Northern Ireland

Post Office scandal: Hopes law quashing convictions of sub-postmasters will be extended to Northern Ireland

A senior civil servant has said it is ‘completely incorrect’ to say that ministers have been pushing to slow down compensation payouts to subpostmasters affected by the Horizon IT scandal
A new law, introduced by the UK government on Wednesday, will exonerate those convicted in England and Wales caught up in the Horizon IT scandal. (PA)
By Suzanne McGonagle

Politicians say they hope there will still be an opportunity for a law quashing convictions of sub-postmasters to be extended to Northern Ireland.

Deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly said “constructive discussions” have been taking place, while justice minister Naomi Long added: “I don’t think all is lost.”

Emma Little-Pengelly
Deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly. PICTURE: OLIVER MCVEIGH/PA

A law, introduced by the UK government on Wednesday, will exonerate those convicted in England and Wales who were caught up in the Horizon IT scandal.

However, it will not apply to sub-postmasters in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

In Northern Ireland, 29 post office employees, including sub-postmasters, were convicted of offences since 2001.

Twenty-four were identified by the Post Office with a further five emerging after the PPS began a review of other cases.

In a post on social media, Ms Little-Pengelly said “constructive discussion” about extending the law to the north had taken place.

“We have been making strong representations on this issue, including a constructive discussion on NI inclusion in the Bill with Michael Gove yesterday,” she wrote.

“We will continue to urgently press this issue seeking action and inclusion.”

Ms Long also said she hoped there be an opportunity to amend the legislation as it goes through the Commons.

“I don’t think all is lost - there is still an opportunity at another stage for us to do this,” she told the BBC.

“If the government don’t do it then I would hope some of our MPs will step up and do that by amendments and I hope the government will accept those.”

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long
Justice minister Naomi Long. PICTURE: LIAM MCBURNEY/PA

She added that it would not be quicker for Stormont to pass emergency legislation.

“It’s a relatively small number of cases - somewhere between 20 and 25, which is why producing primary legislation in the chamber and going through all of that process is a bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut.”