal Aid Board has revealed that while there are 25 solicitors listed on the private practitioner panel for Donegal, only two are currently accepting family law referrals, with services concentrated primarily in Letterkenny and only limited availability for Buncrana and Carndonagh District Courts.
These concerns come as criminal defence solicitors across Donegal have escalated their protest over proposed changes to criminal legal aid fees, highlighting wider pressures on access to justice.
Cllr Beard said: “Lifeline Inishowen provides an invaluable service for people experiencing domestic abuse, family breakdown and other crises. They reached out to me because they are increasingly encountering vulnerable clients who are struggling to access legal representation. Nobody should be left without support at the time they need it most.”
The concerns come at a time when domestic abuse continues to rise. According to Women’s Aid, there were 46,765 disclosures of domestic abuse against women and children in 2024, a 17 per cent increase on the previous year and the highest number recorded in the organisation’s 50-year history. An Garda Síochána dealt with more than 65,000 domestic abuse incidents in 2024, averaging over 1,250 incidents every week.
The PSNI recorded 30,203 domestic abuse incidents and 18,453 domestic abuse crimes in the twelve months to September 2025, highlighting the scale of the problem throughout the North West region.
“These figures show why organisations such as Lifeline Inishowen are so important,” said Cllr Beard.
“When someone is fleeing domestic abuse, dealing with family breakdown or fighting for access to their children, they are already under enormous stress. They should not then have to face uncertainty over whether there is a solicitor available to represent them.
“Access to justice should not depend on your Eircode. Rural communities deserve the same access to legal representation as anywhere else in the country. Yet correspondence from the Legal Aid Board confirms that although there are 25 solicitors on the Donegal panel, only two are currently accepting referrals. That is deeply concerning.
“This is not just about statistics. Behind every number is a person or a family in crisis. Organisations like Lifeline Inishowen are often the first port of call for vulnerable people, and they deserve recognition and support for the incredible work they do. We cannot allow people in Inishowen to be disadvantaged simply because they live in a rural community.”
Cllr Beard said she will continue engaging with the Legal Aid Board and the Minister for Justice to seek practical solutions to improve access to legal representation and ensure vulnerable people and families across Inishowen can access justice when they need it most.