As they withdrew services to work on criminal cases, they demonstrated outside the Royal Courts of Justice during the halt.

The Department of Justice's "neglect of the criminal legal aid system" prompted criminal barristers who practiced both criminal defence and prosecution to resign from their positions, with the exception of emergency cases.

They stated that they are still prepared to work quickly with the agency to resolve the issues at hand.

According to Donal Lunny KC, chairman of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland, he and his colleagues consider strike action to be a last choice.

"The Bar Council has, for many months, been exploring every possible alternative measure and has consistently called for urgent action from the Department of Justice to avoid any withdrawal of service taking place," he stated.

"Due to a lack of funding, participation, and action from the Department of Justice, we are now in a dire situation where we must publicly emphasise that the current system is completely unsustainable.

Many barristers are self-employed, independent professionals who are not only suffering but reaching their breaking point.

"Our consistent warnings to the department have gone unheeded, and the foreseeable result is a serious access to justice crisis."