Exonerated subpostmaster launches group to support victims of Horizon scandal

A new support group will encourage Scottish postmasters who are victims of the Horizon scandal to seek redress.

Rab Thomson, one of the first postmasters in Scotland to have his conviction overturned, will launch the Scottish Postmasters for Justice and Redress Group on Wednesday.

He says that due to the different legal system in Scotland, a peer support group is needed to help those affected by the scandal to seek redress, even if they were not convicted.

Last June, a law which exonerated Scots wrongly convicted in the Horizon scandal came into force.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance says this legislation has so far led to 64 convictions being identified as quashed.

The law is also intended to allow Scottish postmasters to access a UK compensation scheme.

The UK-wide scandal involved subpostmasters being wrongly convicted of offences such as fraud because of the faulty Horizon software.

Angela Constance welcomed the new group. PA Media

Mr Thomson said: “I am the first postmaster in Scotland to get my conviction overturned by the courts.

“I felt I needed to do something to get other postmasters to come forward.

“Scotland are the sleeping dogs in this case and many victims are unaware of how they can be exonerated or what redress options are available to them. This is why we have set up this group.”

He continued: “We want as many of our ex-colleagues to come forward and attend the launch so they will receive redress, which they are all entitled to, having suffered through the biggest miscarriage of justice in our time.”

The launch will take place in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday.

Ms Constance welcomed the group, saying: “I am pleased the legislation the Scottish Government brought forward last year has now resulted in 64 people having their convictions identified as quashed and therefore access to redress from the UK Government as a result.

“The Scottish Government continues to encourage anyone who considers they suffered an injustice to come forward.

“There is no time limit under the legislation and the Scottish Government will always look into any cases where people give their name as a possible miscarriage of justice case.”

Former Motherwell and Wishaw MP, Marion Fellows, is supporting the group and said some Scottish subpostmasters feel “isolated”.