Ms Vennells has been urged to come clean to the inquiry by former sub-postmasters ahead of her testimony which is scheduled to be heard over three days.
The 65-year-old, who was Post Office chief executive from 2012 to 2019, handed back her CBE in January this year amid mounting pressure over her role in the scandal following the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office.
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Protestors seen outside inquiry
Despite standing in the pouring rain, protestors donning banners were still seen outside Aldwych House today.
Some of the signs read: ‘SOS: Support our Sub-postmasters’. while another exclaimed: ‘Justice For Sub-postmasters’.
Who is Paula Vennells?
Paula Vennels was the shamed former boss of the Post Office from 2012 to 2019 – a time in which hundreds of sub-postmasters wrongly prosecuted after faulty software said money was missing from branch accounts.
During her tenure as chief executive, the 65-year-old ordained priest oversaw huge financial struggles forcing the closure of thousands of Post Office branches nationwide.
She also commissioned a private investigation to investigate the supposed account shortfalls which concluded that there were no accounting or IT issues.
After a group of staff brought their case against the Post Office to the High Court in 2017, she eventually stepped down from her role in 2019.
She is now one of the most recognisable faces of the scandal despite having not spoken publicly about it since 2015.
Watch: Paula Vennells arriving at Post Office Inquiry
Vennells arrives at inquiry
The former Post Office boss has arrived at the inquiry which is being held at Aldwych House in London.
The 65-year-old was met by a scrummage of photographers and reporters as she got out of a car shortly before 8am.
Hello and good morning!
Welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage of today’s Post Office inquiry as former chief executive Paula Vennells gives evidence.
It will mark the first public remarks from Ms Vennells over the Horizon IT scandal in almost a decade with many questions surrounding her role in what is described as the worst miscarriage of justice in British history.
We will bring you the latest developments on what promises to be a huge day at the Post Office Inquiry.