‘You are either lying or incompetent’: Ex-Post Office boss challenged during Inquiry

David Miller is being questioned on his claim that he did not read the 2003 report by Jason Coyne, an IT expert who found that there were defects in Horizon, during his time at the Post Office.
“I didn’t read it,” he told the inquiry. “I have made that very clear to this inquiry that I didn’t read it and it’s a matter of some regret to me.”
Sam Stein KC, who represents a number of sub-postmasters, asked: “Mr Miller, one of two things arise out of that. You’re either lying through your teeth or you’re a complete incompetent. Which?”
Mr Miller replied: “I’m not lying through my teeth.”
Mr Stein interjected: “So incompetence?”
Mr Miller responded: “If you wish to say that, yes.”
#news #inquiry #postoffice
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[@markhayward7400]

It is possible to be both lying AND incompetent. Post Office officials are both!

[@johnbradshaw7525]

don't forget the selective amnesia that they all seem to be afflicted with

[@grahamnicholson2481]

and this incompetant liar earned how many millions a year???

[@Mazeboxx]

None actually. With £573,000 per year not even one.

[@lordsirob8640]

I would suggest substituting the word 'earned' with the word 'stole'. Because he and all the execs., and directors, STOLE that money from the postmasters. By the way, I don't like using the prefix word 'sub'. They are/were POSTMASTERS in their own right.

[@rhodaborrecks]

What an arse. Criminal incompetence.

[@garyh5541]

Well said!!!

[@boondoggle6]

An inept and useless individual who put people in prison and was paid millions for it.

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

"I am not happy that I didn't read the report" = "I couldn't be bothered to read it at the time, and now I wish I had because it proves I was complicit in prosecuting innocent people"

[@nannieg7622]

Yes, exactly

[@TheBobbymcd]

i am not happy that i have been sent to prison...hope we hear him saying that

[@romeisfallingagain]

what an evil piece of work. why didnt he read it, if he was the boss? what was he paid for?

[@bigpants6121]

Toeing the party line, I mean the Vennells line.

[@romeisfallingagain]

@@bigpants6121 absolutely

[@swardie1]

He was paid to turn the other cheek, like they all were.

[@johnclarke-vs9qe]

Mr Miller admitted he was salaried and subject to performance related bonuses. The mind boggles.

[@DavidGetling]

That's a Computer Science and Mathematics OR! Innocent people went to jail. When are the guilty ones going to be jailed?

[@DanTheStripe]

Worse than that, innocent people killed themselves.

[@DavidGetling]

​@@DanTheStripe Sadly, there's no chance of the guilty doing the same out of remorse.

[@carrier411]

when pigs fly... there will be more things come out of all this, other government cover ups etc. it's a disgrace, I don't live in the UK, I find it appalling this has happened.

[@canalboating]

Mr Stein is really on top of his game in this phase, his contempt for the witnesses is admirable

[@spartacusforlife1508]

Admitting to incompetence😂😂

[@josephhoward3558]

Whatever happens the tax payer will be coughing up for their incompetence and greed while they continue to live in their Surrey estates.

[@Bullseyes12s]

ABSOLUTELY!!!!

[@garyh5541]

Well said!!!

[@Maugirl2]

Likely both..

[@chaosinthematrix]

Congratulations for calling it what it was.

[@leechi001]

How the heck do these people get to the top of their profession.

[@andychatt23]

Due to the old school tie most of the time.

[@sciencelab7597]

By probably throwing other people under the bus while climbing the greasy pole.

[@Quiet_Forge]

A criminal court would take such answers as an indication of guilt, so if that's all he (and the others) can say then they are all going to jail... that's if the Met haven't been nobbled by the government, which is likely as they are all implicated.

[@jeffoliver5859]

How can the senior management of the post office of varying levels nor know what was happening in The business they were paid handsomely to mismanage ……..shocking , somebody knew and said nothing !!!!!

[@kennethwalsh8804]

" They don't like it up 'em, Sir, they don't like it up 'em."

[@johnclarke-vs9qe]

David Miller started his "evidence" by "correcting" his previous statement where he stated he "was not on the Impact Board", by saying he "WAS on the impact Board"!!!!!!!!!!

[@amandam5841]

He realised / he had to when he saw his name on document(s) in evidence ?

[@j.a.l.m.8388]

Any normal person wouldn’t get the job or would be sacked immediately at our first mistake but this executives get bonuses for being mediocre at their job 😂😂😂

[@andrewh2u]

This guy...... such a liar and should be facing multiple perjury charges as a starting point. We need to see two faced lying Post Office executives (seen here) and their lying lawyers and investigators serving jail time for this and heavy compensation for their victims and the families of lost victims.

[@garyh5541]

Boycott any Companies this individual works for immediately !!!

[@steved7961]

He should have said 'I can't read' and with one bound he was free!

[@stevetrotter6584]

All these bosses have "dissociative amnesia": A person may forget specific events or time periods.

[@MarkSweeting_]

Always someone else's duty to do something......wasn't me

[@nobbyclarke9298]

Very clear this scoundrel has been briefed & coached what to say before appearing as his answers were extremely brief & gave nothing away to help the inquiry what so ever…..

[@grahamsclater9988]

Both......................and hoping to get away with it............

[@82vitt]

He's not hoping. He knows that he will. Not a single drop of sweat on his forehead.

[@AndrewTaylor-gc3qj]

Postman Pat would have made a better CEO.

[@ericbranson-burke2952]

The way the Post Office hierarchy have responded throughout this enquiry shows, flagrant arrogance and disregard for their staff. Not incompetent merely total abrogation of responsibility for the position they hold.

[@simonbeaumont1911]

The evil of the Mediocracy goes unpunished because they are in power.

[@steveholmes381]

The 2 options are not mutually exclusive !

[@bren4061]

An incompetent lier

[@MichaelBath-xv5bd]

Some of these people need Jail Time...? And their Pensions need looking at..

[@stevebailey5591]

He'd rather be labelled incompetent than someone who's perverted the course of justice, as there's a possible jail sentence for the latter.

[@TerryFish-pk1kp]

How about both !!!!!

[@kevinknowles3365]

I do hope that anyone, like this one, who may end up on trial and found guilty don't have their sentence suspended because of their age.

[@diverbob471]

And he will get a slap on the wrist for this incompetence, instead of 10 years in jail !!!!

[@lizmonk1115]

Maybe he is both 🤔

[@jimwoods9551]

Truculent, defensive and strategically apologetic. Worth his salary just for propping up the corrupt company.

[@vicster9401]

The people at the top have decided to plead 'incompetence' rather than lying (Misconduct in public office (“MiPO”) is a common law offence that can be tried only on indictment. It carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The offence concerns serious wilful abuse or neglect of the power or responsibilities of the public office held)

[@gordonferguson4370]

So qualified for the job but don't know what's going on & act so amazed &so heart broken to find all this out

[@andrewgreenwood8554]

Or both ……lying AND incompetent.

[@speed1223]

Jail for this guy.

[@markellis2366]

Get ready for prison fella

[@jimlogan2329]

Not so good when he is on the receiving end.

[@littlenemo14]

Can’t wait to see these individuals in a court of law.

[@knicol46]

Absolutely amazing that all the directors responsible follow the same pattern of selective amnesia!

[@muz1406]

We need to pay millions to get the best people. What a load of cobblers. They should all be in jail.

[@Royboy50]

They are beyond embarrassing,willing to let the world know they are incompetent,and a liar no one can believe these people

[@alanpercival7403]

Well done that man

[@martinwilby8942]

blood on his hands , how does he sleep

[@Crazy8xxx]

That right there is how the government is run.

[@richardbedford2835]

Wriggle, wriggle, wriggle and guilty as hell!

[@davidrenton]

3rd option, Lying and Incompetent, which seems the main quality the PO has in it's upper management

[@badgermcspoon11]

The old selective memory ……..he deserves prison

[@jule1934]

This lien of questioning brings the whole session into disrepute.

[@kathykay9920]

prison time

[@DoubleOSeven007]

The country is awash with these middle managers 'working' in the Public Sector. The money they are paid, not to mention the pensions they get is shameful.

[@19Ron66]

This whole thing stinks of the arrogant bureaucratic criminality. They'd rather see people in jail and ruined than admit they got it wrong. I hope the outcome of all this is a plethora of criminal charges and a ton of compensation for those persecuted.

[@speed1223]

Lying all the way through.

[@brianiswrong]

When being content to be called incompetent is the best way out of a legal problem, it shows just what level of bosses were hired by the post office. Happy to run away a free man and spend all his " hard earnt".

[@peterbennett5910]

JAIL JAIL JAIL and cease his assets

[@jeffreyheeks]

People lost their lives, livelihoods, homes and freedom. Sickening. When will the real criminals be held to account?? The Tories should also face prison for what they've done in public office. Enough is enough!!!

[@customribs995]

He’s lying!

[@ossiebacchus7110]

Collective amnesia

[@sbeasley1785]

These people are truly evil to have allowed innocent people to go to prison…and need to go to PRISON.

[@mikew42906]

He is obviously incompetent and promoted way over his ability, like promotes like, so often the case.

[@theondebray]

If this was a court of LAW, he would be required to tell the whole truth, cross examined by skillful lawyers and held to account for his outright lies (as appears blatantly obvious to all of us).

[@ewaf88]

These wallys can't play pass the parcel for ever, or has to stop somewhere

[@chrissmith6245]

Should be in jail

[@MK-rt2gm]

How did all these people get away with all these years of destroying so many lives it is unbelievable. Now with the water scandal, when will the powers in England do something. I always think this is what goes on in the USA. It's tragic

[@MRJERRYCURTIN]

Wonder what his friends and family think of this incompetent liar

[@robpace-wb4wh]

And just like Bunter et al, they just keep lying.

[@fatbelly27]

It's possible to be both a liar and incompetent

[@frazerherald]

barrister on the money ---either your lying through your teeth or incompetency . Finally great to see there was an admission of incompetency

[@debrashawcross170]

I sobbed and sobbed they did this 💔 😭

[@andrewbest4571]

No one will go to prison for this injustice, its the way of this country now.

[@michaelparker5510]

If these people don’t go to jail then that would be a complete injustice

[@paulingle2060]

Hope he gets jail time

[@yetidodger6650]

he's lying under oath.

[@carrier411]

it just gets worse. sigh.

[@grahamnichols1416]

Some from column A and some from column B.

[@bvgb921]

HE'S A LIAR

[@markbyrne61]

He is lying through his teeth

[@rogerflack415]

Cuts to the chase.

[@blackdogbarking]

I have fond memories of learning about our wonderful institution the post office in Primary school. These memories are obliterated by the sordid tories and their destruction of our infrastructure with their corrupt and foolish privatisation grift.

[@johnbradshaw7525]

Lying through his teeth and a complete incompetent.

[@sunlightofthelord1709]

Not one of these ghosts will do a day in prison.

[@stephrichards4611]

The entire room smells something...

[@martingrimsted5017]

Wait till it goes to a criminal court, they'll grass each other up quicker than Usain Bolt

[@Msax50]

Very sorry that he’s been caught out. Fortunately for him he’s very wealthy, otherwise he’d be in real trouble

[@daviddavies7924]

If he had been hooked up to a polygraph it would have melted 😮

[@Knightley79]

Funny how correspondence of this important nature were not ‘read’. Same as Van den Bogard! Wonder how this would stack up in a criminal court of law.

[@CatholicSatan]

I note that the great majority of these executives were appointed from retail, banking and advertising roles - not _one_ of them had a technical background. And yet Horizon was sucking up shed loads of money and Horizon was a continual point of discussion as to save monies (POL was on its knees in the early 2000s). The executive seemed well aware that Horizon terminals were regularly re-booted to "solve" problems, that failing phone lines also caused problems yet they all seemed utterly incurious as to why these problems only started to occur on the rollout of Horizon... Companies these days regularly spend 40%-50% of revenue on IT and other technical areas and the most successful companies in the world these days are essentially run by technical gurus. But POL was utterly disinterested in that side of the business. Furthermore, I am astounded that the legal and investigative departments were not asking why they had so many criminals coming on board, more than 20% of their subpostmasters - apparently - were dipping their fingers into the till. Not criminal masterminds though, as POL could trace the fraud directly through the Horizon terminal. So, 20% dumb criminals, a huge number, but legal and investigations _never_ asked that question.

[@skopelos11]

Put them on a lie detector test and ask the same questions end of

[@johnholland8162]

They would rather be thought incompetent and plead ignorance than reveal the truth - that they knew all along the post masters were innocent and they tried to cover it up to retain Horizon as a client

[@greatlambrini8722]

Lying AND incompetent!

[@andrewholden5575]

Take all bonuses back off every single one of them

[@gazfisher7391]

Four letter word, starts with c, ends in unt. Crass but clearly true.

[@mark.lawrence]

there is a common theme amongst these suits... they don't care... unless it is a matter relating to their bonus... they are pathetic.

[@davebrown5539]

Or both