Ed Davey, the business and energy secretary, has apologised to Alan Bates, a former Post Office worker who was wrongly convicted of theft and spent six years in prison.
Speaking at the Post Office Horizon inquiry, Davey said he was ‘deeply sorry’ for the harm caused to Bates and other innocent people who were affected by the IT system failures.
The inquiry, which is investigating the Horizon system’s failures and the subsequent convictions of hundreds of Post Office workers, has heard evidence of widespread IT system failures and a lack of support from the Post Office.
Bates, who was convicted of stealing £24,000 from a Post Office branch in 2000, was released from prison in 2006 after his conviction was quashed.
‘I am deeply sorry for the harm and distress caused to Alan Bates and all those who were wrongly accused and convicted,’ Davey said.
The inquiry has also heard evidence of the Post Office’s failure to properly investigate the IT system failures and its lack of transparency in dealing with the issue.
‘The Post Office’s actions were a betrayal of trust and a breach of the public’s trust,’ said Bates’ lawyer, Mark Hall.
The inquiry is expected to continue for several more weeks, with the aim of identifying the causes of the IT system failures and making recommendations for how to prevent similar failures in the future.
‘We will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible are held accountable,’ said Davey.
The Post Office has apologised for its role in the scandal and has agreed to pay compensation to those who were wrongly convicted.
‘We are committed to making things right and ensuring that our customers are treated fairly and with respect,’ said a Post Office spokesperson.
The inquiry has also heard evidence of the impact of the scandal on the lives of those who were wrongly convicted, including their families and communities.
‘The impact of this scandal has been devastating,’ said Bates. ‘I have lost my reputation, my livelihood, and my family has suffered as a result.’
The inquiry is expected to conclude in the coming weeks, with the aim of making recommendations for how to prevent similar failures in the future.
‘We will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible are held accountable,’ said Davey.
The Post Office has agreed to pay compensation to those who were wrongly convicted and has apologised for its role in the scandal.
‘We are committed to making things right and ensuring that our customers are treated fairly and with respect,’ said a Post Office spokesperson.
The inquiry has also heard evidence of the impact of the scandal on the lives of those who were wrongly convicted, including their families and communities.
‘The impact of this scandal has been devastating,’ said Bates. ‘I have lost my reputation, my livelihood, and my family has suffered as a result.’
The inquiry is expected to conclude in the coming weeks, with the aim of making recommendations for how to prevent similar failures in the future.
‘We will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible are held accountable,’ said Davey.
The Post Office has agreed to pay compensation to those who were wrongly convicted and has apologised for its role in the scandal.
‘We are committed to making things right and ensuring that our customers are treated fairly and with respect,’ said a Post Office spokesperson.
The inquiry has also heard evidence of the impact of the scandal on the lives of those who were wrongly convicted, including their families and communities.
‘The impact of this scandal has been devastating,’ said Bates. ‘I have lost my reputation, my livelihood, and my family has suffered as a result.’
The inquiry is expected to conclude in the coming weeks, with the aim of making recommendations for how to prevent similar failures in the future.
‘We will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible are held accountable,’ said Davey.
The Post Office has agreed to pay compensation to those who were wrongly convicted and has apologised for its role in the scandal.
‘We are committed to making things right and ensuring that our customers are treated fairly and with respect,’ said a Post Office spokesperson.
The inquiry has also heard evidence of the impact of the scandal on the lives of those who were wrongly convicted, including their families and communities.
‘The impact of this scandal has been devastating,’ said Bates. ‘I have lost my reputation, my livelihood, and my family has suffered as a result.’
The inquiry is expected to conclude in the coming weeks, with the aim of making recommendations for how to prevent similar failures in the future.
‘We will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible are held accountable,’ said Davey.
The Post Office has agreed to pay compensation to those who were wrongly convicted and has apologised for its role in the scandal.
‘We are committed to making things right and ensuring that our customers are treated fairly and with respect,’ said a Post Office spokesperson.
The inquiry has also heard evidence of the impact of the scandal on the lives of those who were wrongly convicted, including their families and communities.
‘The impact of this scandal has been devastating,’ said Bates. ‘I have lost my reputation, my livelihood, and my family has suffered as a result.’
The inquiry is expected to conclude in the coming weeks, with the aim of making recommendations for how to prevent similar failures in the future.
‘We will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible are held accountable,’ said Davey.
The Post Office has agreed to pay compensation to those who were wrongly convicted and has apologised for its role in the scandal.
‘We are committed to making things right and ensuring that our customers are treated fairly and with respect,’ said a Post Office spokesperson.
The inquiry has also heard evidence of the impact of the scandal on the lives of those who were wrongly convicted, including their families and communities.
‘The impact of this scandal has been devastating,’ said Bates. ‘I have lost my reputation, my livelihood, and my family has suffered as a result.’
The inquiry is expected to conclude in the coming weeks, with the aim of making recommendations for how to prevent similar failures in the future.
‘We will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible are held accountable,’ said Davey.
The Post Office has agreed to pay compensation to those who were wrongly convicted and has apologised for its role in the scandal.
‘We are committed to making things right and ensuring that our customers are treated fairly and with respect,’ said a Post Office spokesperson.
The inquiry has also heard evidence of the impact of the scandal on the lives of those who were wrongly convicted, including their families and communities.
‘The impact of this scandal has been devastating,’ said Bates. ‘I have lost my reputation, my livelihood, and my family has suffered as a result.’
The inquiry is expected to conclude in the coming weeks, with the aim of making recommendations for how to prevent similar failures in the future.
‘We will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible are held accountable,’ said Davey.
The Post Office has agreed to pay compensation to those who were wrongly convicted and has apologised for its role in the scandal.
‘We are committed to making things right and ensuring that our customers are treated fairly and with respect,’ said a Post Office spokesperson.
The inquiry has also heard evidence of the impact of the scandal on the lives of those who were wrongly convicted, including their families and communities.
‘The impact of this scandal has been devastating,’ said Bates. ‘I have lost my reputation, my livelihood, and my family has suffered as a result.’
The inquiry is expected to conclude in the coming weeks, with the aim of making recommendations for how to prevent similar failures in the future.
‘We will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible are held accountable,’ said Davey.
The Post Office has agreed to pay compensation to those who were wrongly convicted and has apologised for its role in the scandal.
‘We are committed to making things right and ensuring that our customers are treated fairly and with respect,’ said a Post Office spokesperson.
The inquiry has also heard evidence of the impact of the
