'I don't believe a word': Paula Vennells at the Post Office Inquiry

The former Post Office boss, Paula Vennells, has been testifying at the Inquiry examining the Horizon IT scandal.
It's the first time Paula Vennells has spoken publicly in nearly ten years.
The hundreds of wronged Post Office workers, and their families, have been keenly anticipating her evidence, as, on her watch, prosecutions continued, despite mounting evidence that there was something wrong with the system.
On the Sky News Daily, Sarah-Jane Mee has been in Fenny Compton, in the village hall where Alan Bates began his campaign against the Post Office, to meet the sub-postmasters whose lives were ruined by Horizon.
Plus, one former sub-postmistress, Nicole, shares her story for the first time.
Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse, Soila Apparicio
Editor: Wendy Parker
Podcast Promotion: Jada-Kai Meosa John

[@paulbird3235]

£5.000.000. in salary and bonuses, but she saw nothing, heard nothing, and knew nothing. FFS what was she being paid for!.

[@guypainter]

The Horizon operation successfully framed the managers of inconvenient small branches, thus enabling the PO to get rid of them without the cost of making them redundant. That was the plan from the beginning and it worked. Her salary was a bargain!

[@photo3642u]

I don't think in all of my 81 yrs have I been witness to so much 'corporate' complicity. Shame on those who didn't have the guts to blow the whistle & prevent this scandal from developing as it did.

[@T5Zplayer]

How did she ever get the job in the first place. Uninspiring bureaucrat

[@michaelwilliams8690]

She got the job because she did what she was told to do, and not asking questions.

[@philip7892]

IMO she got it through supreme skill in virtue signalling. Watch her closely, she's almost pathological in trying to seem virtuous, it's such an overwhelming need she can't see truth, does notice it before she shines herself her next halo & people appointing her loved it.

[@leso204]

@T5Zplayer : VIA the Government VIP Conduit ( Like the PPe contracts scandle )

[@a13xdunlop]

Our entire political system functions to protect business interests and Corporations, it has little interest in the public.

[@andrewallen9993]

She is so fncking sorry that she has not offered one red penny of her huge fortune as compensation for the sub postmasters. She did however authorize vast sums of post office money to be spent on lawyers to prevent the truth coming out in open court.

[@CHIEF_420]

🧂

[@sleepinglioness5754]

When did the 'errors' in the system stop? These poor people. They were used as sacrificial offerings for a narcissist's gain. Vennells will never admit she was in any way responsible. These people are heroes.

[@cndns2]

Justice would be for this senior POL cast of characters to be sent to prison as they sent innocent sub postmasters to prison.

[@Nedxr777]

Vennalls the person responsible for these crimes is in tears,….Post Masters are in Graves !

[@brianlopez8855]

She will go to a "Mental Health Facility" soon and be found not to be fit for trial in a couple of years when the charges will be considered and will retire untroubled. Get real folks. NOTHING will happen from the Authorities, It will be left for Others to bring justice to Paula.

[@malcolmblack9037]

Jail her

[@leeharding8306]

Like a naughty school girl making up lies on the spot to try and get out of trouble. Only a prison sentence with be acceptable from this point forward.

[@mark.lawrence]

skilled & accomplished liar... dangerous human being.

[@thomascarlin2844]

No need to hunt for a witch,she is there in plain sight ,dammed by her answers or lack of

[@spudspuddy]

evil, why hasnt she been arrested, evil

[@getheroutofthetruck]

Vennells was matey with a load of MPs, Jo Swinson for example. After all, they gave her a CBE in 2019.

[@mazdamaniac4643]

Crocodile tears, corporate denials, retroactive platitudes and endless lies, all in an effort to escape responsibility. Vennells knew *exactly* what was going on. She and everyone involved in pursuing the false convictions for the postmasters should be facing criminal charges for gross fraud and as many conspiracy charges as required.

[@michaelwilliams8690]

I watched this woman today and was not surprised with her fauge answers, like the rest of them not me governor, can't remember dont recall. Crocodile tears . Jail her and the rest of them

[@robertcarroll9409]

Her testimony is so vague that she could be considered a serious contender for the leadership of the SNP after July 4th.

[@michaelmcginley7930]

Robertcarrol or your girlfriend

[@mark.lawrence]

she cried. she lied. she lies. STILL.

[@ritab8663]

Crocodile tears…nothing else but…if not then it was tears for the fact she’d been caught..criminal behaviour

[@SCHRUBBE1966]

So the big boss didn't know anything. 😟😟😮😮

[@peterbennett5910]

She is toast. Getting caught out time and time again. Can’t tell the truth. She is heading for jail.

[@philhart4849]

I freaking hope so!

[@heathermaich8966]

I do think that the PO is not equipped in any way to police itself. This needs to be looked at

[@rogermoore5761]

I will be surprised if any of these Post Office staff will be prosecuted.

[@polSparticus24]

I do genuinely believe that she will be held to account in such a way that prison and being made bankrupt through civil litigation is an absolute certainty. Fake apologies, drawn-out lies and excuses. She will get what she deserves in the end and hopefully bring some closure for all those who have suffered and had their lives ruined due to her criminal malicious.

[@davidjones190]

She is the top person in the post office. The post office will make sure nothing too. Serious will happen to her that’s just the way it is corrupt

[@CatalinaIsland-nf8hc]

She will put her money and property in her husband’s name.

[@Nedxr777]

By making sure this enquiry has happened before a Police investigation , the corrupt establishment as ensured there will be no prosecutions…not one individual will be held accountable for this utter disgrace. The judges should also be facing charges !

[@philhart4849]

I am disturbed by the way Paula Vennells very nearly got away with her malice and her evil.

[@michaelmouse4024]

Vennels asked staff for info re person's mental health & family. How was she intending to pursue this? Phone hacking, private detectives, data theft, burglary? She sounds like a tabloid editor pre-Leverson

[@bsastarfire250]

I have worked for several organisations that have wasted hundreds of millions and even billions of pounds , due to a lack of openness and honesty. The whistle-blower is isolated and attacked , senior managers are kept in the dark, or make it clear that they do not want to be informed of problems, because that will make them culpable. ''Talking truth to power'' is a career threatening activity. and don't forget the smoke filled rooms and peculiar clubs and organisations that people belong to.

[@philhart4849]

"In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act."

[@peterpower6397]

Vennells tried her best to stop the enquiry happening .

[@paulbird3235]

SHE WAS THE POST OFFICE!.

[@asmith9140]

She sounded just like prince Andrew when he was doing his car crash interview

[@DevilbyMoonlight]

Evil with a smile...

[@robintaylor7004]

She just comes across to me as very aloof and I can't believe she was that stupid and incompetent all the way through this. It was convenient that she had no memory of anything which made her look bad but could remember everything when it made someone else look bad. I believe that she believes she has done nothing that bad. I would love to see the body language experts do a reading of her. No guesses what I think they would find.

[@andrewcrawford1003]

Who did PV report to? Isn't POL owned by gov't? Will the enquiry question the appropriate ministers to give evidence?

[@iwalker3809]

Its on the cards

[@photo3642u]

A good question, everyone in employment has a boss. Oh dear, don't hold your breath, viz Lord Clark & the Toxic Blood Scandal & how Dr David Owen with his expensive heated blood theory was moved to the Foreign Office.

[@leso204]

The Gov' knew what was going on .....

[@sicoco3216]

She doesn’t know anything!!! Was she even working there? I find that hard to believe. She was negligent and incompetent in her job.

[@mrechelon7051]

Religious person, apparently. She believes in something 100% with absolutely 💯 % no evidence. Says it all.

[@grahamnichols1416]

She so single-mindedly clung to the reputation of PO that she ironically ended up trashing it for the world to see.

[@kimcallaghan753]

Save your tears for the polygraph!

[@dondraper2488]

Did she brush those goofers especially for her court appearance….

[@ewaf88]

It's the old - Corporate memory ruse - and how she valiantly fought against it, like some crusading hero.

[@irons28]

Unfortunately I think she will never serve any jail time. She was appointed by the same people who will make sure she will not pay the price of jail time. All her lies and now her tears are so false, and that is her down to a tee. This evil woman knew what was going on but she kept on with the lies knowing what damage it was doing. Now she is caught out and she can cry and plead how sorry she is with hindsight, and claim so many times `” I don’t recall or I can’t remember “ but she is a heinous criminal. However , like I said at the beginning, she will not serve time in prison because those criminals who appointed her will see to it that she is protected. Her massive salary and big fat bonuses will stay in her bank account, that’s the way it is.

[@JaspalSingh-dz7mp]

I agree. The inquiry itself has made sure that legal action is highly unlikely. Any solicitor will argue that a fair trial will be impossible. The legal investigation needed to come first.

[@mrechelon7051]

Pay back £5 million, plus her house, her pension, her bicycle, and she has her freedom taken from her. Homeless, no money,and prison. See how she likes that.

[@steverichardson4374]

The truth wood be nice not this

[@MetalMew2]

Sounds likely that she's going to get knighted, wrongfully arresting and prosecuting innocent people who aren't guilty of negligence like she was paid to be symbolically apologetic for refusing to make due process known to all parties.... Maybe her thinking process is due the very same cynicism that she has been happy romancing.

[@pieterfaber24]

Venal Vennells

[@maxb9369]

she was a priest too .... good Lord

[@boxingday11]

And this is a woman of God!

[@valeriejackson7659]

She only found God once she'd made £millions. Obviously she had no intention of slumming it on a priest's income. Rather like the Archbishop of Canterbury who had a highly paid job working for an oil (?) company. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[@byrondaniel4410]

One of the worst humans I've ever heard testify not a word she says is believable

[@mrechelon7051]

Horizon is an overpriced £5 calculator. Take in £300. Costs £100. Profit.... Take in £300, costs £5000. Lets do a real close look at how thats even possible.. Simple.

[@Musicmyvideo]

Myra Hindley, Rosemary West, Paula Vennells.