Ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells accused of talking 'absolute rubbish' as she breaks down in tears

Sam Stein KC has accused ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells at the inquiry of talking "absolute rubbish".
Ms Vennells said she "loved" the Post Office however Mr Stein says she "failed" in her role. She is at the inquiry for her final day of questioning.
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[@lewisbush9566]

Playing the victim card as always jail her for god sake 🤦‍♀️

[@petershortland478]

Nah, first sell every expensive asset she has in front of her then jail her

[@milford1987]

She's a woman she isn't going to prison

[@MagereHein]

@@petershortland478 Take her every penny and send her to jail for a time no shorter than all the time the sub-postmasters and -mistresses did combined.

[@ep1929]

Plenty more like her.

[@kanedNunable]

@@ep1929 jail them too.

[@jeffsmith3392]

She needs to stand trail for the damage to people’s lives.. end of!

[@oneoflokis]

Yes!

[@Pikestnt]

Sadly I’m certain it won’t happen. Despite sending 236 people to prison for crimes they didn’t commit, she won’t even see 6 months. Disgraceful

[@oneoflokis]

@@Pikestnt 💯

[@wwoody8920]

Go on dear, play the victim. It’s so sickening.

[@pindiddle]

@Louis.-vi2lpreally?

[@wwoody8920]

@Louis.-vi2lp ?

[@mkkiani-tech]

Did she cry for the decent people wrongfully pulled out of society and locked up in bad prison conditions, or for their families. Did she ever breakdown in front of staff over what she was doing in order to avoid blame on the post office or on her. What are her tears for, it seems she is crying more for herself than for others out of pity. We are in a very selfish society.

[@garyh1572]

And it's getting worse !!!!

[@yvonnefarrell1029]

Well, exactly. Looked over part of the 860-plus pages of her "first witness statement" at postofficehorizoninquiry and on page 39 she references having "no knowledge of the Horizon system" before joining the Post Office, nor "that there were bugs, errors or defects ("BEDs")". Yeah. Bedbugs, Paula.

[@crazyplantlady7985]

She's crying for herself.

[@ritab8663]

Full and obvious self pity… crawling for sympathy… perfectly sickening

[@diane4488]

Spot on!

[@christopheroliver8762]

She ruined peoples lives, and I have no sympathy for her.

[@coldpotatoes2556]

And hid the fact on purpose. Jail her.

[@derekdarby5159]

She’s still in denial . Crocodile 🐊 tears

[@nickwalter9630]

She's not in denial at all.

[@thomasoflaherty3520]

@@nickwalter9630 No, she's lying.

[@DrawnInk1]

I think she is sorry but the tears are for herself, the job was way way above her capabilities. She took it for the salary and pension.

[@Stan_55UK]

@@Davedarave6661 Exactly.

[@michaelmather7352]

When is one of them going to get charged and does prison time ?

[@BOATSkeepcoming]

Michael old friend ,when Muslims eat pork.

[@mazkhan1785]

Crocodile tears.....we can see through your tears....Lock her up and throw away the keys

[@gudlisner501]

She’s only crying because she’s been found out and not because she now understands that she did wrong.

[@Plethorality]

She was found out long ago. She should have bern in gaol long ago.

[@countroyhifi8730]

Not sure which is worse, the scandal or the public funded inquiry into the scandal where no one goes to jail 🐊 tears

[@markojotic]

Postmasters went to jail, 700 were charged.

[@oneoflokis]

​@@markojoticAbsolutely!

[@Aston19822]

Yep and all done at exactly the same time as the Co nidd inquiry about what happened, with everything that went on,, only 45 people watching it and thousands watching this , what a coincidence,, government kept this I; there back pocket for a rainy day,, politicians will throw anyone under the bus if it saves them ,

[@eamonfire]

I worry that the outcome of this will be a whitewash in the hierarchy and no justice for the actual workers.

[@John-ks6si]

There's plenty of time for charges to be brought against Vennells and co 👍🏼

[@campervan-john]

She needs to go on trial

[@PaulSmith-bd1bk]

She will never face criminal charges but she should be stripped of any pension and large payouts she got from the post office.

[@DuncanPlant-px4tu]

If she tried harder she may actually be able to squeeze out an actual tear.

[@Plethorality]

Nup. She is thrilled that they are still letting her get away with it.

[@kanedNunable]

she looked like she was trying to have a poo after eating too much bread

[@Nuggruk]

I dont believe a word of it, not one word.

[@Iywu17.5]

Wondering how many tears were shed at the Post Office when they were jailing a pregnant woman and old men?

[@naftab123]

Why isn't this taking place in a criminal court setting? why do the rich alway get a select committee where they turn up fully coached.

[@naftab123]

@daviddragonetti5025 Has to start somewhere and she was in charge,

[@SusanDean-n7x]

Give it time 👍

[@naftab123]

@@SusanDean-n7x Lets hope so

[@Martynjs]

She loved the salary for doing next to nothing.

[@robwilson8673]

Thief w religion !. 🥷

[@susanpettitt713]

I Was paid money and people were locked up snd committed suicide dear lord.......

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

But, of course, they were only little people, not important at all.

[@oldneo4309]

Jesus does exist - look at the good work that Alan Bates has done

[@kanedNunable]

@@oldneo4309 yet god allowed this to happen. a human tried to stop it. if god exists hes fkin useless or a psychopath.

[@bjambles1633]

Of all the responsibilities that a CEO of the PO had, prosecuting sub-post masters and sending them to prison should have been at the very top of the pile of responsibilities, because taking away someones livelihood and liberty far outways anything else, yet she, as CEO, claims not to have known anything about it. And we're supposed to believe that!

[@Annie-ez4ol]

Victim alert.

[@oldneo4309]

Gaslighting alert

[@kanedNunable]

shes been watching matt hancock it seems

[@philippedley5073]

She loved the PO a lot more than she loved the people working for it that's for sure.

[@normanstewart9349]

She loved the money she was being paid, that's for sure.

[@Plethorality]

​@@normanstewart9349not just the money she was paid. And why did the church allow her to stay a priest that long?

[@kanedNunable]

@@Plethorality the church are a bunch of lying psychopaths too.

[@crazyplantlady7985]

She loved the money and prestige. The ordained priest thing?? Another title with no true spiritual attribute from her. Sorry I sound cruel, but I can't see how she cannot have seen and felt that something was so wrong here. She was sitting pretty with her huge salary etc while honest good decent people where being stripped of everything.

[@wendymudkins8208]

Crocodile tears she's crying for herself not the spms who's lives she devastated or the families she ruined

[@MacrobianNomad]

She’s still being treated with respect while the people falsely accused were humiliated, imprisoned and made to lose their livelihood!

[@chrisbos101]

Pleading ignorance. As Nan would say. "What a fu@£!ng liberty!"

[@paulsuddes1144]

No sympathy…sorry….she and her lapdogs thought they were untouchable

[@WeRemainFaceless]

She's had some good acting lessons I see.

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

Isn't the first duty of a CEO to ensure that their organisation behaves at all times with probity and moral rectitude ? By turning a blind eye to the fact that there was clearly a problem with Horizon and that it was NOT being dealt with in a proper manner she was by default facilitating the wrongful convictions of innocent people. And this from an ordained minister of the church who should have the moral courage to speak out ?

[@robwilson8673]

RICO 🆘

[@peterwiles1299]

Yes, setting and implementing the culture. She had a team of about 100 staff in a department conducting criminal investigations and prosecutions which are amongst the most critical aspects of western society working for her for about 4 years which she says she had no understanding of their responsibilities or conduct. Gross and wilful incompetence.

[@paulmason6192]

This woman let people die to save her own skin

[@normankyle7831]

Needs to go to jail, do not pass go and hand back all the bonuses. A CEO that didn't know what was going on my arse.

[@wilko3017]

Liar liar pants on fire

[@chopperharris32]

She can cry in jail

[@ep1929]

This woman threw the postmasters under the bus in order for personal gain - she needs punishing for her underhanded tactics, I'd say at least she deserves a 5 year stretch. Who agrees?

[@CatherineDover]

I do!!

[@ruthbeamish8849]

And a massive fine!!

[@matthewshave7491]

Make it 20 years!

[@Harlequin1951]

At 0.29 someone shouted something out. It upset Vennells but can anyone make out what was said? 🤔

[@LK-vy7jh]

It sounds like 'stop' to me.

[@andym.6141]

Stop blubbering FFS. What about Lee Castleton forced to live in a van for two years? 😡

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

But as the Rev. Vennells would doubtless say, 'he was merely one of the little people. Not important at all.'

[@markmac9515]

Should have had people that did not want to cover things up. Crying because she got caught. Put her in jail!

[@FenderTele]

She "loved" the Post Office that's sickening beyond belief!

[@oldneo4309]

She certainly did not care about the Sub PO who’s lives were destroyed

[@wakeupuk3860]

At last, we have someone like Sam Stein KC who in no uncertain terms is bringing the brutal reality to Vennells and I was cheering him on for doing but in terms of the discomfort, humiliation, tears (but hers crocodile ones) and total devastation what she is now enduring is just a drop in the ocean to what she caused all those PO masters.

[@NotMoreGames]

I think the solicitor hit the nail on the head in a few minutes- shame it taking years for the state to get there.

[@perm4125]

What's the point of a public enquiry if nobody is held to account with serious consequences? What we need is a police investigation leading to prosecution of the people responsible.

[@maximuschung2076]

She regrets getting caught, nothing else

[@mangomushi4492]

What did someone shout before the “tears”?

[@stephenelliott95]

She along with others that surrounded her, including the head of Fujitsu at the time need to be doing prison time of at least 15yrs

[@MrGavinBoyd]

Theatre for the masses. Will any of those responsible go to prison?

[@CatherineDover]

Knowing our Tory revised justice system no, they will not.

[@GarfaGarfGarf]

How hard is she trying to cry? Totally unconvincing.

[@neilbundy8028]

She protected profit and reputation by sweeping the bad bits under the carpet. Inline with all good Chritians with power

[@mfecanegukurahundi24]

Completer rubbish; she is Christian is name only.

[@laphelps1]

Get this to go before a judge where it belongs 😡

[@alb864]

She loved the post office, of course she did, it paid her millions!!

[@graemebowyer4901]

The tears and the "don't know" are as a result of being "prepared" by her legal team, make NO mistake about that. She may have some REAL tears when the Judge utters those immortal words "Take her down".

[@obisan666]

Of course she loved it with all the millions she got in renumeration

[@neatpaws]

It's a tragedy. An incompetent CEO. They're in every public and private 'enterprise ' now. 'Careerists' ... Paid vast sums .. to 'hold back' .. ANY and ALL criticism. It's what boards .. and shareholders .. EXPECT. ("I was doing my job"). Poor Ms Vennells ... she looks .. 'distressed' .. .. .. (and, most unfortunately .. ferret-like). 😢

[@quintencrispanddried1108]

Guilty as sin.

[@ClareFlynn-y8w]

All my sympathy goes to the innocent victims. Not this lying criminal

[@sugarfree1894]

I feel like an old lady knitting at the foot of the guillotine.

[@tj3806]

Fake tears. Trying to avoid jail at all cost. How about the postmasters who lost their lives over this scandal.

[@dinaworkman306]

Paid all the salary and knows nothing

[@michaelkemp6857]

Oscar for Vennells!!

[@josephmalik3861]

send her to jail

[@pauldavies4093]

Loved the job not the employee s

[@MarkReynolds-c2o]

She says I loved the post office, so she would've done anything to protect it?

[@SusanDean-n7x]

And she did

[@WarrickHunt]

Hundreds of people accused of robbing the post office at the same time and these clowns don’t think there was something else happening 2 or 3 maybe but hundreds of people at same time it’s a disgrace if my no turns up at my door asking for my vote I will be asking if there going to push to get these people sent to jail

[@robwilson8673]

They were too busy doin the same 🧕🏿👀👩‍🏫🦹🏼‍♀️🦸‍♂️🧌💅💃🕺🏼 Though it’s now accepted 🧑‍🦯🚶‍♀️👨‍🦯👩‍🦯🧑‍🦯👨‍🦯🙇‍♀️🙇‍♂️

[@yeboha]

​​she has to go to jail for a minimum of 5 years for this, she has blood on her hands

[@SNAFUferret]

Although she was wearing a balaclava and brought her own shotgun, she was unaware that she was attending a bank robbery.

[@cathrynhesketh5703]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@MsLolajo]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@DerekChaplin-mu1gc]

Incompetent in the extreme!!

[@phils6723]

Why isnt she in a cell

[@NineInchTyrone]

She has EARNED prison time

[@monsieurdale9310]

Thought they were questioning the Palemen from Pan's labyrinth at first.

[@nighttrain1236]

She's vile with her tears on demand.

[@harmoniefaerielove]

The ministry of reconcilliation ,states that whatever is said to a priest in confession cannot be divulged ...Is she forgetting that she fled the church & isn't a priest anymore ..Protecting others & herself is very evident .. Or, just a plain narcisistical liar ...She needs to do a fair few years hard labour in prison maybe with a very slight reduction given for naming names .

[@karlyoung6289]

Crocodile Tears!

[@usernamename2978]

They told me I was talking rubbish! Waaaahhhh!

[@Plethorality]

I am Australian and i am still livid with this lying, greedy woman. All she has done is lie.

[@AK-ru3sg]

Oh boo hoo... Speaking in the third party all the time. Lives ruined and neither the rhetoric or this ridiculous 'show' won't bring those lives and all that time they've lost back. Pay decent compensation right fookin' now and prosecute everyone who was responsible for this disgrace. Spend the legal money on that rather than this charade.

[@wwoody8920]

Use her pension to pay compensation

[@gherkamum]

I loved the post-office and the large salary i was on........Ive just covered my own back

[@expatexpat6531]

Criminal failure.

[@bostonbikebits6539]

They need to stop this enquiry now and start the prosecutions. Enough talking, action is needed.

[@TripsandFeasts1]

It’s struck me that Paula Vennells is clearly under-qualified, incompetent & perhaps, on reflection, should not have been given the job that she did. Some have suggested that she got that job because she’s female & whoever gave her that job was as interested in being ‘politically correct’ as anything else. Whether being incompetent is illegal or not is enough to send her to jail remains to be seen. Time will tell. I also wonder if she and others, are feeling suicidal.

[@mark6809mm]

She should have a custodial sentence!

[@carlosfrumpy4895]

Crocodile tears

[@PharmaTroll]

Where did the missing money actually go?

[@oneoflokis]

That's an interesting question, I think! Some say simply back into the Post Office, to inflate their share price. Others say to pay these bosses' bonuses! What if the Japanese company Fujitsu pocketed some of it?

[@KittyVentura]

Shareholders

[@PharmaTroll]

@@oneoflokis Fujitsu is possible. Because much of the Money that disappeared was extracted under legal duress from the sub postmasters own savings. But the actual money stolen must be somewhere else. Otherwise both the money not stolen by the post masters and the money extracted from the postmasters would appear in the ledgers of the post office accounts. So the money must either have been stolen by Fujitsu employees who had access to the Horizon system or by someone within the post office accounts department who had access to Horizon.

[@robwilson8673]

Bonuses 😩😩😩

[@edwinhodges611]

As I understand it there was no missing money. The accountancy system was just wrong.

[@Ronald-o9x]

Bring back capital punishment!

[@M3PH11]

this women is a regular amber heard

[@JoannaFerris-j9m]

She knew full well what was happening to these post masters

[@Juvix40522]

She needs lockup for her crimes

[@lauradavies5346]

What about the people who lost their homes and ended up homeless with no money.

[@raywilson3166]

Prison for that one

[@harryhalloumi295]

Regrettably, that won't happen.

[@MarkBerger-x1v]

Here we go again. A woman screws up and trys to get away with it by crying.

[@chairmanalf7856]

My ex wife used to put on fake tears all the time when it suited her.

[@paulsunley]

Criminal proceedings need to be served time is up

[@tanjee2698]

Someone employed her without experience and someone kept her in the job for that long (the board) although issues were already known fully from 2013. The question arises: has she been put in the post to take the fall (a patsy?) Especially since not only one person has ' benefited' of the so called disappeared money.

[@raywilson3166]

Blood on her hands

[@MistaMoney91]

Shes gonna top herself before she goes to jail

[@Ronald-o9x]

That's what I think as well or she will flee the country! Remove her passport!

[@randompizza14]

If she is so sorry why did she not speak up sooner and publicly. She is sorry that she got caught. She should be in jail.

[@stephrichards4611]

"I am disappointed that Mrs van Dem Bogard didn't talk more about this"... Because she was working flat out trying to clean up (badly) her own sheet and trying to get herself off the hook at the same time.

[@cottagefarm3103]

Despicable

[@RayMar-fr3ng]

Disgusting

[@ahinton23031964]

i think the poor women should be compensated for the distress

[@IggyGoesPop666]

They used to know how to treat women like her in Salem in the good old days

[@bjk8901]

And now she is working as hard as she possibly can to stay out of jail.

[@ncooper8438]

I think PV was out of her depth with the Horizon debacle. No-one could have covered up that mess and got away with it because it had grown too big in scale.

[@robwilson8673]

GREED w Ego and fear of Exposure AS Occurred of course 🆘🆘🆘 Corporate Thief’s and Pariahs “the lot of them” 🫵🫵🫵🤬

[@staceys5447]

Noone should have covered it up. They should have admitted the system was flawed rather than blame innocent people

[@Ronald-o9x]

The devil 👿 has many forms!!

[@LL-jb5si]

Liar, playing the crocodile tears game 🐊

[@mckokiner]

What did she do?

[@sailaway8244]

"she" betrayed everyone

[@mckokiner]

@@sailaway8244 great explanation