Phase 4 closing submissions on behalf of sub-postmasters, Fujitsu and the Post Office published

Sir Wyn issues statement on Post Office submissions

Following the conclusion of its Phase 4 hearings, the Inquiry has published written closing submissions received from the following core participants to the Inquiry: the Post Office; Fujitsu; and sub-postmasters represented by Hodge Jones & Allen.

In conjunction with the release of the Phase 4 written closing submissions, the Chair, Sir Wyn Williams, has issued a statement on the Post Office’s reliance on a report it commissioned from Jonathan Laidlaw KC.

In his statement, Sir Wyn Williams notes that it would not be “appropriate” to admit Mr Laidlaw’s report as written evidence and states his principal reasons.

The written closing submissions follow the oral closing submissions delivered by other core participants to the Inquiry on 2 February, and are published below:  

Written closing submissions from Fujitsu

Written closing submissions from Hodge, Jones & Allen

Written closing submissions from Post Office Limited

The Chair said today he is “surprised, to say the least” that the Post Office thought it appropriate to submit written closing submissions containing copious references to Mr Laidlaw’s observations without first seeking his permission for his reports to be admitted as evidence.

He adds “Since I decline to admit either part of Mr Laidlaw’s report as written evidence, I will ignore those parts of the closing submissions of the Post Office which refer to or rely upon the report.”

Read Sir Wyn’s full statement here.