“Good morning Nick”, said the transcriber as she swept past. “You’ve been conspicuous by your absence.”

I know, I know…

This is my first visit to the Inquiry hearing room this phase. I have read and/or watched every word said at the Inquiry (and I thanked Louise the transcriber for her superb work in allowing us all to do so), but I have not been present. It’s been a funny old time. Today should be interesting though!

We have Missing Mike Young – the Man the Inquiry Couldn’t Find – giving evidence today.

Young was one of the five executives Paula Vennells explicitly blamed for failing to tell her how bad things at the Post Office really were. Young was, at the time the Post Office’s Chief of Technology and therefore should, in Vennells’ mind, have had a handle on how bad Horizon really was. And if he did, he should have told her.

The Daily Mirror heroically tracked Young down to his hideout at his, er, home in Berkshire, where he told reporter Simon Murphy that it should have been “easy” for the Inquiry to find him and that he was perfectly prepared to give evidence.

He also told the Mirror:

“Paula needs an out. She’s using me and four others. Hey, she’s got to do what she thinks is right for her. She was the CEO… I don’t bear any responsibility for the Post Office scandal. Tell me what you would have done in my place?”

Today, counsel to the Inquiry will explore Mr Young’s proposition in some detail. He will be giving evidence this morning before Simon Oldnall, the current Horizon IT Director at the Post Office gives evidence this afternoon.

You can watch it all live on the Inquiry’s YouTube site here. I may also tweet anything interesting here.

Other news

We’re just about to start so I’ll be very quick with a round up of Nick Read-related pieces from his evidence last week:

Post Office scandal: Five things we learned from the boss – BBC

Post Office explores taking branch owner-operators to court again – The Guardian

Post Office considered charging Horizon scandal victims to access compensation, inquiry hears – Law Society Gazette

Post Office picked comments backing Horizon IT system from damning judgment, emails show – The Guardian

Nick Read’s Horizon IT scandal inquiry appearance raises more questions – Convenience Store

Okay the hearing has started so I’ll sign off.

Back soon, I suspect.

Nick