Bombshell text messages show Paula Vennells was accused by a friend of secretly knowing about problems with the Post Office IT system.
Former Royal Mail boss Dame Moya Greene told the ex-Post Office chief executive: "I can't now support you.” In a text exchange after the ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office aired, Dame Moya wrote: “I think you knew.”
The Horizon IT system wrecked the lives of Post Office workers when it mistakenly made it look like money was missing from their branches. Postmasters were blamed for the shortfalls and made to cover the losses, with more than 900 convicted including some who were put in prison. Several took their own lives.
Text messages were exchanged by ex-Royal Mail boss Moya Greene and Paula VennellsDame Moya messaged Ms Vennells at the beginning of this year amid public anger over the scandal. She wrote: "When it was clear the system was at fault, the PO (Post Office) should have raised a red flag, stopped all proceedings, given people back their money and then tried to compensate them for the ruin this caused in their lives."
Ms Vennells replied: "Yes I agree. This has/is taking too long Moya. The toll on everyone affected is dreadful." Dame Moya said: "I don't know what to say. I think you knew." Ms Vennells responded: "No Moya, that isn't the case."
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Dame Moya said: "I want to believe you. I asked you twice. I suggested you get an independent review reporting to you. I was afraid you were being lied to. You said the system had already been reviewed multiple times. How could you have not known?" Ms Vennells replied: "Moya, the mechanism for getting to the bottom of this is the inquiry. I've made it my priority to support it fully."
The text messages were exchanged following the airing of the ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post OfficeDame Moya later said: "I am sorry.. I can't now support you. I have supported you. All these years.. to my own detriment. I can't support you now after what I have learned."
As she appeared at the Post Office Inquiry, Ms Vennells was questioned about the messages. Counsel to the inquiry, Jason Beer KC, said: "Moya asks how could you not know, you did not answer." Ms Vennells said: "No... I was very concerned because I was aware that it is not good practice to be exchanging texts in the middle of an inquiry."
Mr Beer responded: "How could you not know?" Ms Vennells said: "This is a situation that is so complex, it is a question I have asked myself as well. I have learned some things that I did not know as a result of the inquiry and I imagine that we will go through some of the detail of that. I wish I had known."
The messages were shown at the Post Office Inquiry where Paula Vennells is giving evidenceEarlier, Ms Vennells broke down in tears as she was grilled about her handling of the scandal. As she began her evidence at the Post Office inquiry, the former chief executive issued an apology to furious postmasters including Alan Bates, saying: "I am very, very sorry."
People in the public gallery at the inquiry include former postmaster Jo Hamilton, who was depicted in the ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office.
The Horizon IT system wrecked the lives of Post Office workers when it mistakenly made it look like money was missing from their branches. Postmasters were blamed for the shortfalls and made to cover the losses, with more than 900 convicted including some who were put in prison. Several took their own lives.
Ms Vennells, who was Post Office chief executive from 2012 to 2019, is giving evidence over three days. In her written statement to the inquiry, she said: "I would like to offer my genuine and unreserved apologies to all those affected... I apologise that I and those working for me and with me failed the sub-postmasters and their families. I am deeply sorry that they have suffered in such a distressing way.
"I... heard the subpostmasters describe what they had been through, how isolated they felt, and how they had been unsupported by Post Office Limited. They described the life-changing experiences they and their families have endured for so many years. I am so very sorry that so much of this happened while I was a member of the senior management team and then CEO."
She apologised specifically to campaigners including Mr Bates saying: "They had the right insights. They were right to persevere and I am sorry for where I made their task harder."
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