FORMER Anglesey sub-postmaster Noel Thomas, who was wrongly convicted in the Horizon IT scandal, will be offered a meeting with the Post Office Minister after Ynys Môn MP Virginia Crosbie asked for it in Parliament this week.

The government announced new legislation on Wednesday to quash all convictions of sub postmasters and mistresses caught up in one of the country’s biggest miscarriages of justice.

The scandal occurred when faulty IT software called Horizon led to people being wrongly accused of theft and false accounting from sub post offices.

What happened to hundreds of people was recently dramatised by ITV in its programme Mr Bates vs The Post Office.

Mr Thomas spent 13 weeks under lock and key in Kirkham Prison in Lancashire for a crime he did not commit.

Speaking in a debate on the issue in the House of Commons yesterday, Virginia said: “Noel Thomas, one of my constituents, was a former sub-postmaster who was wrongly convicted.

“His conviction for false accounting in 2006 was overturned by the Court of Appeal in 2021. How is my honourable friend ensuring that sub-postmasters such as Noel Thomas, across the UK, are heard, supported, recompensed, recognised and, most importantly, exonerated? Will the Minister meet Noel Thomas, should he wish that to happen?”

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In reply Kevin Hollinrake said: “I would be delighted to meet Noel Thomas. A key part of the excellent dramatisation “Mr Bates vs The Post Office” and of “Mr Bates vs The Post Office:The Real Story”, which sits behind it and which people can also watch, features Mr Thomas.

“His story was incredibly moving and anybody who saw it would be moved by it, so of course I will meet him. I am keen to ensure that he gets not only the apology he deserves, but the redress he deserves, and I am sure we can discuss that when we meet.

“The Government is keen to make sure that the compensation schemes work as effectively as possible, to make sure that Mr Thomas gets the compensation he needs and he is able to move on with his life.”

“Speaking afterwards, Virginia added: “I thank the minister for reaching out to Mr Thomas, who quite rightly feels sceptical about what will now happen after all the setbacks and injustices he has faced for nearly 20 years.

“Lives have been ruined and lost because of this scandal. It is right the government has acted to quash these convictions and I hope innocent people like Mr Thomas can now find closure.”

The MP added: “I would also like to commend the media for its work to shed further light on what happened. It has acted as a catalyst for action in the finest traditions of a robust and free press.”