The Human Impact: Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry Begins

This week, the hearings in the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry began. 

The Inquiry starts with 4 weeks of evidence from those impacted by the failure of the Post Office Horizon IT system.

Recognised as the most significant miscarriage of justice in the history of the United Kingdom, the failures of the Horizon system led to the prosecution and unsafe conviction of many innocent men and women. 

In April 2021, the Court of Appeal considered the first successful appeals.  The Court of Appeal found that the investigative and disclosure failings of Post Office Limited were “so egregious as to make the prosecution of any of the “Horizon cases” an affront to the conscience of the court” and that, in their conduct of the prosecutions, the Post Office “reversed the burden of proof”. 

Jo Hamilton, a former Sub-Postmistress whose conviction has been overturned, told the Inquiry:

“I've endured two gruelling High Court trials which the sub postmasters won comprehensively, my conviction has been quashed and yet the fight is still ongoing.  The fact that a post office investigator wrote "there was no evidence of theft or deliberate cash inflated figures" then stood by and watched me charged in Court with theft and ultimately convicted for false accounting makes my blood boil.  I was violated - financially ruined, my reputation in tatters.  Eighteen years have been stolen from me, to say nothing of money that was taken and the wider impact on those close to me.  My parents went to their graves without knowing that I would ever be exonerated - that can never be rectified.”

Noel Thomas, who was a postman in the 1960s, before serving decades as a Sub-Postmaster, and who served time in custody following conviction, told the Inquiry:

“The effect of all this was devastating, I sleep with the bedroom door open, and I hate somebody banging the door, as it takes me back to the sound of the prison door closing.”

“There has been so much loss, the loss of respect, the loss of character, the loss of quality of life, the loss of my local Councillor job (which I loved). The loss of freedom in having to go to prison and having an electronic tag. The loss of family life for over 3 months. The loss of good mental health and stability. Lost friendships, lost laughter, and celebrations. The loss of the sense of community. The financial losses, lost income, and the loss of self-respect of having to claim benefits following my release from prison. The loss of a steady and secure retirement. Worst of all, the losses that have extended to my family.

This list goes on.

I turned 75 on 24 December 2021. It's been a long 16 years and unfortunately, I am still fighting for compensation and to have things put right. I just want to see justice all round. I continue to live with the loss.”

Noel and Jo’s convictions were both quashed by the Court of Appeal in April 2021.

Tim Moloney QC and Kate O’Raghallaigh have acted for numerous successful appellants over the past 12 months.  Convictions continue to be quashed as unsafe and an affront to justice.

Tim and Angela Patrick now represent over 50 of those whose convictions have been quashed in the Inquiry, including Jo Hamilton and Noel Thomas. 

Tim, Kate and Angela are instructed by Hudgell Solicitors. 

More information about the Inquiry can be found on Hudgell Solicitors’ website, here.

Further coverage of the first day’s evidence is available here (BBC), here (FT) and here (ITV).

Live streaming of the Inquiry evidence is available, here.