Debate contribution: Abuse Outside Courts
Debate contribution by Mrs Naomi Long on .
- MLA
- Mrs Naomi Long
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 19 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Abuse Outside Courts
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5795894
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Like the Member, I have seen some of the conduct outside the courts, and I do not think that it is in any way acceptable for people to behave in such an aggressive manner. Many of the people who attend court are there for very highly emotive reasons. Many will be there for issues that will cause them trauma and distress, so I do not think that it is sensible that they be met with large crowds that are protesting around the courts, and I have to be honest about that. I also think that there should be zero tolerance when it comes to people attacking, abusing or threatening members of the legal profession and legal officers of the court. That is one of the reasons why, as part of the wider protections in the sentencing Bill, we have widened the scope to include anyone who is providing a public service, thereby including court staff, people who are officers of the court, legal professionals and others who are providing a valuable service. As I have raised previously in the House, there is an incredible danger of people conflating the opinion of a client with the views of their legal representative. That is incredibly dangerous, and I caution people against doing it. Everyone is entitled to legal representation. That legal representation should be fair and without question. It is not a matter of fact that people will always agree with their client, but they will undertake to give them the best possible service as a professional and they should not be disadvantaged or slandered when they do so.
267 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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