Chair to hear submissions on “grossly unsatisfactory” disclosure update from Post Office 

Sir Wyn Williams has invited Core Participants to the Inquiry to make oral submissions at the start of tomorrow’s hearing after an update from the Post Office raised further serious concerns about disclosure. 

Further to hearings on 6 and 7 July 2023 being postponed due to disclosure failings and the Chair issuing formal Directions to the Post Office, the Post Office has informed the Inquiry that it would not be able even to identify, prior to at least close of business on Wednesday 12 July 2023, the number of documents that it would need to review prior to witnesses giving evidence in Phase 4 Hearings on 11, 12, 13 and 14 July 2023.  

In informing Core Participants to the Inquiry of this new development, the Solicitor to the Inquiry stated:  

“The Chair has given serious consideration to the information provided by the Post Office. He considers that the situation is grossly unsatisfactory.” 

Sir Wyn has therefore invited oral submissions from Core Participants to the Inquiry - which he will hear at 10:00am on Tuesday 11 July 2023.  

The Chair is considering whether to adjourn hearing oral evidence scheduled for weeks commencing 10 and 17 July 2023, and instead call these witnesses after the Summer break; or to proceed to hear oral evidence from these witnesses, in which case he would not hesitate to re-call any of them if new relevant documentation was provided that should be put to them. 

Core Participants have been invited to indicate whether they support either action the Chair is considering or suggest an alternative approach. 

The Inquiry understands that the disclosure issues do not affect most of the witnesses to be called in the week commencing 24 July 2023, and so Sir Wyn proposes to hear evidence that week.  

Ends.