Post Office inquiry live: Paula Vennells apologises as she begins giving evidence

Paula Vennells has just arrived at the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry.

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Former Post Office CEO, Paula Vennells, stepped into the Horizon IT scandal inquiry and was requested by the previous subpostmasters to speak the truth. She is expected to testify for three days regarding the issue.

At the beginning of her testimony, the ex-CEO expressed regret and apologized to Alan Bates as well as other subpostmasters, saying, "My profound apologies."

The Horizon IT system made by Fujitsu caused over 700 subpostmasters to face wrongful prosecution and criminal convictions from 1999 until 2015. This happened because the system showed discrepancies in the money at their branches which weren't actually missing.

Seema Misra got imprisoned in 2010 when she was pregnant after someone accused her of theft worth £74,000. Lee Castleton also faced a similar situation when he went bankrupt after losing his legal fight over a false alleged shortfall of £25,000. Both of them firmly asked Ms. Vennells, who is linked to this scandal, to speak the truth. Lee warned that the whole world is watching the situation.

Jo Hamilton, who was wrongly blamed for taking £36,000 from the Hampshire branch she managed, stated to The Independent: "I have no hopes for her, truthfully. However, I hope that she provides the postmasters with the truth they are entitled to."

Paula Vennells Apologizes For Horizon Scandal

Paula Vennells has requested to start with saying sorry to Alan Bates and other subpostmasters who were impacted by the Horizon debacle.

The ex-CEO of Post Office expressed regret, stating, "I feel apologetic and remorseful for the agony that subpostmasters, their kin, and others had to go through due to the numerous issues investigated by the inquiry over an extended period of time."

"I paid attention to all the human impact statements and they had a great impact on me."

She expressed regret and apologized sincerely, stating: "I deeply apologize. I would also like to reiterate my remorse towards Alan Bates, Ron Warmington, Ian Henderson from Second Sight, and Lord Arbuthnott. My actions made their lives more challenging, and I am genuinely sorry for that."

I want to apologize for the third time and be completely honest when answering today's questions. I know that my responses may be tough to hear, both for you and myself, so I ask for your understanding beforehand.

Andy Gregory wrote a blog post on May 22, 2024 at 10:01.

"Paula Vennells Pledges To Answer All Queries After Taking Oath"

At the inquiry, Paula Vennells took an oath and was advised by Sir Wyn Williams that she has the right to refuse answering questions if they may incriminate herself.

According to Sir Wyn, it is within the legal rights of a witness in a public inquiry to refuse to answer a question presented to them by legal counsel, including himself, if there is a concern that their answer could implicate them in any wrongdoing.

"I intend to respond to every inquiry," remarked Ms. Vennells.

Andy Gregory and Archie Mitchell wrote a blog on May 22, 2024 at 9:52.

"Tell Vennells: Give Postmasters Truth They Deserve"

Jo Hamilton, an alleged victim of wrongful accusation, has urged Paula Vennells to be truthful with postmasters. Hamilton, who was accused of embezzling £36,000 from the Post Office branch she managed in South Warnborough, Hampshire, hopes that the former CEO will take responsibility for her actions.

In order to evade imprisonment, she admitted to a lesser offense of fraudulent bookkeeping and faced legal consequences in the year 2006.

Before her appearance at the inquiry, Ms Vennells expressed to The Independent that she doesn't have any expectations from her.

"I would greatly appreciate if she could provide the postmasters with the honesty and fairness they are entitled to."

Archie Mitchell, a journalist who covers politics, wrote an article on May 22, 2024, at 9:48 am.

"Jailed Subpostmaster Urges Vennells To Speak Truth"

Seema Misra, a former subpostmaster, was accused of stealing £74,000 from her Surrey branch and was imprisoned in 2010 while pregnant. She has recently urged Paula Vennells to tell the truth about the situation.

When asked what message she would like to convey to Ms Vennells, Ms Misra expressed her desire for honesty. She spoke to the PA news agency outside Aldwych House on Wednesday and urged Ms Vennells to share the truth about the matter. Ms Misra and others like her have been fighting for a long time to uncover the facts, and as deserving individuals, they want to know precisely what took place.

She expressed her firm stance on Ms. Vennells' testimony in the inquiry, stating "it goes without saying." She further remarked that Ms. Vennells' name has been mentioned time and time again.

According to Ms Misra, they will not surrender regardless of the circumstances.

On May 22, 2024 at 9:28 AM, Andy Gregory wrote a blog post. Rewritten: A blog entry was authored by Andy Gregory at 9:28 AM on May 22, 2024.

Will Ex-Post Office Secretary Return OBE?

Alwen Lyons, a former secretary of Post Office company, has been asked if she too will return the OBE that was awarded to her in 2018. This request comes in light of Paula Vennells' decision to return her own OBE earlier this year.

Yesterday afternoon, Ms Lyons was interviewed by Alex Thomson, the chief correspondent of Channel 4, when she was leaving the Horizon inquiry.

Paula Vennells Silent On Media Questions At Inquiry Arrival

Paula Vennells showed up at 7.45am and didn't respond to any inquiries as she strolled a brief route up to the setting, accompanied by the police.

She is scheduled to present her testimony at 10 in the morning.

Andy Gregory Posted On 22 May 2024 At 09:03 Rewritten: On May 22nd, 2024 at 9:03 am, Andy Gregory made a post.

"Ex-Subpostmaster Awaits Truth From Paula Vennells"

Lee Castleton, a previous subpostmaster who became bankrupt following a legal dispute over a mistaken £25,000 shortfall at his branch in 2004, expressed his excitement to listen to Paula Vennells testify.

"I can't wait to hear her speak," he stated to the PA news agency while standing outside Aldwych House. "This is a great opportunity for her to express herself. For some unknown reason, she hasn't been able to speak up until now. It's crucial that we listen to her and understand what she has to say, so that we can make our own informed decisions."

Mr Castleton expressed his desire to be informed with "the truth" and has requested for an in-depth explanation on the what, why, when, and who of the situation. He is also interested in learning about the individuals involved in making these decisions and the reasoning behind these actions. Additionally, he believes it is essential to take into account the impact of these choices and consider both sides of the story to gain a comprehensive understanding of the matter at hand.

If given the opportunity, Mr. Castleton would like to convey a message to Ms. Vennells. He would encourage her to take advantage of this moment and express herself authentically. He emphasizes that the world is paying attention and urges her to follow her own moral compass.

On May 22, 2024 at 8:50, Andy Gregory wrote an article.

Paula Vennells Escorted To Post Office Inquiry By Police

On the 22nd of May 2024 at 8:46 AM, Andy Gregory wrote a blog section.

Former Post Office CEO Faces Explosive 3-day Inquiry

It's highly anticipated that the Post Office inquiry will experience three intense days, beginning today, wherein Paula Vennells will be interrogated for the initial instance regarding the Horizon scandal.

Many subpostmasters are anxiously awaiting the former Post Office leader's inquiry regarding her involvement in the scandal where numerous Post Office employees were wrongly accused of stealing money due to bugs in the accounting system.

Ms Vennells hasn't elaborated much on her involvement in the scandal, but has expressed remorse for the harm inflicted upon subpostmasters and their loved ones.

It is anticipated that she will undergo questioning regarding her familiarity with the capability to remotely reach the Horizon system. Additionally, it will be explored whether she harbored any suspicions of any misjudgments or unfair outcomes during her time in the position.

On May 22, 2024 at 8:40, Andy Gregory published a blog post.

Police Escort Paula Vennells For Inquiry Testimony

Paula Vennells has made her way to Aldwych House where she will provide testimony for the ongoing Post Office investigation.

Beforehand, law enforcement officials had requested that the press make certain that there was a unobstructed route for Paula Vennells to gain access to the establishment.

As she stepped out of a vehicle close to the location, a group of journalists encircled her and she was later accompanied by law enforcement.

It is May 22, 2024, and Andy Gregory has written a blog post at 8:20 in the morning.