Latest news with #JanetSkinner
Sky News
08-07-2025
- Sky News
Anorexia, bankruptcy, suicide – how the Horizon IT system ruined lives
👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈 The public inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal has published its first report into what went wrong and how the victims should be properly compensated. The inquiry's chair, Sir Wyn Williams, has found that at least 13 postmasters may have taken their own lives after being accused of wrongdoing based on evidence from the Horizon IT system which both the Post Office and its maker, Fujitsu, knew could be false. In today's episode, Niall Paterson speaks to our business correspondent Paul Kelso about just how damning these findings are and also to former postmistress Janet Skinner who was sent to prison after wrongly being accused of stealing £59,000. Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@ in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.
Sky News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Post Office inquiry latest: Report into human impact and compensation to be published
What can we expect today? Our correspondent Alice Porter is in South London today, where Sir Wyn Williams, the chair of the inquiry, will speak after publishing the report. Porter said Williams organised for this part of the report to be released first because "the issue of compensation is so pertinent to so many victims". "There are hundreds of subpostmasters who have already died having not received compensation, so it's a very real issue," she said. Porter explained many of the subpostmasters and mistresses lost their homes, were bankrupt, and it also impacted their children. "This is obviously something that's had huge impacts on thousands of people across the country, and to give you a sense of just how many people have been impacted, the government so far has paid out over £1bn in compensation to more than 7,000 claimants," she added. "Complaints have been made over the last few years of just how long it's taking to get that compensation into the pockets of the people who really need it, and there's been huge disagreement when it comes to the sums for people." Watch Porter's full update in the video below Wrongfully jailed Post Office workers reveal hopes ahead of report's publication We'll be catching up with Janet Skinner and Seema Misra, two former subpostmistresses who were both wrongfully jailed in the Post Office scandal, throughout the day on Sky News as we get their reaction to the report. Misra told Wilfred Frost her experience in prison was "horrible". "I never thought I was going to come out alive, and if I wouldn't have been pregnant I definitely would have killed myself. "I'm okay to fight with the Post Office day in and day out, but it's the imprisonment bit... we were sent to prison for crimes we never committed, that's difficult to accept." Skinner said people "need to realise" this isn't just about a computer system. "The computer system didn't send us to prison, the people did... they should be put into a court of law and be dealt with in exactly the same process that we were dealt with." When asked whether she is in support of the inquiry, Skinner explained that it needs to be given more power. "If it was a sitting judge and all of this information was put before him, what he said on that day would be made law and you would have to follow that. "With an inquiry, it just comes in findings or recommendations, and we already know the government doesn't like recommendations anyway." Watch the full interview in the video below What is Horizon and how did it trigger a scandal? The Post Office introduced a new IT system called Horizon, made by the Japanese company Fujitsu, across the country in 1999. It was used to manage transactions, accounts and stocktaking. Sub-postmasters and mistresses - the staff in charge of branches - soon began noticing shortfalls in company accounts and complained the system was faulty. No action was taken by the Post Office, so cash shortages of several thousand pounds continued to appear on the accounts of branches nationwide. Some workers were so concerned they used their own money to balance the books. In 2000, the Post Office began taking legal action against sub-postmasters using Horizon data as evidence. By 2014, 736 had been criminally prosecuted, despite the Post Office becoming aware of a fault in 2010. Victims say government's control of redress schemes should be taken away By Adele Robinson, Sky correspondent Post Office scandal victims are calling for redress schemes to be taken away from the government completely, ahead of the public inquiry publishing its first findings. Phase 1, which is due back at noon today, will report on the human impact of what happened as well as compensation schemes. "Take (them) off the government completely," says Jo Hamilton OBE, a high-profile campaigner and former sub-postmistress, who was convicted of stealing from her branch in 2008. "It's like the fox in charge of the hen house," she adds, "because they were the only shareholders of Post Office". "So they're in it up to their necks... So why should they be in charge of giving us financial redress?" Watch: Former subpostmistress says everyday life 'was a struggle' Jo and others are hoping Sir Wyn Williams, chairman of the public statutory inquiry, will make recommendations for an independent body to take control of redress schemes. The inquiry has been examining the Post Office scandal which saw more than 700 people wrongfully convicted between 1999 and 2015. Lawyers warn redress process for Post Office Horizon victims could go on for years Lawyers have warned that the compensation process for subpostmasters wronged by the Post Office Horizon scandal could go on for another three years. Hudgell Solicitors, a law firm involved in securing redress for victims, said it still had more than 700 ongoing compensation cases to resolve. Solicitor Neil Hudgell said the firm agreed damages for more than 300 people, totalling £170m, but said the redress process had "far too much red tape to get through". "It's made it far too long a process for so many people who have been through so much, and are now in the latter stages of their lives," he said. "It has been retraumatising for many, and increasing numbers are sadly passing away without seeing redress." Watch: Wife of victim 'disgusted' by length of time it's taken Hudgell was asked how long it could take for all claims to be settled. "At the current speed, we are looking at another two to three years," he added. He said one client who was initially offered £50,000 has since seen their offer rise to £500,000. "It is not a one-off glitch, but a stark illustration of a very common issue," he said. "It has been a painful process for all, and ended with a new appeals process being confirmed earlier this year, in recognition that many people had been under-compensated." Report to reveal 'unimaginable hardship' caused by Horizon scandal The first part of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry's final report will be published at midday, but what will it focus on? Volume 1 of the report covers the compensation and the human impact of the scandal. "Throughout my investigations, I have heard how people have faced unimaginable hardship due to the impacts of the Horizon scandal, from wrongful convictions and financial ruin to broken relationships and severe emotional distress," inquiry chair Sir Wyn Williams said. "I have also held several compensation hearings, which have stressed the urgency for people to receive redress that is full, fair and prompt. "I have always been of the view that those who have been affected by the Horizon scandal should be at the heart of the inquiry's work. So, it seems fitting that my conclusions on the suffering endured by so many, as well as the issue of redress, should be at the forefront of my report and published as soon as feasibly possible." Welcome to our coverage Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry. The inquiry will publish the first part of its final report at 12pm today, which focuses on the human impact of the scandal and compensation for victims. After the publication, we're expecting the report to be laid before parliament and we'll also hear from chair of the inquiry Sir Wyn Williams, who will make a statement at around 12.30pm. Stay with us as we bring you updates through the day.
