Tim Parker said he regretted taking advice not to provide the council with the so-called Swift Report from 2016, which questioned whether the post office had enough evidence to prosecute sub-postmasters.
The former chairman of the Post Office told the Horizon IT scandal inquiry that he had been advised by in-house lawyers not to share a report he commissioned into the accounting system.
Tim Parker, who held the role for almost seven years from October 2015, said he regretted taking advice that the findings of Jonathan Swift’s 2016 review were legally privileged.
He said he could not recall whether he received it verbally or in writing from Jane MacLeod – the company’s general counsel Post.
Latest Money:
Marks & Spencer has beaten the top spot as New Grocer of the Year
Counsel for the inquiry Jason Beer KC recalled that Ms MacLeod said in her own witness statement that she had informed the council of the findings and that the report was available to members on request.
However, the inquiry found that none of the findings had been shared with the Post Office Board or the Government, let alone the lawyers for hundreds of sub-postmasters who had already been convicted of theft and fraud related to the use of Horizon since 1999.
Mr. Parker said he believed lawyers were moving findings forward and the report would be shared with some possible newsrooms later.
The Swift review questioned the strength of the evidence the Post Office had to convict.
Each has since been overturned, but frustration remains among victims at the speed of compensation processes despite government intervention.
Former engineer defends Horizon system
Mr Parker, when questioned by Mr Beer, rejected any suggestion he would like to bury the Swift review.
“What possible motive would I have had to hide this report from my fellow board members at the time other than when I was advised not to share it with my fellow board members?”
Vennells accused of talking ‘nonsense’
“Keep in mind that I had no ax to grind, I had no, no personal interest in protecting the mail… It was just advice I was given and I followed it.
He said he believed at the time the advice was made in good faith, but acknowledged that in hindsight the motive may not have been in the best interests of the sub-postmasters.
Read more about this story:
Former Post Office boss admits ‘missed opportunity’
The government would “not accept the termination of Horizon software”
Horizon IT scandal explained
He added that he did not recall any briefing from Ms MacLeod and agreed with Mr Beer that there was no record of this in the minutes of the board meeting.
Mr Parker also told the hearing that he had been doing a lot of research on whether to apologize to victims of miscarriages of justice.
“Today I played around with the opening statement. You stand up, you say, ‘I’m deeply, deeply sorry,’ as many people have done, and there’s been a discussion with people.
“Should I do it? Because I’d like to apologize. And the response I got was, ‘well, you could do it, but actually people are a little bit sick of it and it all sounds a little hollow and you’re probably just going to piss people off more than giving them a sense of your genuine desire to apologize.”
The inquest is due to continue on Tuesday next week.