25 February 2024 , 14:47
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One of the Post Office's top enforcers has refused to apologise for his role in wrongful convictions during the Horizon IT scandal.
Robert Daily was Scotland's chief investigator who helped the prosecution of more than 100 sub-postmasters for embezzlement. But despite putting them through hell, seizing their jewellery and getting bonuses based on the amount of convictions he brought about, he refused to apologise when approached by reporters from the Sunday Mail. Daily, who is still employed by the Post Office, is facing calls to return the money he received from the false accusations.
Gemma McGowan, daughter of late Edinburgh subpostmistress Fiona McGowan, said: “This man definitely contributed to the pain and devastation caused to all those charged or convicted. It makes me so angry to now learn they were given bonuses for all the work they were doing to accuse innocent people of stealing. That was obviously an incentive.”
Postmistress Fiona McGowan (UGC)Daily gave evidence last month at the Post Office inquiry on two cases of wrongful conviction – North Uist subpostmaster William Quarm and Newcastle sub-postmaster Peter Holmes.
He said he was “just doing my job” and admitted to having exceeded targets for recovering “stolen” cash. He added that his bonuses could “technically” be linked to how much cash he recovered but insisted they were paid regardless. But fellow investigator Gary Thomas said there were “bonus objectives” based on prosecutions and recovery of funds. At the inquiry Daily admitted he used his wife’s qualifications in his CV when applying for an internal role in 2008.
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Fiona with her daughter Gemma (UGC)The Sunday Mail also revealed he seized jewellery from a couple accused of stealing £56,000, saying he was taking it under the Proceeds of Crime Act. It was later returned.
Fiona was wrongly accused of stealing £30,000 and false accounting in 2004 – the year Daily became investigations manager for Scotland. She died in 2009. Her case was dropped but Fiona was never told and died alone in a homeless hostel believing she faced jail. Her children are fighting to clear her name.
Her son Daryl Wallace said: “They should definitely lose their jobs. They also need to hand back all cash bonuses we now know they were given as a result of these wrongful accusations. I would also like to see these people put on trial.”
Gemma said: “They should definitely apologise to everyone they helped accuse and convict, as well as their families.” The Sunday Mail confronted Daily but he shouted at their reporter to “get off my property and leave”. He was also asked to apologise to victims after the inquiry but stayed silent.