Department ‘working at pace’ to ensure postmasters see convictions quashed

Department of Justice officials are working “at pace” to plan for implementation of legislation to overturn convictions of wrongly accused postmasters and mistresses in the Horizon IT scandal, Naomi Long has said.

The Stormont Justice Minister said the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill will automatically quash convictions of all those who meet the specified conditions, but those individuals in Northern Ireland will need to be notified.

The Bill is currently at committee stage in the House of Lords.

Hundreds of post masters and mistresses across the UK were handed criminal convictions between 1999 and 2015, as Fujitsu’s faulty Horizon system made it appear as though money was missing at their branches.

The number impacted in Northern Ireland is thought to be 26.

Speaking during Assembly questions for the department of justice, Ms Long said her officials is working “at pace” with operational partners to plan for the legislation.

“Although the number of cases that have been identified in Northern Ireland is relatively small, the hurt and distress the Horizon scandal inflicted on the individuals concerned is no less significant,” she told MLAs.

“I am therefore keen to ensure that all those who have had convictions overturned or cautions deleted are notified as soon as possible, and that those eligible to receive financial redress should be allowed to access that as swiftly as possible also.”

Ms Long said two convictions in Northern Ireland have already been overturned by the Court of Appeal.

“That leaves, we believe, around 26 cases that might be within scope,” she said.

“To date we have identified also one caution along similar grounds.

“The legislation also allows anyone who thinks they may be within scope to come forward and identify themselves to us, and where they meet the conditions specified, we’ll confirm that that is the case.

“As soon as we reach Royal Assent, those who are known to us will receive a letter to notify them that their conviction has been quashed, and I would encourage anybody, either who believes they are in scope and doesn’t receive a letter, or anyone who knows of someone who was affected who may not have been engaged or who may have moved on and be living somewhere else to ask them to contact the department as we’re very keen to follow up and ensure that everybody who could benefit from this legislation is able to do so.”