Mr Bates said further action is ‘pretty certain’ if the inquiry does not send a file to prosecuting authorities.
Former subpostmaster and campaigner Alan Bates has said he will pursue private prosecutions against those responsible for the Horizon IT scandal if the inquiry does not pass a file to prosecuting authorities.
Mr Bates said prosecutions should be looked into immediately as an additional element to the inquiry which is due to finish in September, adding that a delay could mean “we have to start all over again”. “It was fine when Post Office brought private prosecutions so if we’ve got to do it in return then so be it.”
“We heard from many, many lawyers along the way that there does seem to be quite a number of cases for people to answer.”The campaigner said he was glad he gave evidence first and “got it out of the way” to allow the inquiry to “find the real villains in all of this”. “They are testifying on oath, and for whatever reason there does seem to be some gaps in memories – and I know quite a lot of it does go back some time.
Mr Bates had his contract terminated by the Post Office in 2003 after refusing to accept liability for shortfalls in the accounts at his branch in Llandudno, North Wales.
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