The public post office inquiry continues today after evidence from victims has been gathered over the last year. Liversedge woman Alison Hall over the last few days has continued to tell her horrifying story on her experiences as sub-postmaster. Saying ‘Nothing can undo what me and my family have been subjected to; I can only hope that this inquiry makes findings and recommendations that are taken on board and organisations like the Post Office learn lessons that ensure that law abiding citizens such as me do not have to face such an injustice again.’.
Alison however is not the only sub-postmaster to experience the injustices as a result of the horizon system. The case of Janet Skinner was discussed earlier today, where in 2007 she was sentenced to a three-month long prison sentence after her Hull post office had a supposed shortfall £59,000. Janet unfortunately suffered physical damage as a result of the stress of the case. Ms Skinner became paralysed and had to teach herself to walk again. With her saying ‘My employment with the POL began in 1994 as a counter clerk, I loved this job every day was a different day. I just never expected it to end in the way that it did, made to believe I was the only one balancing issues, with me in jail and branded a thief with a lifelong disability problem.’.
Ms Skinner has been given £600,000 in compensation however she argues “My health just deteriorated. I ended up in Hull Royal Infirmary having to learn everything, and they think £600,000 is going to help me? I can’t work for the rest of my life.”.
Despite what these victims are being given they are arguing that it simply isn’t enough to compensate for what they have lost on the whole.
Freya Hanson
(Quoted witness statements of Alison Hall and Janet Skinner)