- Author, Esyllt Carr
- Role, Business reporter, London
The Post Office’s most senior in-house lawyer when it fought the landmark case introduced by Alan Bates and different sub-postmasters has been challenged by BBC News in Australia, after she refused to seem earlier than the general public inquiry into the Horizon scandal.
A BBC group questioned Jane MacLeod, who was the Post Office’s common counsel between 2015 and 2019, whereas she was strolling her canine exterior her house in Sydney.
She replied with “no comment” when requested why she wasn’t attending. She had been attributable to give proof this week.
“It’s unsurprising, but it speaks volumes,” says Jo Hamilton, one of many wrongly convicted former sub-postmasters. “If she was determined to help the inquiry, she’d be there,” she added.
‘An essential witness’
Born in Australia, Jane MacLeod returned to dwell there in 2020.
Last month Sir Wyn Williams, chair of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, revealed that whereas Ms MacLeod had submitted a witness assertion, she had determined to not give oral proof, regardless of being requested to take action.
The inquiry heard that the rationale, provided by Ms MacLeod’s legal professionals, was that given the passage of time, she thought of her written assertion was the most effective proof she might provide.
Since then, Ms MacLeod has not responded to BBC requests for remark.
Sir Wyn stated that even earlier than seeing her written proof, he’d determined that Ms MacLeod was “an important witness” from whom he wished to listen to in particular person.
He added that regardless of the provide to have her journey and lodging bills lined, Ms MacLeod “has made it clear that she will not co-operate with the inquiry by providing oral evidence”, both in particular person or through video-link.
However, Sir Wyn defined that his choices to pressure her to attend have been restricted as a result of she lived overseas.
Under the Inquiries Act 2005, witnesses might be legally compelled to present proof – however this solely applies to UK nationals.
In her written assertion to the inquiry, Ms MacLeod says: “I am very aware that the decisions in which I was involved during my time at Post Office Limited regarding the group litigation and the investigation of Horizon’s performance and robustness have had implications for many sub-postmasters and their families.”
She provides: “I regret that this has happened and apologise to those so affected for the adverse outcomes they have suffered.”
‘Completely fallacious’
Jane MacLeod was the final counsel on the Post Office protecting the interval when it fought sub-postmasters in courtroom within the landmark litigation led by Alan Bates.
Giving proof final month, the former boss of the Post Office, Paula Vennells named Jane MacLeod as one of many senior executives she had trusted to present her info – when requested by Sam Stein KC to checklist those that had let her down.
Ms Vennells additionally recounted asking Ms MacLeod why they have been continuing with the courtroom case towards sub-postmasters, which she stated had felt “completely wrong”.
She advised the inquiry that, after first suggesting the Post Office would most certainly settle the circumstances, Ms MacLeod’s view had been that the courtroom case was “the only way to solve this”.
In March, in response to the story, Jane MacLeod gave an announcement to the BBC saying that she supported the continued public inquiry into the Post Office scandal and was aiding it.
