Commenting, the East Belfast MP said, “This is a sensible and welcome step by the Government and particularly for those Post Masters in Northern Ireland caught up in this national scandal and faced personal and financial ruin through wrongful conviction.
We have been clear throughout that the Government has a responsibility to step in and right the wrong imposed on these innocent people and DUP colleagues have been tireless in their efforts to build a solid foundation for this decision. Sammy Wilson MP has been working in support of local victims for many years and over the last number of months I have engaged with the Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake and built political support for the inclusion of Northern Ireland in the legislation across the chamber.
That was further built upon when my colleague Joanne Bunting in her role as Chair of the Assembly’s Justice Committee received confirmation from the Lady Chief Justice that she recognised the importance of people in Northern Ireland not being treated differently from those in England.
This was a scandal of breath-taking proportions which has devastated the lives of innocent people in every corner of the UK. Ultimate tribute must be paid to those Post Masters who stood so bravely from the start and fought back against the onslaught they faced. This unprecedented legislation will exonerate those caught up in the scandal and hopefully allow some level of closure for those who faced such injustice between 1999 and 2015.”