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Welcome and open abstract …
At present is the second day of former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells showing on the Publish Workplace Horizon IT inquiry in London.
The inquiry is chaired by Wyn Williams, and Vennells will bequestioned once more by lead counsel to the inquiry, Jason Beer KC.
In her testimony yesterday, Vennells mentioned that she had been misled by colleagues, however that she didn’t consider there had been a conspiracy. She additionally argued that she was telling what she believed to be the reality when she advised MPs in 2015 that there was no distant entry to the Publish Workplace’s beleagured Horizon IT system, regardless of being proven documentary proof that appeared to point out she had been briefed in any other case.
On multiple event an emotional Vennels appeared to cry, however her tears and apologies didn’t minimize a lot ice with probably the most excessive profile campaigner for justice, Alan Bates. After yesterday’s listening to he advised the media “The entire thing is upsetting for everyone, together with for therefore most of the victims. I’ve obtained no sympathy actually.”
The inquiry is predicted to begin at 9.45am, and it is possible for you to to look at it right here with a 3 minute delay on the video feed.
Key occasions
Ella Baron’s cartoon for us immediately tackles the apology that Paula Vennells gave to the inquiry.
Right here is the scene when Paula Vennells arrived in Aldwych earlier.
At one level yesterday Jason Beer KC put it to Paula Vennells that given the quantity of knowledge and paperwork she claimed have been withheld from her by colleagues, she could be “the unluckiest CEO in UK”. Then Rishi Sunak announced a snap general election, and wiped protection of Vennells’ testimony from most newspaper entrance pages. She may mirror, given it was the primary time she has spoken in regards to the scandal in public for years, that was truly moderately fortunate for her.
Metro and the Every day Star stored Vennells on their entrance pages, with the latter calling her “Little Miss Twaddle” and the previous saying the nation’s sympathy for her tears was “within the put up”.
An honourable point out additionally goes to the Perth and Perthshire Courier, which leads on sufferer reactions to what its headline described as Vennells’ “crocodile tears”.
Moderately lengthier than anyone’s sketches or key takeaway items, the Publish Workplace Horizon IT inquiry yesterday revealed the written witness statements of former Publish Workplace CEO Paula Vennells. The primary assertion is 775 pages lengthy and may be discovered here. A second further assertion of 23 pages is here.
Vennells was criticised by lead counsel Jason Beer KC in regards to the witness statements. In it she mentioned “there are numerous issues I and the Post Office ought to have achieved otherwise. I’m now reflecting with care on these issues.”
Beer requested her “given you supplied a 775 web page witness assertion that took seven months to write down, may you not have mirrored on what you may and may have achieved absolutely and otherwise inside the witness assertion?”
Marina Hyde was additionally watching yesterday’s listening to, and produced her personal sketch of the day …
Nick Wallis is a contract journalist who has been reporting on the scandal for someday, and who was reside tweeting yesterday’s listening to. He has produced his personal five things we learned article on his Post Office Scandal blog. You’ll find that here, and it’s undoubtedly value a number of moments of your time to learn.
Daniel Boffey
Our chief reporter Daniel Boffey pulled out these four key disclosures from yesterday’s listening to:
Vennells mentioned she didn’t know of IT faults and was ‘too trusting’ of subordinates
Vennells claimed that she was not made conscious by her employees of issues with the Horizon IT system. She claimed this was a consequence of the construction of the organisation. She additional claimed to have been misled by the Publish Workplace’s authorized crew. “I’ve been disenchanted, significantly extra lately, listening to proof of the inquiry, the place I believe I’ve discovered that folks knew greater than maybe both they remembered on the time or I knew on the time,” she mentioned. Vennells advised the inquiry: “I used to be too trusting”.
A former CEO of the Royal Mail texted Vennells this yr to accuse her of a canopy up
Dame Moya Greene, chief govt of Royal Mail between 2010 and 2018, texted Vennells in January this yr to specific her dismay as additional revelations have been popping out in regards to the Publish Workplace scandal. She advised Vennells “I can’t assist you now after what I’ve learnt.”
Vennells was advised in 2011 that Fujitsu had distant entry to the Horizon system
An audit by Ernst and Younger in 2011 included the identification of a danger posed by Fujitsu’s means to remotely entry the Horizon IT system. The Publish Workplace went on to disclaim that such entry was attainable for a few years, together with within the excessive courtroom. The inquiry additionally noticed a briefing doc given to Vennells earlier than a choose committee listening to in 2015. She was suggested by her press workplace to disclaim that there was distant entry until she was “pushed”.
Vennels claimed that she didn’t know the Publish Workplace was prosecuting employees till 2012
Regardless of proof that Vennells had been in a gathering in 2008 when the topic of coaching Publish Workplace investigators was raised, she claimed that it was not till 2012 that she understood that the organisation was investigating and prosecuting its personal workers. The lead counsel of the inquiry, Jason Beer, puzzled what Vennells believed was the aim of a division known as the Publish Workplace Investigation Division.
Welcome and open abstract …
At present is the second day of former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells showing on the Publish Workplace Horizon IT inquiry in London.
The inquiry is chaired by Wyn Williams, and Vennells will bequestioned once more by lead counsel to the inquiry, Jason Beer KC.
In her testimony yesterday, Vennells mentioned that she had been misled by colleagues, however that she didn’t consider there had been a conspiracy. She additionally argued that she was telling what she believed to be the reality when she advised MPs in 2015 that there was no distant entry to the Publish Workplace’s beleagured Horizon IT system, regardless of being proven documentary proof that appeared to point out she had been briefed in any other case.
On multiple event an emotional Vennels appeared to cry, however her tears and apologies didn’t minimize a lot ice with probably the most excessive profile campaigner for justice, Alan Bates. After yesterday’s listening to he advised the media “The entire thing is upsetting for everyone, together with for therefore most of the victims. I’ve obtained no sympathy actually.”
The inquiry is predicted to begin at 9.45am, and it is possible for you to to look at it right here with a 3 minute delay on the video feed.
