Dame Siobhan Keegan

In her opening term address yesterday, Dame Siobhan highlighted the analysis published by the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council earlier this year, which found that justice was set to lose the most in the draft budget for 2022-25.

“This independent analysis shows that justice would bear a disproportionate amount of pain, the impact of which could do lasting damage to the delivery of justice,” she said.

“In England and Wales, an additional £2 billion was allocated in recognition of the need to invest in justice services, and the importance of avoiding a detrimental impact on those in contact with the system.

“The justice system has an obligation to provide access to justice and to build trust and confidence within the community. We know that without appropriate funding, backlogs and delay will continue, with unacceptable impacts that risk undermining confidence in the justice system.”

However, she also highlighted the role of the judiciary in tackling delays through initiatives such as the new protocol for expediting serious sexual offences involving children under the age of 13.

Dame Siobhan also highlighted problem-solving initiatives as one of her priorities for the new legal term, setting out plans to use sport as a deterrent for those before the courts.

Plans developed by the Lady Chief Justice in conjunction with Lord Justice Horner — who was sworn in as a Lord Justice of Appeal yesterday — and Judge Mark McGarrity will see sports-based initiatives promoted “so that it might positively impact the levels of reoffending and the remand population and so the impact on our society”.

Dame Siobhan said: “It is evident that addressing delay, embedding problem solving initiatives to protect and support some of the most vulnerable in society and modernising our justice system requires investment. Investment of time and funds.

“It also requires a willingness to change, a willingness to work collaboratively, sharing knowledge and resources, and leadership.”

Turning to the political situation in Northern Ireland, she said: “The lack of progress within our political institutions has reinforced to me the importance of leadership. I am willing as those before me to assume responsibility for the control of the court estate and operational support for the running of the courts, particularly at this time. I hope that there will be further meaningful engagement on this issue.

“I also earnestly hope that we will see the return of government here in the near future, as that will no doubt assist the administration of justice.”