KRW Law has called on the diocese to introduce a six-month extension to its scheme, which provides redress for victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by members of the clergy.
It said in the last six months “we have taken on just as many cases as at the inception of the scheme”.
Established in 2021, the scheme aims to create a more straightforward and faster process to compensate victims of clerical abuse, including those abused by paedophile priest Malachy Finegan.
Around £2.5 million was set aside for the scheme by the diocese, which includes parts of counties Antrim, Down and Armagh.
The diocese said at the time of its launch that it “apologised unreservedly for the hurt and damage caused to victims and survivors by any priest or church representative in the area”.
In July 2023, the diocese said the scheme would be further extended for another six months.
But KRW Law, which acts for around 40 victims and survivors of historic sexual mental and physical abuse by deceased priests in the Diocese of Dromore, include Malachy Finegan and Seamus Reid, wants it extended further.
It says in addition to access to the High Court, the Dromore redress scheme has “proven to be an important part of the legal remedies available” to victims and survivors and a “significant amount of compensation has been paid out”.
“Despite the passage of time, a significant number of survivors are still coming forward with harrowing accounts of abuse,” KRW Law said.
“The confirmation by the diocese of their intention to close down the redress scheme in turn shuts down options for people who are still seeking justice.
“We have written to the diocese putting on record our concern on what we see as a premature ending of the redress scheme as an option for abuse victims.”
Solicitor Owen Winters said: “The decision to come forward with their case is often a very difficult one for survivors of any form of historic abuse.
“It is fraught with all sorts of sensitive emotional considerations.
“The decision to take a case is not taken lightly and can take many years for people to reach this point.
“It should therefore come as no surprise to learn that we are still receiving instruction on new cases even after many decades.
“In the last six months we have taken on just as many cases as at the inception of the scheme.”
He said closing the scheme could potentially “increase expense because new cases will have to be taken in the High Court”.
“Removing it as an option will place an unwelcome costs burden on many victims who still struggle with the trauma of deciding on whether or not to bring their case,” he said.
“We urge the diocese to extend the scheme further to allow those other victims time and space to do so.”
The Dromore diocese has been contacted for comment.