Post Office inquiry: I was ignorant, says barrister

Brian Altman KC admits his report on the Post Office’s review of prosecutions of sub-postmasters wrongly accused of stealing money due to the faulty Horizon computer system was based on incorrect information
Peter Chappell
The Times
Brian Altman KC initially concluded that the Post Office prosecutions were well organised and efficient. He told the inquiry that this was a “remarkable insight into my ignorance”
Brian Altman KC initially concluded that the Post Office prosecutions were well organised and efficient. He told the inquiry that this was a “remarkable insight into my ignorance”
POST OFFICE HORIZON IT INQUIRY/PA
Peter Chappell
The Times

A barrister who investigated the Post Office’s review of prosecutions of sub-postmasters and found no failures in that review has said the information he relied upon was later shown to be “catastrophically incorrect”.

Brian Altman KC’s review in 2013 found that its investigations were handled in a “well-organised, structured and efficient manner, through an expert and dedicated team of in-house investigators and lawyers”.

In his review, he wrote that Post Office and its advisers were “wholly unaware” that evidence existed that might have cleared sub-postmasters.

The Post Office would go on to use Altman’s words to defend itself against negative reports in the media.

In a hearing of the Post Office inquiry on Wednesday, he said his conclusion at the time demonstrated a “remarkable insight