Post Office Inquiry: chair forced to intervene as witness clashes with counsel

Sir Wynn Williams was forced to intervene during the Post Office Inquiry on Friday as witness George Thomson traded barbs with counsel Julian Blake.

The former general secretary of the National Federation of Subpostmasters was reminded by the chair to give direct answers, after frequent prompts to do so by the barrister.

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[andrewcarter]

A thoroughly vile man. Listened to his whole evidence. Bordering on evil.

[rbew]

The loudest one in the room is the weakest one in the room.

[brunopetit]

A thug and bully boy. Doesn’t like to justify himself does he?

[canderson]

He went home after this, convinced, ‘he had shown them’. Arsehole of the first order.

[tatata]

What a thoroughly awful organisation the the Post office is if this in the hands of the kind of people we have seen in this inquiry. A bunch of spivs, chancers and heartless monsters led by CoE vicar.😂

[Youtube_deleted_my_favourites]

Imagine, at your place of work, some money goes missing. You get blamed. If you deny it you are threatened with court resulting in prison. Or if you admit it you just get a suspended sentence or community punishment. So to avoid prison you admit guilt. Over and done with you think. Then your company sues you for court costs because you were found guilty, you owe £350, 000 in court costs. Your life ruined. This company is called the Post Office. Their logo is " whatever you need us for, we're here for you". They spent £100 million in expensive lawers to try to avoid paying £58 million in compensation. The class action saw the incorrectly convicted see £20, 000 in compensation after court costs. The executive salaries were between £250, 000 and £500, 000. Post Office investigators were given bonuses for every Horizon conviction

[saulgoodman]

Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

[thorsley]

Non so blind as those that will not see! The man had no interest in protecting the innocent victims. He was too naive to understand that the Horizon system can still make mistakes even if it processed millions of other transactions successfully. His whole attitude was that Sub-postmasters must be guilty (because they usually are) and that Horizon was fault free. Such a nasty rude person with absolutely no compassion. And he claims the Nation Federation of sub-masters was there to help sub-postmasters - certainly not under his leadership.

[daved]

This inquiry keeps revealing more and more layers of incompetence, greed, narcissism and venal behaviour. How much more was is there still?

[claredavies]

Mr Blake was the epitome of calm in the face of a shouty Scottish thug (and I say that with deep sadness from Scotland). Mr Thomson conducted himself with no dignity at all and his rant about Alan Bates was quite frankly jaw dropping....

[physicsAmbler]

I read about him in Nick Wallis’ book and if anything the reality is even more obnoxious and confrontational than Wallis’ description. I’d normally like to ask how he sleeps at night, but one gets the very clear impression he sleeps just fine

[johng]

Ironically, he used to call himself a socialist and became a local councillor on that basis. Done very well for himself has George Thomson.

[PeterS-ro]

He did manage to make one thing quite clear - that is if he had tried to help the sub - postmasters he wouldn't have been of any use.

[lesduncan]

It’s the old adage, if I shout and rant loud enough no one will ask questions I don’t want to answer!

[Galacticmaster]

finding out finally, the union was on the payroll of Royal Mail just like a few others in the UK.

[secondhand]

What a joke this piece of work is. He definitely needs investigating.

[ncooper]

Thomson's got too much to say, he's a big mouth.

[lightningtwostrikes]

This guy knows he’s as guilty as hell. So he had 2 choices to make when I came to this enquiry. He chose the undignified option.

[johnenglish]

I wish the barristers had been firmer on insisting that he answer the question put, rather than going off on a rant. What an awful man. I feel fortunate that I have never had to work with such a repulsive individual completely devoid of any redeeming features.

[probro]

I don't think Mr Thomson quite grasps what an "inquiry" is. I'm glad Sir Wyn is taking none of it.