Post Office Horizon Inquiry: Final day of former boss Paula Vennells giving evidence

Ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells has admitted it was “possibly” her hope that a mediation scheme with subpostmasters would “minimise compensation”.
It came as the 65-year-old gave evidence for a second day at the Horizon IT Inquiry, where she continued to grow emotional over questions after a first day which saw her become visibly upset on a number of occasions and break down in tears twice.
Ms Vennells accepted that an email she sent in August 2013 which said “the hope of mediation was to avoid or minimise compensation” sounded like subpostmasters were only welcome on the scheme if they agreed to receive a “pat on the head and a token payment”.
She told the Horizon IT inquiry she did not believe the mediation scheme, set up for people who believed they had been wrongly prosecuted by the Post Office, was for paying out “substantial figures”.
In an email from August 2013 to Post Office lawyer Susan Crichton, Ms Vennells wrote: “When we discussed this, the hope of mediation was to avoid or minimise compensation.”
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[@michaelgriffiths5723]

She's a cold, calculated liar. The police need to take action immediately!

[@coam3708]

She does not practice what see preaches she is the devil

[@michaelmaycock5655]

She doesn't understand anything, was never told anything, can remember anything and never ordered anything. Just WHAT was she getting paid for 🤔🙄

[@LowreyContractorsUK]

Yes an ordained priest. 😂🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@tommym321]

The woman is the biggest liar I have ever seen. It’s ridiculous.

[@penelopegrundon2189]

She is an unbelievable two faced liar! I hope the police get involved.

[@Emchisti]

This woman is remarkably forgetful and shockingly ill-informed to ever have been CEO.

[@universalparadoxes2081]

The problem with lying is remembering your lies correctly upon cross examination.

[@mariewalmsley6143]

Dreadful excuse of a human.

[@AlBarzUK]

Innocent, hardworking pillars of their communities have been vilified, imprisoned, and died because of this woman and her ‘team’. Sort it out, people!

[@LowreyContractorsUK]

Liar liar liar jail for her

[@jessy970]

She doesn’t stutter when she needs defends herself, but with every other question she pauses and blames others. Not taking any account for her own actions/ doings 😡

[@user-vc8br5xf6d]

This is a highly intelligent, highly articulate and ruthlessly ambitious woman with no moral compass whatever. Contrast her performance here with her aggressive and fluent lies to the parliamentary committee in 2015.

[@01r1sh]

It's patently obvious that there was, under her tenure as CEO, a dreadful culture within the PO management team, which as CEO she was ultimately responsible for. I'm afraid I see no evidence here other than this has been little more than a cold calculated performance in an attempt to cover up her true character.

[@IbnBahtuta]

That's my next stop. Thanks for the heads up.

[@gordonc5354]

I suspect she has been over promoted in the name of equality (seen it before), God help us if more UK CEOs are like her. Would Bezos or Dyson not know exactly what is going on????

[@lynettemclean5215]

Ahh the joys of watching Jo Hamilton's face as she knows whats coming. 😂

[@jenniferfleming8723]

That’s been my favourite part 😂😂 I adore Jo such a lovely woman

[@IggyGoesPop666]

In preparation for this three day event, Vennell's would have undertaken dozens of practice training cross examinations with her lawyers to iron out how to present herself and deflect the accusations during the inquiry. She knows that it's not working as she is constantly breaking down in tears, whilst we can see that she was either asleep at the wheel or she is lying about her time in charge of the Post Office! Either one, its obvious to see that her priority was always to look after herself, her reputation, her performance bonuses & pension top ups as she happily sat back and watched people lose their livelihoods whilst some of them lost their lives. She now needs to be investigated by the Police on criminal charges and if/ when she is found guilty ... she needs to be thrown into prison. Every penny that she has taken in bonuses must be paid back in full and with interest as she has fraudulently stolen them from the Post Office/ British Tax Payers!

[@ololiver92]

Police need to take action now

[@lynneharvey2977]

Have you looked at the calibre of the UK Police?? They aren't up to it.

[@Steve-uf8pk]

Vennells a women of the cloth apparently. However she has no worries concerning prosecution, the British establishment looks after its own!

[@allenp920]

I wouldn’t give her a job at McDonald’s after this

[@user-yh4gq8xo7b]

I knew that they would show Paula Vennells up for what she really is. A total liar - strangely enough her unveiling was by her own hand in the email that showed her contempt for the Postmasters. Game set and match.

[@essealants3730]

Just imagin if she was actually bishop for the anglican church, the cover ups she would have swept under the carpet, a truly horrifying woman who unfortunatly sums up the higher rungs of the ladder in the corperate world and the establishment in general

[@tonygallagher5148]

Systemic throughout UK society and culture since we adopted the corporate democratic model.. Attack, abuse and blame the minions

[@Suspan1]

As soon as she starts blaming and naming others her answering speeds up and takes on a different tone.

[@robertsemple299]

The corporate defence of this brand is quite similar to that which came out of inquiries into the Catholic church, in my opinion. The loyalty at the top is breathtaking.

[@LowreyContractorsUK]

No leadership ability , how the heck did she get the job ?

[@jenniferfleming8723]

Oh this woman was EXTREMELY good at her job, she orchestrated everything and signed off on everything she’s lying through her teeth!!

[@DevilbyMoonlight]

What she says doesnt roll off the tongue naturally, she is thinking before she answers the hallmark of someone who wants to tell you in a way that is more acceptable to you, rather than it was verbatim,

[@iagree5313]

Poor thing . Jason could have stepped in but he didn't want him to be embarrassed any more.

[@alanoldfield6955]

you can see her calculating every answer and trying to find words that put her in the best light or least bad light

[@seamus7054]

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD or APD) is a personality disorder characterized by a limited capacity for empathy and a long-term pattern of disregard or violation of the rights of others. Other notable symptoms include impulsivity, reckless behavior (including substance abuse), a lack of remorse after hurting others, deceitfulness, irresponsibility, and aggressive behavior. [Wikipedia] She ticks most of the boxes.

[@lynneharvey2977]

I was a psych nurse for decades...You speak my language and read Ms Vennells the same as I do

[@petersullivan2837]

If the guy Young is in the para regiment, then he is easily found

[@jessy970]

I’m sorry but wasn’t she a vicar at one point. And under the bibles oath it say ‘thou shall not lie’ well she has broke that. She is a disgrace and should be stripped of everything 😡

[@andyisabeast7782]

She has also been swearing in on the Bible everyday

[@petrus666love]

“ I was only doing my job “ hmm 🤔 does that sound familiar Adolf 😢

[@jeannettestreet5521]

If Vennells accepts that SPM.shouid be liable for shortfalls in their PO, does it follow she would accept that maybe she would like to be financially liable for the damage and subsequent shortfalls within the PO under her 'leadership'.

[@LMMusic947]

To the tune of a well known Kings of Leon song....🎶 Woah..your pants are on fire.

[@joedudz]

Prison

[@silentwitness247]

The Head Girl has been caught being naughty behind the bike shed but she can’t recall it. Who can we believe?

[@VG-cz7yg]

Oh please, Vennells did not do her best as CEO of the PO, rather she did her very best to obfuscate the truth. Vennells comes across as disingenuous and her recall is very selective! Her long pauses are very telling as her brain scrambles to concoct another lie. To think that she was paid a bonus at the hight of the PO debacle and was awarded a CBE ( now stripped from her) is truly unbelievable. The rot goes very deep.

[@stitchintime4332]

She wasn’t stripped of the award, she returned the CBE voluntarily. Just another carefully calculated move on her part prior to attending the inquiry. 🤨

[@petersullivan2837]

Come on, if you don’t ask the right questions of course you won’t get the right answers

[@hodad3142]

More whistle blowers required! Hopefully, others with a conscience will stand up.

[@helenjob]

Well done the legals. They left no room for manoeuvring by this disembling crowd. And well done post masters for not shouting at the witnesses in the face of such obvious avoidance of the truth. And the last lawyer reminded us of some of the devastation caused by this group of incompetent amnesiacs. Seriously, how do they justify their enormous salaries, bonuses and other perks when they are so completely useless at their jobs? And how do they sleep at night knowing they've ruined so many lives? It's bewildering.

[@jenniferfleming8723]

They slept like babies cos they don’t care!! However I imagine now the tables have turned they’ll be losing plenty of sleep and getting a small taste of that they done to hundreds of innocent, hardworking people

[@coam3708]

If Mr Mike Young was a officer in the para's then he is easily found

[@jimdaniels7472]

Not if he moved to SAS or other secret mission

[@coam3708]

@@jimdaniels7472 trust me if the MoD were asked they would have a chat with him

[@tillyt4054]

@@jimdaniels7472 The MOD would know where he is

[@Skippio1980]

Crocodiles can cry apparently. Lock her up for negligence!

[@lynettemclean5215]

"with hindsight" 4.33 onwards....😂

[@777colin1]

It wasn't me, I wasn't told, I can't remember, I don't recall, it was someone else's fault. You can't blame me. It's others who are to blame. That wasn't my intention. Hands up who can guess who this is?

[@iagree5313]

He is clearly very ill.

[@davidrobertson9271]

I doubt Sir Huw is going to deliver the much deserved coup de grace!

[@mikecorrigan33]

Though they all closed ranks against the possibility that Fujitsu's Horizon was to blame, has Fujitsu been grilled about their useless system? All else notwithstanding, This Horizon system was at fault and Fujitsu needs hauling in and ordered to pay compensation as well, surely??

[@robinblick9375]

She can't even remember what she said in her statement. Or so she says.

[@garethjones2171]

Cant remember when it suits her. Got to be jail and then she will have plenty of time to remember

[@russellroberts4444]

Unless the police act, she has got away with it.

[@DownToEarthMind]

she should go to jail

[@user-ub6te5uw9z]

Mrs isma totally innocent like all the other people how does she do it

[@brandonhealy7158]

You’re finished love xx😂😂

[@LORRAINEREAD1]

This woman is infuriating.

[@ElaineWeiner-sq4bm]

VENNELLS IS SUCH A LIAR. NO SYMPATHY FOR HER. 🥶🤬

[@user-ub6te5uw9z]

If you were a working class guy and committed this fraud and death to someone you know you would be in prison for life so what is the difference in her oh yeah she is a messenger from god Not doing it for me anymore

[@Peacebewithyou-lc5xb]

I know this perception may be strange for ppl to grasp but what if Paula is also a victim of the scandal. She was part of an organisation along side other bosses, anyone who works in high positions, managers included are constantly put under pressure to make the company’s reputation to be the main priority no matter. There taught not to get emotionally involved and every decision made has to be the right and one no should ever challenge it or take on other bosses and point anything out, the complaints would only infuriate those above her. She was used as a puppet to scam money, she was oblivious, gas lite told there was nothing wrong with the tech it was 100% fault proof. They for she had no other choice but to believe those ppl must be thief’s. Imagine questioning the bosses along side you over and over and they tell you not to worry, are you mad, fit for your position. I wonder why an entire country have put there blame onto the bosses of the scandal. They played a part but this goes much deeper, it was criminal activity, where did all the money go??? Who was obtaining it???? Those are the real culprits. The bosses were unaware there were covering up such a scam. This is an example of how badly run our establishments are across the board, Police, NHS, Social care etc most manager’s are brutal, disillusion, gas lite throughout their careers. They can feel isolated, paranoid, suicidal, be a targeted individual of extreme abuse if there dare challenge the system or whistle blow. They are trained in a way not to challenge anything or face the consequences. Even complaint department’s go through brain washing they are taught to sweep them under the carpe or the person who is complaint must b mentally ill. The gullible are deliberately picked out mislead, multiplied to play the part they are scripted to, while all sorts goes on in the background and is never questioned. The managers will always be blamed not those who are really to blame. All the managers were doing was what they were programmed to do, the question is are they also victims??? And when do find out who start taking the money and who followed it. They are the real thief’s with them not been held account they have gotten away with it as intended.

[@user-uu3mg4cl2q]

She sounds like she preaching to her flok. 😢😢😢😢

[@marpledave]

Real life judge Judy! What a load of baloney 😂

[@user-ub6te5uw9z]

Witness had a get out clause fin lie

[@TexasRed167]

She was asleep at the wheel

[@tommym321]

It looks stupid that the judge is present remotely. Ridiculous. He should be there in person.

[@damienholden2132]

Her netumanu hittler are having a zBALL

[@damienholden2132]

Reep wat you soe