Horizon Scandal

The Scottish government is to bring forward legislation clearing the names of the victims of the Horizon scandal before the summer. Justice Secretary Angela Constance told a cabinet meeting that the UK government was "inexplicably" refusing to quash the convictions of sub-postmasters in Scotland, ev

If UK legislation quashing the convictions related to the Horizon scandal does not include Scotland then similar legislation will be introduced at Holyrood, Justice Secretary Angela Constance has said. Ms Constance said: “We, along with the Northern Ireland Executive, urged the UK government t

Watermans is to represent former Clackmannanshire sub-postmaster Rab Thomson as he pursues compensation from the Post Office following his wrongful conviction for embezzling money. Mr Thomson, 64, was found guilty in 2006 after an audit showed an apparent shortfall of nearly £6,000 at his Camb

Now that the dust has not settled on the Horizon scandal in Scotland as it relates to convictions of sub-postmasters, it is useful to recall what the lord advocate said in the Scottish Parliament on 16 January, writes former sheriff Douglas J. Cusine. “In September 2020, supported by Crown Off

The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred the case of Joanne Hughes on behalf of the late Caren Lorimer to the High Court of Justiciary for determination. In 2009, Mrs Lorimer pled guilty at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court to one charge of embezzlement from a post office. The court imposed

Post Office lawyers feared a public relations disaster if the Crown Office halted prosecutions, the public inquiry into the Horizon scandal has heard. In a witness statement, Kenneth Donnelly, deputy crown agent for specialist casework said that the Crown Office was approached in 2013 after provisio

Dear Editor, In the lord advocate’s statement to the Scottish Parliament on 16 January, she said that cases of those subpostmasters convicted of fraud would be referred to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission and that all cases would be considered on their merits.

The Post Office "failed in its duty of revelation" to the Crown Office, Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC told Holyrood yesterday as she apologised to victims of the Horizon scandal. Ms Bain, who blamed the Post Office for failures that led to victims being prosecuted, appeared before MSPs to answer que

If he might crave the reader’s indulgence, this idle scrivener would very much like to share his fun idea for an exciting new parlour game or, equally, a pub quiz for the judicially aware at any learned hangout where good claret can be had. A subtle combination of Where’s Wally and Clued

The understandable furore over the malicious dishonesty of those involved in the prosecution, better word persecution, of innocent sub-postmasters by the once trusted Post Office seems to me merely one example of a wider malaise in our present society. Like many bad-tempered old court lawyers, I hav

It is “incumbent” on Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC to answer questions on the Post Office Horizon scandal, the SNP's Westminster leader has said. Stephen Flynn said that Ms Bain should explain why prosecutions occurred after concerns over the Horizon system emerged in 2013.

The role of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in the Horizon scandal must be investigated, writes a concerned solicitor. The recent ITV drama on the Horizon scandal has shocked the nation. This has been an issue that has troubled me since listening to Nick Wallis’ excellen

A date has been set for the appeal of three subpostmasters over the Horizon scandal. Rab Thomson, Ravinder Naga and Aleid Kloosterhuis are hoping to have their convictions quashed after they were prosecuted for fraud.

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC could be called to Holyrood to explain the Crown Office's actions during the Post Office Horizon scandal. Prosecutors were told of issues in 2013 – yet they continued to pursue cases until 2015.

The Crown Office was aware of problems with the Post Office's Horizon IT system more than a decade ago, BBC Scotland reports. A freedom of information request found that the Crown Office was told of possible problems in May 2013.