Post Office convictions ruled affronts to justice

The Court of Appeal has quashed the convictions of 5 further sub-post masters and mistresses.

The Court ruled that their prosecutions and convictions were an abuse of the Court’s process as the evidence against them arose from software, Horizon, which was replete with bugs, errors or defects, and which produced unsubstantiated shortfalls.

Despite being aware of these serious issues going to the reliability of Horizon, Post Office Limited failed to make all reasonable lines of enquiry, and failed to make adequate disclosure. The Court found the appellants’ prosecutions and convictions to be unfair and an affront to justice.

The judgment can be found here and the background to these appeals can be found here.

Kate O’Raghallaigh represented Mr Grant Allen, Mr Jack Smith and Ms Duranda Clarke.

Graeme Hall represented Mr Richard Hawkes and Mr Robert Boyle.

They are instructed by Neil Hudgell of Hudgell Solicitors.