Mr Bates vs The Post Office

[Short Grain]

outnumbered said:

alangla said:

Lesley Sewell - former Chief Information Officer at Post Office Ltd

Taken from: https://www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk/phase-...

Having skimmed through her witness statement, it seems she can't really remember anything, which the questioning seems to be confirming.

https://www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk/file/3...

Look at para 79 for example, which I'm sure will come up later. Paula Vennels has called/texted her several times in 2020 and she "can't remember" what was discussed.

Another one who's robbed the post office of a salary! Can't recall, don't remember, someone else's job, not my responsibility!
Strangely her answers to Sir Wynn seemed to be more forthcoming. Maybe he should takeover?

'Kin Hell, how the hell did/does she get through the day? She must have her name printed in her 'kin knickers! She's gonna be a waste of time!

Edited by Short Grain on Thursday 16th May 11:38

[simon_harris]

How does such a person get such a high level, you would expect a CIO of a organisation of this size to need a sharp eye for detail and memory to suit.

I could still answer questions now about systems I worked on 30 years ago, including errors I encountered and fixed!

[LimmerickLad]

simon_harris said:

How does such a person get such a high level, you would expect a CIO of a organisation of this size to need a sharp eye for detail and memory to suit.

I could still answer questions now about systems I worked on 30 years ago, including errors I encountered and fixed!

So could all the witnesses called so far if they really wanted to! They do seem to recall anything that shows them in a good light however.

[Short Grain]

simon_harris said:

How does such a person get such a high level, you would expect a CIO of a organisation of this size to need a sharp eye for detail and memory to suit.

I could still answer questions now about systems I worked on 30 years ago, including errors I encountered and fixed!

Yeah but your not in an arse covering exercise, in public! These people have no 'kin shame! They must know how people are seeing them for the lying, self serving tts they are! Yet they will stick to the party line of selective memory and deflection!

I'm Sorry Mrs Sewell, Tearfully sniffing your way through your appearance doesn't garner any sympathy, from me at least!

[SydneyBridge]

I don't think Sir Wyn has any sympathy

[Short Grain]

SydneyBridge said:

I don't think Sir Wyn has any sympathy

He's seen 'em all do it, probably wearing a bit thin now!

[Bonefish Blues]

Fair play re the bugs and/or faults. Mind you as a CIO what can she say!

[simon_harris]

I don't understand why she is fixating on the faults/bugs description? How or why does she thinks this benefits anything else she is saying or did?

[Short Grain]

simon_harris said:

I don't understand why she is fixating on the faults/bugs description? How or why does she thinks this benefits anything else she is saying or did?

Deflection from her own actions or inaction?

[SydneyBridge]

Whatever they call them, it clearly seems that horizon was not fit for purpose and no one should have been prosecuted, especially on the basis that horizon was correct and could not be challenged

[eliot]

I think the emotion and blubbering is the conflict between the bs lines she’s been coached to stick to and the fact that she knows it’s all a lie

[Short Grain]

eliot said:

I think the emotion and blubbering is the conflict between the bs lines she’s been coached to stick to and the fact that she knows it’s all a lie

Quite surprised she hasn't got a box of tissues on the desk next to her!

[vaud]

Short Grain said:

Quite surprised she hasn't got a box of tissues on the desk next to her!

She has!

[Short Grain]

vaud said:

Short Grain said:

Quite surprised she hasn't got a box of tissues on the desk next to her!

She has!

Missed that!

[Dermot O'Logical]

I'm looking forward to Ms Vennells' turn in the spotlight next week, largely because she seems to have become Public Enemy No1, and seems to be the progenitor of everything bad about this whole sorry mess, which seems to be at odds with her position as a senior cleric within the Church (shortlisted for Bishop status), which, unless I'm very much mistaken, would require occupation of the moral high ground.

Another thought which I'm unable to shake off is that the whole case which has led to this rather lengthy, undoubtedly expensive inquiry, is that the only fault/bug/whatever with Horizon appears to result in individual Post Offices reporting cash shortfalls. There are, unless I've missed something, no mentions of unexplained cash surpluses, or stock discrepancies?

[Stussy]

This one today is an utter waste of time!

I was head of IT, but had nothing to do with IT.

Just how stupid do they think everyone is?!

[outnumbered]

Dermot O'Logical said:

I'm looking forward to Ms Vennells' turn in the spotlight next week, largely because she seems to have become Public Enemy No1, and seems to be the progenitor of everything bad about this whole sorry mess, which seems to be at odds with her position as a senior cleric within the Church (shortlisted for Bishop status), which, unless I'm very much mistaken, would require occupation of the moral high ground.

Another thought which I'm unable to shake off is that the whole case which has led to this rather lengthy, undoubtedly expensive inquiry, is that the only fault/bug/whatever with Horizon appears to result in individual Post Offices reporting cash shortfalls. There are, unless I've missed something, no mentions of unexplained cash surpluses, or stock discrepancies?

According to the SPM's contract, they were responsible to make up losses (even imaginary ones) but were allowed to keep surpluses, so there has been less focus on that.

There was a recent report in the DT: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/27/post-o... which describes that over a week in January 2024, the total reported shortfalls across PO branches was £2.2M. But there was also an unexpected surplus of £3.4M. Is any of this real money ? Who knows, still.

[Short Grain]

Been playing catchup slightly this morning but she certainly seems to answer Sir Wynn with more clarity and recollection!

[Dermot O'Logical]

outnumbered said:

Dermot O'Logical said:

I'm looking forward to Ms Vennells' turn in the spotlight next week, largely because she seems to have become Public Enemy No1, and seems to be the progenitor of everything bad about this whole sorry mess, which seems to be at odds with her position as a senior cleric within the Church (shortlisted for Bishop status), which, unless I'm very much mistaken, would require occupation of the moral high ground.

Another thought which I'm unable to shake off is that the whole case which has led to this rather lengthy, undoubtedly expensive inquiry, is that the only fault/bug/whatever with Horizon appears to result in individual Post Offices reporting cash shortfalls. There are, unless I've missed something, no mentions of unexplained cash surpluses, or stock discrepancies?

According to the SPM's contract, they were responsible to make up losses (even imaginary ones) but were allowed to keep surpluses, so there has been less focus on that.

There was a recent report in the DT: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/27/post-o... which describes that over a week in January 2024, the total reported shortfalls across PO branches was £2.2M. But there was also an unexpected surplus of £3.4M. Is any of this real money ? Who knows, still.

Thank you for that, although the Telegraph article is behind a paywall. My experience is that no computer programme or operating system is infallible, yet there has been no indication that Horizon has/had any faults other than the ability to generate and report cash shortfalls, which leads to the suspicion that fraud might be a motive. However, it could be the case that the whole system was generally shonky, and had many other failings which are of no consequence for the inquiry.

[Maxdecel]

Dermot O'Logical said:

I'm looking forward to Ms Vennells' turn in the spotlight next week, largely because she seems to have become Public Enemy No1, and seems to be the progenitor of everything bad about this whole sorry mess, which seems to be at odds with her position as a senior cleric within the Church (shortlisted for Bishop status), which, unless I'm very much mistaken, would require occupation of the moral high ground.

Another thought which I'm unable to shake off is that the whole case which has led to this rather lengthy, undoubtedly expensive inquiry, is that the only fault/bug/whatever with Horizon appears to result in individual Post Offices reporting cash shortfalls. There are, unless I've missed something, no mentions of unexplained cash surpluses, or stock discrepancies?

She obviously has an aversion to explaining her actions .....she blocked Paula Vennells’ phone number after the ex-chief executive sought her help to “avoid an independent inquiry”.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/horizon-gove...