Funding Public Inquiry representation
Our team at Hudgell Solicitors have represented at a number of public inquiries where public funding has been secured to enable our clients to take part. We are committed to ensuring our clients have the best legal representation and we work to ensure funding is in place.
Representing Sub-postmasters
Hudgell Solicitors has played a key role in representing former Sub-postmasters named as ‘Core Participants’ for Post Office Horizon Public Inquiry.
From the very outset of the scandal being uncovered our team campaigned for the statutory Public Inquiry to be held.
Beginning on February 14th, 2022, the Inquiry is chaired by retired High Court Judge Sir Wyn Williams.
During proceedings our legal team is provided with disclosure of evidence, has the opportunity to make opening and closing statements on behalf of clients, been able to suggest lines of questioning at oral hearings, and been able to apply to ask questions of witnesses.
A link to the Inquiry website can be found here for live, up-to-date news.
About the inquiry
The Inquiry is led by retired high court judge Sir Wyn Williams, who has over 28 years’ judicial experience.
Sir Wyn is tasked with ensuring there is a public summary of the failings which occurred with the Horizon IT system at the Post Office leading to the suspension, termination of Sub-postmasters’ contracts, prosecution and conviction of Sub-postmasters.
The Inquiry is seeking to establish a clear account of the implementation and failings of the system over its lifetime (a period of over 20 years).
The Inquiry is gathering relevant evidence from affected persons, previous and current Sub-postmasters and Sub-postmistresses, Post Office Ltd, UK Government Investment (UKGI), Fujitsu, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), amongst others.
It is also considering whether Post Office Limited has learned the lessons and embedded the cultural change necessary.
What impact will the inquiry have?
At its conclusion, the Inquiry should make any recommendations it sees fit, including actions that may, in its view, be appropriate from its findings.
The Inquiry will submit its findings and a final report will be published, to which the Government will respond in due course.
Public Inquiries can make findings about the credibility and actions of people involved. This can ultimately lead to further criminal or civil investigations for those involved.
‘I spent 18 months in jail for a crime I didn’t commit and was told I should admit to. It ruined my life but I am glad I always maintained my innocence’
Unlike many others affected by the Post Office Horizon scandal, Harjinder Butoy refused to buckle to the pressure of being warned he’d likely be sent to prison by pleading his innocence. Faced with allegations of stealing more than £206,000 from the accounts of the sub Post Office he had run for a year, he denied […]
Hudgell Solicitors represents another 30 subpostmasters to challenge Post Office Horizon convictions at Court of Appeal
Hudgell Solicitors and Doughty Street Chambers are this week representing a further 30 former subpostmasters who are seeking to have convictions of theft, fraud and false accounting quashed. The Post Office Horizon scandal saw hundreds of sub-postmasters wrongly convicted of crimes when accounts showed unexplained shortfalls and discrepancies. Many were forced to ‘repay’ thousands of […]
The quashing of these convictions feels like the heavy lead box we have been trapped in has had the lid ripped off
Chris Trousdale, 38, from Whitby, was one of the country’s youngest sub postmasters when he was prosecuted by the Post Office and advised to plead guilty to false accounting or face jail. He was sentenced to a Community Punishment Order in March 2004, with a probation order and a fine, at the age of just […]
This conviction impacted on every aspect of life. Today I can start living again
Statement from former sub-postmaster Vipinchandra Patel, 67, today following the quashing of his conviction relating to the Post Office Horizon Scandal. He was handed an 18-week prison sentence for fraud in June 2011, having been accused of stealing £75,000. Good faith, honesty, honour, integrity, and trust are the foundations of any relationship. Sub-postmasters delivered on […]
‘My husband died a wrongfully convicted criminal. Now is the time for the Post Office to finally do the right thing and pave the way to clear his name’
“I’ve got to see this through for Julian and clear his name because he is no longer here to fight for justice himself.” Four years after losing her husband to bowel cancer, and 12 years after he was convicted of false accounting by the Post Office, 65-year-old Karen Wilson is hopeful that she is on […]
How we can represent you
Explained in five easy steps
Free initial Advice
Call us, request a call back, or complete our online form and one of our team will assess whether we feel able to represent you.
Apply for funding
We will help you to decide how best to fund your claim and let you know if Legal Aid is available.
Disclosure
We will obtain relevant disclosure from the Coroner and any other relevant sources.
Inquest Attendance & Submissions
We will make submissions to the Coroner/Chair with our views on the appropriate conclusions based on evidence revealed.
Verdict / Findings
We will help you to understand that Coroner’s verdict and advise you on any possible further legal steps to assist you.
Post Office news
Five more former subpostmasters have convictions quashed – but cases reaching court now ‘a trickle’ as hundreds still to come forward
Five more former subpostmasters today had longstanding convictions overturned as cases relating to wrongful Post Office prosecutions continue to be brought before the courts. Almost three years after the first cases were quashed in December 2020, the number of convictions overturned today reached 91. The prosecutions of Therese Gooding, Andrew Gilbertson, Elaine Hood and Amer […]
Government urged to release £600,000 compensation offered to former subpostmasters after ‘breaching privacy’
The Post Office Horizon Scandal Podcast Series Hudgell Solicitors’ Post Office Horizon Scandal Podcast series, with Neil Hudgell, is available to listen to now on Spotify. Episode 1 – ‘It was so bad it was unbelievable’ Episode 2 – The impact on lives Episode 3 – Pursuing justice Episode 4 – The £600,000 compensation offer […]
Statement following Government announcement offering £600,000 compensation to subpostmasters who have had Post Office Horizon convictions overturned
Solicitor Neil Hudgell, of Hudgell Solicitors, represents 70 former subpostmasters who are seeking compensation from the Post Office after having convictions relating to the Post Office Horizon Scandal overturned. Reacting to a Government announcement that all are to be offered £600,000 compensation to settle their claims for damages, he said: “First, we welcome any announcement […]
Head of Post Office IT Inquiry calls for blocks to be removed on compensation so victims receive ‘full and fair’ awards
There should be law changes to stop issues “blocking full and fair compensation” for the victims of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal says the chairman of the Inquiry looking into the miscarriages of justice. Sir Wyn Williams said schemes set up to compensate sub-postmasters wrongly accused of crimes was a “patchwork quilt with some […]
Post Office Inquiry defers ruling on compensation and Court of Appeal overturns two more convictions
The Post Office Inquiry today heard a further full day of evidence on compensation. Chair Sir Wyn Williams deferred his written ruling on a wide range of issues addressing delays and inadequacies in the set-up and structure of the various compensation schemes. The hearing was held as cases of wrongful convictions continued to be overturned […]
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