‘You are either lying or incompetent’: Ex-Post Office boss challenged during Inquiry

‘You are either lying or incompetent’: Ex-Post Office boss challenged during Inquiry

so are we to understand that you can
think back to the time when you’ve got
Mr Marsh in front of you and he’s
referring to this report are you saying
that you can say in your own mind from
your recollection um no thanks Mr Marsh
I I won’t read it it’s okay no problem
no I didn’t say that right why are you
saying you definitely didn’t read it do
you remember not reading
it I when I read it when it was made
available to me for the second time via
this inquiry I had not read
that so Mr Marsh comes to you with a
report that he’s knocking that you’re
hearing um something going on in the
background about from the post office
knocking this report and you decide not
to read it is that what you’re saying Mr
Miller uh I didn’t read
it you know I’ve made that very clear to
this inquiry that I didn’t read it and
it’s a matter of some regret to me Mr
Miller one of two things arise out of
that you’re either lying through your
teeth or you’re a complete incompetence
which uh I’m not lying through my teeth
right so
incompetence if you wish to say that yes
or do you agree it’s incompetence not to
have read a report I am in these
circumstances I am not happy that I
didn’t read that report

David Miller is being questioned on his claim that he did not read the 2003 report by Jason Coyne, an IT expert who found that there were defects in Horizon, during his time at the Post Office.

“I didn’t read it,” he told the inquiry. “I have made that very clear to this inquiry that I didn’t read it and it’s a matter of some regret to me.”

Sam Stein KC, who represents a number of sub-postmasters, asked: “Mr Miller, one of two things arise out of that. You’re either lying through your teeth or you’re a complete incompetent. Which?”

Mr Miller replied: “I’m not lying through my teeth.”

Mr Stein interjected: “So incompetence?”

Mr Miller responded: “If you wish to say that, yes.”

#news #inquiry #postoffice

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