Ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells agreed with a PR advisor who called on her in 2013 to drop reviews into 'past cases' involving sub-postmasters because it would 'fuel' media interest, the Horizon IT inquiry has heard. The inquiry was shown a July 2013 email exchange with then director of communications Mark Davies about a review into a number of convictions the Post Office had been told about at that point which might be wrongful because of its IT system.
'Avoid or minimise compensation' The 65-year-old ordained vicar accepted that an email she sent in August 2013 which said 'the hope of mediation was to avoid or minimise compensation' sounded like sub-postmasters would only be welcome on the scheme if they agreed they would get a 'pat on the head and a token payment'.