How lawyers say sorry
We have put together a video of quotes from the Inquiry.
The Post Office Project team (big thanks to Alex and Sally) have put together a video below.
The aim was to capture how lawyers have said sorry or otherwise dealt with accusations put before them.
It is hard at the best of times to accept fault. Many of these lawyers may think, and some in this group may have a decent case for saying, they were not at fault on the matters put to them.
They will have been looking over their shoulder at professional disciplinary risks and may have worried about causing insurance problems by making admissions.
They also needed to give evidence honestly, of course.
Putting the issue of fault aside, the quotes are illuminating, I think, on accepting responsibility.
Rarely is this done with any conviction.
Also, Transform Justice did a really nice job of this podcast with me and John Hyde of the Law Society Gazette: listen here.
None of these PO lawyers, or other PO employees, giving evidence to the Inquiry all appeared to have no involvement with Horizon or the prosecution of Postmasters/Mistresses : '" I was not not responsible for that ". " It was not in my remit to do that ". " I don't recall seeing that " Etc. Etc. Etc. Moreover, none of them were able, or indeed permitted, to name the people who were responsible. It's all turning into a bit of a farce and one big cover-up, to add yet more pain and injustice to those thousands of people who directly and indirectly suffered ( and are suffering ) as a result of the actions of Post Office lawyers and executives. The only persons to come out of this farce with any credibility will be Jason Beer KC and those lawyers representing core participants who, on occasions, are not given enough time or legal leeway to get the right answers from past and present employees of the Post Office who give evidence. This is not going to end well.
Thanks Richard, and to others who contributed to the video - it's a valuable resource. If only I had personal capacity to do so, I would have liked to produced a video about ethics in the legal industry vs. other industries. I remain shocked by what I have seen in evidence to the inquiry.