Post Office scandal victims place hope in public inquiry report

Katie HunterBBC Scotland NewsReporting fromCentral LondonBBCKeith Macaldowie gave proof to the inquiry in 2022Scottish victims of the Publish Workplace Horizon scandal say they hope the primary a part of the general public inquiry’s remaining report will convey justice a step nearer.Quantity one, which can concentrate on the human influence and compensation, shall be revealed at noon.Greater than 70 folks in Scotland have had their convictions overturned after they have been wrongly accused of crimes like theft due to the defective Publish Workplace IT system.However the scandal runs deeper than these prosecuted, with many extra folks dropping livelihoods and relationships on account of false accusations.1000’s of individuals throughout the UK have been affected by what has been described as probably the most widespread miscarriage of justice of latest occasions.First findings from inquiryA statutory public inquiry into the UK-wide scandal was established in 2021 and has heard from lots of of witnesses from throughout the nation.Victims, legal professionals and journalists shall be amongst these gathering in central London when the chair of the inquiry – Sir Wyn Williams – delivers the primary a part of his report.Keith Macaldowie gave proof to the inquiry when it got here to Glasgow in 2022.He ran a put up workplace in Greenock and was compelled to resign in 2011 after an alleged shortfall of £10,000 was uncovered.He was not convicted however misplaced his livelihood and instructed the inquiry he got here near suicide.He lastly reached a monetary settlement with the corporate in March this 12 months.Talking forward of the publication of the findings, he stated: “What I hope from the primary a part of the inquiry report is for the redress scheme to hurry up and get everybody paid what they’re due.”I additionally hope that it helps with the police investigation that’s ongoing.”Ravinder Naga needs these answerable for the scandal to go to prisonRavinder Naga falsely confessed to stealing cash from his mom’s put up workplace in Greenock in 2009 to guard her from going to jail. Attraction judges overturned his conviction final 12 months.He instructed BBC Scotland Information he needs accountability.”The individuals who died, they do not know their names have been cleared. They died earlier than all this got here out,” he stated.Whereas the main focus of the report shall be on the victims and compensation, Mr Naga stated he finally needs these answerable for the scandal to go to jail.”I would like justice,” he added.Solicitor advocate Stuart Munro is head of specialist litigation at Livingstone Brown and has been representing one of many first Scottish victims to have her conviction quashed.He stated the Publish Workplace Horizon scandal was one of the far-reaching miscarriages of justice in British historical past.”Numerous lives have been ruined. Its victims will now be seeking to Sir Wyn Williams to put naked the reality of what occurred and to suggest measures to make sure nothing like this will ever occur once more.”That course of begins with the publication of the primary a part of this remaining report.”