Paula Vennells breaks down in tears in entrance of livid Post Office victims
Paula Vennells has broken down in tears as she’s grilled at the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry.
The former chief executive issued an apology to furious postmasters including Alan Bates, saying: “I am very, very sorry.”
As Ms Vennells was asked why she told MPs that the Post Office was successful in every court case against postmasters when they hadn’t been, she began crying.
After a short pause as she tried to compose herself, she said: “I fully accept now that the Post Office…” She broke off her answer to grab a tissue and held her head in her hands for a brief moment.
Ms Vennells continued: “The Post Office knew that and I completely accepted. Personally I didn’t know that and I’m incredibly sorry that it happened to those people and to so many others.”
People in the public gallery at the inquiry include former postmaster Jo Hamilton, who was depicted in the ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office.
The inquiry has been shown bombshell messages sent to by her friend ex-Royal Mail boss Moya Greene, who she wrote that she could no longer support her as: “I think you knew.”
The Horizon IT system wrecked the lives of Post Office workers when it mistakenly made it look like money was missing from their branches. Postmasters were blamed for the shortfalls and made to cover the losses, with more than 900 convicted including some who were put in prison. Several took their own lives.
Ms Vennells, who was Post Office chief executive from 2012 to 2019, is giving evidence over three days. In her written statement to the inquiry, she said: “I would like to offer my genuine and unreserved apologies to all those affected… I apologise that I and those working for me and with me failed the sub-postmasters and their families. I am deeply sorry that they have suffered in such a distressing way.
“I… heard the subpostmasters describe what they had been through, how isolated they felt, and how they had been unsupported by Post Office Limited. They described the life-changing experiences they and their families have endured for so many years. I am so very sorry that so much of this happened while I was a member of the senior management team and then CEO.”
She apologised specifically to campaigners including Mr Bates saying: “They had the right insights. They were right to persevere and I am sorry for where I made their task harder.”
