'Will it ever be put right?': Former subpostmasters react to findings of Post Office Inquiry

ITV News

08-07-2025

Former subpostmasters affected by the Horizon IT scandal have welcomed the damning first report from the official inquiry, saying it shows the "full scale of the horror that they unleashed on us".
It's been called one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British legal history, now a report into the Horizon IT scandal has found Post Office bosses were aware the system was faulty but "maintained a fiction" that it was always accurate, having "disastrous impacts".
Approximately 1,000 subpostmasters were wrongfully convicted by the Post Office between 1999 and 2015, after the Horizon IT software made it appear as if money was missing from their accounts.
The 162-page report by Sir Wyn Williams, published Tuesday, also concluded that at least 13 people may have taken their own lives after being accused of wrongdoing by the Post Office, and a further 59 people had contemplated suicide as a result of stress from the scandal.
ITV News has spoken to some of the subpostmasters affected by the Horizon IT scandal to hear their reaction to Sir Wyn Williams' report.
Jo Hamilton
Jo Hamilton is a former subpostmaster who has become a prominent figure in the search for justice.
Her story was retold in the ITV drama 'Mr Bates vs The Post Office'.
In response to the report, she said it 'shows the full scale of the horror that they unleashed on us'.
Tracy McFadden
Tracy McFadden ran a post office in Derbyshire for 14 years.
When Horizon was installed, her plan to retire came to a disastrous halt.
Tracy's story was also retold in the ITV drama.
One moment which played out on screen was when Tracy rang the Horizon helpline for guidance over a discrepancy of £1,000.
She then saw the sum double to £2,000, then £4,000 and finally £16,000.
Tracy had to turn to her family to borrow money, as well as take out loans and credit cards to cover the alleged missing money.
Eventually, she had debt collectors turn up at her front door.
She said: "I've been stabbed in the back terribly and it's about time that knife came out".
"I want to turn round and face those people. And I'm more than happy to do that. And that's what I want ... and I need."
Seema Misra was running a Post Office in Surrey in 2005 but was suspended in 2008 after being accused of stealing £74,000.
She was eight weeks pregnant with her second child when she was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment in 2010.
She had her conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2021.
Shane Johnson
Shane Johnson took over the Post Office branch in Kirkby-in-Ashfield in 2003.
For four years he had no trouble until the organisation insisted he take over the contract for a new cashpoint which was linked to the Horizon IT system.
He said: "Within weeks we suffered a catastrophic loss. Things had been linked to the main computer which had never been linked to our computers before.
"So to us that was the fault. But the Post Office didn't accept that as being the fault.
"They said, 'No, you've stolen the money'."
To cover the continuous losses, Shane ran up a huge overdraft and had to plunder his savings.
At the time he was a single father-of-two and the strain soon took its toll on family life.
He eventually sold the business at a loss and estimates, by adding up loss of future earnings, he is £665,000 out of pocket.
Shane has now reached a settlement with the Post Office.
"Will it ever be put right? I personally don't think so. Will there ever be any accountability? I don't think so," he said.
What does the Post Office say?
A statement from the Post Office said: 'The Inquiry has brought to life the devastating stories of those impacted by the Horizon Scandal. Their experiences represent a shameful period in our history.
"Today, we apologise unreservedly for the suffering which Post Office caused to postmasters and their loved ones. We will carefully consider the report and its recommendations.'
What does the government say?
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 'The publication of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry's report today by Sir Wyn and his team marks an important milestone for sub-postmasters and their families.
'I welcome the publication today and am committed to ensuring wronged sub-postmasters are given full, fair, and prompt redress.
'The recommendations contained in Sir Wyn's report require careful reflection, including on further action to complete the redress schemes. Government will promptly respond to the recommendations in full in Parliament.'
Post Office Minister Gareth Thomas said: 'I welcome the Inquiry's publication today and pay tribute to Sir Wyn and his team for their comprehensive and penetrating work.
'We must never lose sight of the Horizon Scandal's human impact on postmasters and their families, which the Inquiry has highlighted so well.
'Sir Wyn's report highlights a series of failings by the Post Office and various governments. His recommendations are immensely helpful as a guide for what is needed to finish the job, and we will respond in full to Parliament after carefully considering them.'