Shamed ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells arrives at Horizon inquiry - after ... trends now

Shamed ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells has arrived at the Horizon public inquiry as she takes to the witness box to give evidence for a second day. 

The 65-year-old businesswoman began the first of three days of questioning on Wednesday by issuing a grovelling apology to victims of the Post Office scandal who were wrongly prosecuted amid claims they stole from the business.

More than 700 subpostmasters were prosecuted for theft by the Post Office and given criminal convictions between 1999 and 2015 as Fujitsu's faulty IT system, known as Horizon, made it appear as though money was missing at their branches.

Ms Vennells broke down twice under questioning from counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC. But her tears were dismissed as nothing more than a 'well-rehearsed' stunt by furious subpostmasters.

Alan Bates, who spearheaded the fight for justice, said her testimony was like watching 'figure skating on the head of a pin', but added: 'It was good to see her on the stand.' 

Ms Vennells wept when questioned about subpostmasters being wrongly convicted, including Martin Griffiths who killed himself after he was accused of stealing money from the Post Office.

She became emotional again as she apologised for misleading MPs who were looking into constituents' complaints about the faulty software.

And she fought back tears when recalling reading 'disturbing' evidence of the impact of the scandal on Post Office workers.

The 65-year-old said her mistakes would 'live with me for ever.' But she insisted she did not think there had been any miscarriages of justice until long after she left the organisation in 2019 – having previously told MPs the Post Office had 'never lost a case'.

Ms Vennells, who served as chief executive for seven years, came face-to-face with victims at the public inquiry in central London, and had to wipe away tears as she opened her evidence with a short apology.

Turning to address the more than 100 campaigners present, she said: 'I would just like to say – and I'm grateful for the opportunity to do this in person – how sorry I am for all that subpostmasters and their families and others who suffered as a result of all of the matters that the inquiry has been looking into for so long.

'I followed and listened to all of the human impact statements and I was very affected by them. I am very, very sorry.'

In a 775-page statement to the inquiry, she said she wished to repeat her apologies to all those who 'have suffered so much from this terrible miscarriage of justice'.

She added: 'Their lives were torn apart by being wrongly accused and wrongly prosecuted as a result of the Horizon system. I am truly sorry and will so [sic] for the rest of my life.'

Ms Vennells had to return her CBE earlier this year after ITV's acclaimed drama series Mr Bates Vs The Post Office brought the scandal – and her central role in it – to a new audience.

The ordained Anglican priest had refused to comment publicly since, but was taken to task by Jason Beer KC, lead lawyer to the inquiry, during her first of three full days in the witness box.

Ms Vennells wept as she apologised for telling the Commons business select committee in 2015 that the Post Office was successful in every court case against subpostmasters as it probed Horizon's integrity.

Inquiry lawyer Mr Beer said: 'Why were you telling parliamentarians every prosecution involving the Horizon system had been successful and had found in favour of the Post Office?'

Ms Vennells, becoming tearful and reaching for a tissue, said: 'I fully accept now – excuse me...

'The Post Office knew that (not every case was won). Personally, I didn't know that and I'm incredibly sorry that that happened to those people, and to so many others.'

There were murmurs in the inquiry room as she broke down briefly.

The inquiry heard Ms Vennells had sought advice from senior colleagues ahead of her appearance before the MPs when she asked for assurances that the system could not be accessed remotely.

She was subsequently presented with briefing notes on how to respond to MPs, which stated she was to say there was no functionality to change transaction data.

But, if pushed on the issue, she could add that there in fact was, although 'there are numerous test and checks including daily checks'.

She agreed with the inquiry chairman Sir Wyn Williams, who said the briefing note suggested Ms Vennells was being advised to 'be very precise, very circumspect, and very guarded' with her answers to MPs.

Ms Vennells also agreed with Mr Beer that it was a 'serious issue' for 'folklore' to develop within the Post Office, relating to incorrect claims about its 100 per cent success rate on prosecutions, that

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