Fourteen former sub-postmasters wait for conviction quash
In total, 26 former sub-postmasters from Northern Ireland were charged with offences
- Published
The convictions of 14 former sub-postmasters are still under active consideration by the Department of Justice (DoJ) due to "the passage of time and records being disposed of".
On Thursday, 12 other individuals had their convictions quashed by the Post Office (Horizon system) Offences Act 2024 and the DoJ has issued correspondence to notify them.
The act was passed into legislation, meaning all convictions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were to be overturned automatically providing they meet the statutory criteria.
In total, 26 former sub-postmasters from Northern Ireland were charged with offences.
What is the Post Office Horizon scandal?
More than 900 sub-postmasters across the UK were prosecuted for stealing because of incorrect information from the Horizon computer system.
It has been called the UK's most widespread miscarriage of justice.
The Post Office itself took many cases to court, prosecuting 700 people between 1999 and 2015.
Another 283 cases were brought by other bodies, including the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Many sub-postmasters went to prison for false accounting and theft, and many were financially ruined.
In 2017, a group of 555 sub-postmasters took legal action against the Post Office.
In 2019, it agreed to pay them £58m in compensation, but much of the money went on legal fees.
The Metropolitan Police is investigating the Post Office over potential fraud offences.
In a statement, Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long said she was "delighted" that 12 people have had their convictions quashed and that these will be removed from their records.
"I hope by having their convictions quashed and their records updated, they get some sense that justice has been served," she said.
The convictions of a further 14 individuals are still under active consideration by the department.
In these cases, limited or no information is held by the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland, due to the passage of time and records being disposed of in line with retention and disposal schedules, according to the DoJ.
Long said the department had sought information from the Post Office Ltd in respect of 14 other individuals.
It is anticipated that information will be shared with the DoJ in the coming weeks to "enable us to make a determination on whether those convictions were quashed by the legislation".
Long encouraged anyone who believes they have a relevant conviction and has not received a letter to date to make contact with the department so their convictions can be reviewed.
Lee Williamson, from Castlederg, was exonerated earlier this month
Lee Williamson, from Castlederg, was exonerated after the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) ended any opposition to the legal battle to clear his name.
The 49-year-old was one of 26 postmasters from Northern Ireland to be charged after the defective Horizon computer software made it look like money had gone missing.
Mr Williamson said: “I feel vindicated for taking legal action. I have always been innocent but can now say that I am officially exonerated. I hope my case has helped others come forward.”
Mr Williamson was accused of stealing and falsifying accounting records at his branch in Portstewart when an audit appeared to show an alleged shortfall of £17,000.
In 2014, he received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty on advice to three counts of fraud by false representation, theft, abuse of his position, and four offences of forgery and counterfeiting.
Redress scheme
The Labour government announced a new independent appeals process system aimed at helping some sub-postmasters affected by the Horizon IT scandal.
It means those who were not convicted but handed over their own money to make up shortfalls caused by the Post Office's Horizon accounting system can appeal if they feel their financial settlement did not reflect the true extent of their losses and trauma.
The Department for Business and Trade are responsible for the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme for those who have had their convictions quashed by the legislation.
Commenting on the financial redress, Long said: “Whilst no amount of financial redress can fully compensate for the years of stress and suffering that sub postmasters have experienced, I hope it goes some way to alleviating any financial hardship being experienced."