THE Scottish Government is looking at the idea of a pardon scheme for the victims of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, the Justice Secretary has said.
There have been calls to pardon hundreds of subpostmasters who were wrongly convicted in what is thought to be the biggest miscarriage of justice in British history.
The issue is in the spotlight after ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office brought the scandal to widespread attention of the public.
Asked what action the Scottish Government is taking, Justice Secretary Angela Constance told MSPs the Horizon scandal is “rightly causing great concern” and the idea of a pardon scheme was being looked at.
READ MORE: Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells to give up CBE amid Horizon row
However she said she had written to the UK Government to discuss how to work together as the current compensation scheme requires a conviction to be reversed by an appeal court.
Constance said: “Anyone wrongly convicted as a result of the Horizon scandal should have their conviction reversed and be entitled to compensation.
“The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission have already referred seven cases back to the Appeal Court for a fresh appeal and two of have had their convictions overturned on appeal so far.”
READ MORE: Post Office scandal inquiry still to hear key evidence, SNP MP says
She added: “We are however looking at what more can be done, we are looking at the idea of a pardon scheme, but I am conscious that the UK Government have made a compensation scheme that requires a conviction to be reversed by an appeal court and that is a requirement before you can be in receipt of compensation.
“I have therefore today written to the UK Secretary of State for Justice to ask for a meeting to discuss how best we can work together and ensure that anyone wrongly convicted as a result of the Horizon scandal can have their conviction reversed and still be entitled to compensation.
It emerged today that former Post Office boss Paula Vennells is to hand back her CBE following the fallout of the Horizon IT scandal.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article