Post Office Inquiry: former lawyer who advised firm challenged over role in 'derisory' payouts

[@DennisHughes-h8b]

This arrogant man just shows to us all how difficult it must have been for poor Mr Alan Bates to gain information and as far as his apology to those who suffered, he did not mean a single word.

[@lelavoir]

Sir Alan Bates I now read!

[@Nicola-g7h]

Even his "apology" is not an apology at all. "During my time acting for Post Office *we* made some mistakes along the way." He couldn't bring himself to say "I made some mistakes". Not that I would have believed any apology from him anyway.

[@mjlewis104]

My god what an utterly cold and calculating individual....no compassion, no pity, no heart, no soul. I wonder if his wife and children are proud of him, if he has any of course.

[@michaelmcginley7930]

If he has a wife then if she has any integrity she should leave him

[@MRJERRYCURTIN]

Take his money forget what he did to fellow humans

[@derekibison6644]

I was wondering what his family make of him? What an appalling individual. Pure slime.

[@judithmatthews8460]

They just bank his cheque that’s their integrity.

[@derekibison6644]

@@judithmatthews8460 It’s hard to keep in mind that central to the legal process is the concept of ‘justice’. This notion has never crossed this man’s mind and for him the application of the law is purely about the presentation and manipulation of information in order to win. He needs to take a long hard look at himself, though clearly he has a marked inability to do so.

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

Another snake who thinks that nice clothes and a law degree allow him to behave reprehensibly.

[@barking_mad6649]

Wise words Commander o7

[@TheKARMMARK]

Well said.

[@michaelmcginley7930]

Snake

[@Jazz-tv4qr]

Perfect!!!!

[@greentombdive]

Actually, from his mouth’s habitual, mealy mouthed body-language, I would guess that’s a Poundland suit and a tie from a Burton’s sale.

[@grahamdominy8309]

What bloody insufferable arrognace and evasion!

[@bootstrapperwilson7687]

@grahamdominy8309 Is arrognace worse than arrogance? How much worse?

[@thomasshaw9100]

Immoral and inexcusable. Makes me sick.

[@williambyron564]

Disgusting. An apology for what precisely?

[@derekibison6644]

@@williambyron564 It will be the typical politicians sham apology. I’m sorry that you are ‘feeling’ that you’ve been let down.

[@kinorspielmann4649]

That ever so belated apology, which had to be wrung out of him, was insincere, pitiful, mealymouthed, inadequate, disdainful, shameful.

[@Trickster60-um8yd]

Disgusting! He needs his licence revoking by The Law Society; a total snake

[@fruitychink]

Agree .Report to Law Society for investigation at the least

[@jimwoods9551]

They are monitoring this inquiry.

[@fruitychink]

@@jimwoods9551 I think though I may be wrong that the public can make a free standing complaint to the Law Society about the conduct of ant practicing lawyer ?

[@ChangesOneTim]

@@fruitychink Yes, to the SRA which is a statutorily independent arm of the Law Soc.

[@exdoode]

but most lawyers are like him

[@sprecklesville]

Sickening and astounding levels of arrogance - I can’t even begin to imagine what sub postmasters went through trying to fight faceless bureaucrats like this with absolutely no morals or integrity - absolutely horrific

[@derekibison6644]

He’s worse than Singh.

[@janeday9148]

Andrew Parsons another name to be remembered ,has shown how some Lawyers can knowingly behave in a way that destroys innocent peoples lives ,the British Justice System has let the Country down

[@rsb8653]

I watched this guy all day. In my opinion he shows sociopathic behaviour . He could not apologise and saw nothing wrong with what he did. He called postmasters criminals in writing. Horrible

[@chrisfell5073]

I would call him a Psychopath!

[@Robert-ux5yk]

I think you hit the nail on the head...there was simply a culture of sociopathic behaviour

[@marktronic9637]

The man needs suspending and investigating for gross misconduct for his part in the cover up

[@sdrest]

What a crook.

[@PatSvensen]

I tuned in to this, not knowing who Andrew Parsons is, and thinking it would be very boring, but it's not!! It's horrifying what these crooks did to all these poor sub-postmasters. Gosh, letting all these people do sooo much work towards mediation, when a lot of the time POL had no intention whatsoever of settling.

[@Etherdave]

You need to watch the testimony of PO's in-house lawyer, Jarnail Singh. He claimed in front of that panel, that in his entire career, he'd never learned how to save a document.

[@stewartwallwork6505]

Apology given so insincere had to be dragged out.

[@dortchem]

He gives ZERO f*cks about those people.

[@MRJERRYCURTIN]

So fing arrogant Parsons

[@bobbylockes]

completely wrong. See my answer above. Parsons provides evidence that indeed PO were not acting in good faith and that their interpretation of what good faith is is completely different to what Vennells stated the mediations sessions were meant to be. Parsons is providing important evidence against the PO, in particular Paula Vennells and other senior PO staff who said the the mediation sessions were a genuine attempt to help sub postmasters. This is gold star evidence for the victims and in this clip Parson has been shown to be very honest imo, all be it in a convoluted indirect manner.

[@cassandratq9301]

I just hear him deny.

[@pisstinpete4700]

A proper shylock

[@MichaelEnright-gk6yc]

Another slippery customer shifting the blame at every opportunity. We made some mistakes. Deliberate advice to continue to victimize innocent sub postmasters

[@NatalieTimeBank]

I hope this liar is never able to work again

[@michaelmcginley7930]

Or walk

[@davymalone9322]

He's just been made a partner in the firm he works for...

[@PeterS-r4o]

​@@davymalone9322That firm now has the pleasure of being forever associated with the worst miscarriage of justice in British history.

[@owstonlad3859]

@@PeterS-r4o The word is TOAST for that firm now.

[@danmcwilliams926]

On the contraire, he has been shown to be a bulldog for his clients, so will probably be booked up for years to come.

[@infoillness4222]

If a joiner had so little mastery of his craft he would be unemployed...how much will his dreadful advice cost the Post Office and subsequently the taxpayer...??

[@hugolindum7728]

I think the post office people are faced with the choice of exposing their behaviour as criminal, and have decided to show themselves as incompetent instead. They all have one eye on criminal prosecutions after this enquiry.

[@infoillness4222]

@@hugolindum7728 I didn't realise it took such little talent to get to the top in the wonderful meritocracy that was POL...

[@PeterS-r4o]

Exactly. Apart from his highly dubious ethics and morals - the advice he gave just landed the PO even deeper in the brown stuff.

[@RichardReid-l3c]

" I am not a Criminal lawyer " but he is still a LAWYER ! He must know the LAW!

[@guywilletts2804]

In the same way that a GP and a brain surgeon are both doctors, but a GP wouldn't try to gainsay the advice of a brain surgeon on how to treat a brain injury, so a civil litigation lawyer wouldn't gainsay the advice of a criminal law specialist on a criminal law matter. This specific point isn't the most astonishing point of his evidence.

[@nickcoppard5335]

He is a CRIMINAL AND A LIAR I MEAN LAWYER

[@davidhardy6019]

The guy is a disgrace

[@keegan773]

Yet another lying crook employed in the cover up of this scandal.

[@ContentJapaneseMaples-gk8ji]

As someone once said "a lawyer will do anything to win a case, sometimes they will even tell the truth" !

[@ianlister6554]

Deny, deny and deny again. This slime knows he’s untouchable.

[@Johnno85]

Untouchable? He’s finished in the legal sector. WBD will get rid of him sooner or later, and no other law firm will touch him.

[@derekibison6644]

@@Johnno85 It’s not just the cream that rises to the top.

[@philhmp4231]

This creep is either a cold and bold faced liar, or he has absolutely no understanding of the phrase "negotiating in good faith". It was nothing but a cynical fishing exercise and more cruel victimization of the victims.

[@andersonomo597]

The abuse of power by the PO is breath taking - and fish rots from the head down. Vennels and the rest of the board MUST be charged. And a big cheer for SIR Alan Bates - so incredibly well deserved!!

[@Robert-ux5yk]

I think Vennels is a convenient scapegoat and this should go back a further 10 years

[@andersonomo597]

@@Robert-ux5yk I agree BUT Vennels with her sanctimonious attitude was incredibly derelict in her duty as PO head. She NEVER questioned anything, she protected 'the brand' at all costs, maximized profits at all costs, covered up past wrongs. It didn't start with Vennels but she continued the injustices. Yes she's in the crosshairs but yes, this needs to be rooted out to its very beginnings and THOSE people need to held to account too.

[@bsimpson6204]

Sentence him to 10 years in jail and see what he has to say then

[@nhhdjdhdj6496]

That won't happen. They will be protected. Why do you think none of them have ever even been interviewed by the police? Because they are Freemasons, and so are the police. The law doesn't apply to the Brotherhood.

[@northstar1950]

What really annoys me about this scum is that they seem to think they are above the law.

[@tomricketts7821]

They have been for a very long time

[@Robert-ux5yk]

Everything that is wrong in this country today..." the bubble"

[@nhhdjdhdj6496]

They are above the law!! Why do you think they haven't been arrested, or questioned by police? They never will be.

[@halfordslain7477]

I wouldn't employ him on a checkout.

[@kevind6956]

The Law Society should remove him. He deliberately corrupted the rules of disclosure which led to innocent people being made bankrupt & imprisoned. An arrogant, unpleasant ‘man’ who showed zero remorse.

[@peterrowlands6406]

How many of these criminals are still on the loose ???😡😡😡

[@philhmp4231]

Wow! He expects fairrness. What cheek. Where was his fairness for the poor victims of his cold and callous actions? Sorry mate. You deserve nothing but a jail cell.

[@sash1623]

What a hollow specimen !

[@derekibison6644]

Your four words speak more truth than his smug sophistry.

[@verylikecheryl]

Should have asked: “POL followed your advice. Miscarriages of justice resulted. Please now explain to the inquiry how you use weasel words, sophistry and cunning to wriggle out of any responsibility.”

[@lesleydickson7746]

It makes you wonder if the hiding of discovery materials is just normal practice. How many people countrywide have been affected by this?

[@A2Z1Two3]

Conspiracy to pervert course of justice. Lock them up and throw away the key.

[@nhhdjdhdj6496]

That won't happen. They will be protected. Why do you think none of them have ever even been interviewed by the police? Because they are Freemasons, and so are the police. The law doesn't apply to the Brotherhood.

[@ewaf88]

What a horrible creature

[@michaelbruce5415]

The man talks about “good faith”. He really should not use words that he clearly does not understand.

[@ignaciocamargo]

You are right, he knew that what he was doing was unethical possible criminal

[@lindaj237]

You just have to look at his face..tells you all you need to know. Hard as nails

[@stewartwallwork6505]

These post office officials all well coached in truth avoidance

[@ataxpayer723]

These lawyers should be disbarred. How am I not surprised that the PO entered into "mediation" when they already had decided not to negotiate in goo faith. Who made those decisions and who briefed the PO team who attended the "mediation" sessions?

[@Robert-ux5yk]

Isn't that illegal anyway?

[@roddersfiftynine]

I can imagine this guy smirking as he checks his christmas bonus cheque at the same time as all thos postmasters and mistresses were shi**ing bricks inside a prison cell. I bet his family is so proud of the part he willingly played. I see his smug photo and details still proudly published on his firm`s website. What a calling-card. NOT !!

[@Poppycat9182]

I note that the experience section on his entry on WBD website make no mention of his long association with the Post Office - I wonder why?

[@brianclayton1039]

Why isn't the Law Society dealing with these people?

[@cassandratq9301]

They need this inquiry - and probably a recommendation from the Sir who runs it - before they can move.

[@m.landoorwoolf3207]

Its very tiring to hear how these witnesses can remember anything that they can use to deflect or correct any allegations but when something is raised that incriminates them, suddenly "I cannot recall...". It would be interesting to see the ratio of these points. "I cannot recall..." will no doubt out-strip the points of evidence that incriminates or deflects. Surely, "I cannot recall.." is lying on oath - but we will never know. No honour or credibility.

[@barryscott6222]

Well... we now know why Womble/Bond Dickinson continued to be retained by POL. They completely understood their brief. While other legal representation came and went, they stayed and stayed. People who raised uncomfortable questions, or noticed uncomfortable truths, were quickly exited.

[@cassandratq9301]

Yep.

[@AndrewTaylor-gc3qj]

I hope the Law Society and police contact the weasel.

[@brianwynne-jones1343]

Zero Accountability and no humility shadow of a man

[@outlaw6421]

His excuses are pathetic, the man is a absolute disgrace..arrest him

[@nhhdjdhdj6496]

That won't happen. They will be protected. Why do you think none of them have ever even been interviewed by the police? Because they are Freemasons, and so are the police. The law doesn't apply to the Brotherhood.

[@DanSmithBK]

Makes me laugh that anyone expects anything other than scumbag behaviour from a lawyer. The basis of the profession is professional lying, and the business model is a parasitic one. Why would they do anything else, unless the money was better?

[@kquat7899]

Parsons had been a "conduit". What he actually is is embedded in those letters.

[@gordonferguson4370]

Not 1 word of an apology

[@mikelheron20]

You should try watching it again, this time with your hearing aid switched on.

[@johnreed8336]

The apology was said using empty words as it was not meant .

[@davidnixon9350]

Lies, lies, disgraceful...

[@williamseaborne2694]

What a repulsive individual. He epitomises everything that is wrong with the whole Post Office scandal. Let us hope that his name will always be associated with the worst miscarriage of justice in British legal history, and not in a good way.

[@Stevesparks100]

That’s the most disingenuous ‘apology’ I’ve ever heard.

[@benwilson6145]

He should be a Tory candidate

[@billywiz1307]

Did he just lie there saying that he was not a criminal lawyer

[@jamesharvey8835]

Well, technically, he's a criminal/lawyer.

[@cassandratq9301]

Not a lawyer who is a criminal - a "criminal lawyer". ☺️

[@lastdimestudios]

Omg the corporate vocabulary this guy uses is beyond whats even on LinkedIn!! It reminds me of the sickening years working for businesses like the post office where everyone is institutionalised!

[@allanbennie2024]

This is the biggest scandal of justice since the Hillsborough Disaster

[@paradad999]

What an ABSOLUTE DISGRACE!!! The people at the post office that allowed and extended this miscarriage of justice should be sent to jail as criminals! They not only destroyed many many lives but through their action or inaction caused people to take their only way out of this awful wrongdoing! On top of all this, who is paying for the enquiry?? The British taxpayer?

[@GWills-ys6rd]

THIS PERSON MUST FACE A CRIMINAL TRIAL!

[@wilsonmanch6773]

These crooks need to go to jail.

[@peterflynn3657]

Zero shame or repentance. Next stage should be a criminal trial.

[@nhhdjdhdj6496]

That won't happen. They will be protected. Why do you think none of them have ever even been interviewed by the police? Because they are Freemasons, and so are the police. The law doesn't apply to the Brotherhood

[@philipyoung3843]

What a disgraceful excuse for a human being, He needs to do time

[@wanderingyoutube]

"to reinvestigate.. where there were errors on the Post Office's, we were willing to settle." but you decided already that you weren't offering a settlement in some cases, which meant you've decided that in those cases, there were no errors and no amount of 'information sharing' could have changed the outcome of the meeting

[@roberttracey3633]

He's hiding behind carefully chosen words and has been highlighted in his arrogance and past actions. What a silly little man

[@JayStapley]

"Good Faith"? Precious little of that...

[@derekibison6644]

Mr Parsons is a smug git who gets off on his clever play on words.

[@oregonsamhain]

Protect the money, protect the brand. A soulless corporate husk of a man.

[@johnboy5736]

What a disgrace this guy is to the law in this country. Still telling lies. Is the guy still working if so he should be fired immediately. One lie after the other. Blaming someone else again. If his employer is reading this. Can you seriously have him working in your company.

[@shingitai5882]

I hope to hear that he is disbarred for life over this, or if he isn’t it will be impossible for him to work in the law again as clients refuse to use his services.

[@SuperAndytaylor]

i really hope the solicitors professional associations and regulatory bodies consider some of these witnesses to be utterly unsuitable to be trusted to work with the law honestly and be struck off from practicing again

[@Robert-ux5yk]

They should do otherwise they will come out of this looking very poor

[@Robert-ux5yk]

It sounds like "the firm"

[@Bigducksrule]

If you’re found to have worked against justice how can you work in a legal system? Strip them of their right to practice law and as a country we’ll start moving forward.

[@michaelmaycock5655]

Come on folks this is unfair, since when has ANYBODY expected a lawyer to have morals 🤷‍♂️😂

[@tomricketts7821]

That’s why labs use them in testing because the are things that rats just won’t do

[@MaryMcRobert]

Lets cut out the technical and judicious twaddle. Surely this is an open and shut case for snapping this guys legs. Just saying.

[@glencoe8251]

Tarred and feathered.

[@johnreed8336]

Barred from his profession .

[@Robert-ux5yk]

Haha... Looks like the only thing they'll listen to

[@streetlegal008]

The legal professionals are in a much more perilous position than the other witnesses. There are barristers and solicitors who know that they are bound to face misconduct hearings from their professional associations. That means that they may well be 'struck 0ff' from continuing in any form of legal practice. Criminal proceedings might also be brought against them for failing in their duties as officers to the Court - on such matters as failure to disclose etc.

[@davidhogan-o3x]

How much salary & bonus did this guy receive at the time ???

[@howard5259]

He's now a partner - tells you all you need to know about his firm

[@MarkEastwood-ft6it]

Anyone employing Andrew Parsons should rethink their own ethics

[@5tevieb954]

Well done to Sir Alan.

[@chris-vn6sw]

Obviously sympathetic to the Post Office agenda. 😡😡

[@infoillness4222]

But it's amazing how they justify their terrible advice in their own minds...pure bureaucratic evil I'm afraid...

[@kevind6956]

@@infoillness4222It’s about ego. They have the ‘win’ by any rules, even if that m abs ignoring their legal responsibilities.

[@infoillness4222]

@@kevind6956 Let's hope the law brings them to book...

[@kevind6956]

@@infoillness4222 I can’t see why it won’t. This is as serious as it gets.

[@Wellygigs]

Can you imagine the conversation his wife has with him when she asks “ beef or pork “

[@lunamonkey]

It’s all about the context. 😂

[@neilmckenzie1989]

You attend mediation to approach with an open mind and NO preconditions. Disingenuous is putting it very mildly 😡

[@PiperStart]

WBD should be charged with fraud for giving advice that is not real advice, but stuff just passed along the line.

[@Martin-v3v9p]

Lawyers..!!!..

[@DominicBerry-d5h]

I’m speechless at the gall of it. “Not me… they went that way…”

[@urkopetal6319]

That's putting it mildly, it's way beyond that.

[@WillyPigg83]

How are these people still practicing law. They should be in prison, let alone struck off. Absolutely no morals.

[@marmite.]

Because this is the way our law system works it's just we don't get to see this 💩 because they can hide it and we bury our head in the sand and let them do what they want.

[@nhhdjdhdj6496]

That won't happen. They will be protected. Why do you think none of them have ever even been interviewed by the police? Because they are Freemasons, and so are the police. The law doesn't apply to the Brotherhood.

[@michaelmcginley7930]

Lets hope he is struck of .if the law society has any credibility he should be.womple bond she be boycotted

[@MS-jm7me]

what a bloody farce

[@splatten8597]

Unbelievable! Not him then! Someone else

[@PeterS-r4o]

Someone should send him a link to this so he can enjoy reading the comments.

[@or9835]

Looks like there is enough evidence for disbarment of this lawyer. Parsons must have been getting tired of being asked in the inquiry to confirm that what he had written black on white was what he advised black on white: to prevent disclosure, to give legal advice without stating that was actually somebody else's advice, to not find more information as that could incriminate POL, to not create a paper trail.

[@susansimpson656]

Love how he plays the yes, no game

[@markbradshaw8244]

He’s slippery

[@jeaninea5029]

What a horrible person.

[@fc4660]

Whenever we have in-house lawyers on a call we’re not allowed to record the call. I’ve never quite understood that.

[@gherkamum]

He knew it was wrong and did nothing, still no empathy or shame.

[@johnreed8336]

Must be a tory voter .

[@renukaviswanathan454]

Are most lawyers trained to only give strategic advice and never think of delivering justice? Are they taught the meaning of that word?

[@alanthorpe2022]

As Judge Bullingham once archly advised Rumpole Of The Bailey, "this is a court of law, Mr Rumpole, not a court of justice". To which Rumpole caustically muttered "I am indebted to Your Honour for pointing out the difference". While "law is a body of regulations and standards set up by governments and international bodies and is (or should be) based on the idea of justice", it seems that the practice of law does not necessarily require the practitioner to have the requisite grasp of justice.

[@renukaviswanathan454]

@@alanthorpe2022 How right you are! Thank you

[@neilmckenzie1989]

If that is ‘good faith’ then I am astounded that these people ever get to practice law… liars all!

[@russellbertrand3242]

all of this has transpired from the dribs and drabs of documents eked out by the guilty parties. Imagine what would be found if the whole debacle was uncovered.

[@johnbooth936]

problem is there are crooks who will use their services

[@dadangus100]

This lawyer should be found to be corrupt

[@BLUESKY-zt1nv]

what we have are Post office managers and CEOs etc etc who are far far cleverer and astute than any of the investigation team of QC's ...we can all see this in every episode we see

[@peterflynn3657]

Extraordinary performance from this cynical lawyer

[@johnreed8336]

Thought of prison might be a motivating factor .

[@terrysmith9362]

Watch parsons being taken apart by Mr Henry a few mins later

[@CatalinaIsland-nf8hc]

More Ju-jitsu than Fujitsu! 😬

[@infoillness4222]

In past times he'd have been taken apart on the rack for what he will ultimately cost our country...

[@PatSvensen]

Pity I didn't see that.

[@terrysmith9362]

@@PatSvensen you can google it. Start watching after about an hour