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Original poster

Paula Vennels being questioned at the Post Office Inquiry, followed by others - thread 2

961 replies

nauticant · 24/05/2024 09:29

A continuation of the discussion started by@Sausagenbaconhere:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5080262-to-enjoy-hearing-paula-vennels-being-taken-apart

Paula Vennells' 3 days of evidence ends today but there are more hearings coming up and we can discuss those too.

When the hearings are going on, live-streaming can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/@postofficehorizonitinquiry947/featured

All of the previous hearings can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/@postofficehorizonitinquiry947/videos

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
PerkingFaintly · 07/06/2024 10:56

No, back on Tuesday 11 June.

DanielGault · 07/06/2024 10:52

Is it on today?

Original poster
nauticant · 07/06/2024 10:43

I do like the write-ups by Nick Wallis:

https://www.postofficescandal.uk/post/the-taxi-for-paula-vennells-which-never-quite-came/

https://www.postofficescandal.uk/post/more-dispatches-from-the-post-office-bunker-the-pr-guy-goes-tonto/

The often captures things that, even while watching the stream, I don't quite grasp.

OP posts:
BigDahliaFan · 07/06/2024 08:46

GnomeDePlume · 07/06/2024 07:42

@Peregrina I think the difference is that the inquiry is looking at the level of corporate conspiracy not simply to cover up bad decisions but to continue with the decisions, for years, knowing they were bad.

What we are seeing is evidence of a wilful conspiracy. The motive seems to have been to protect the good name of the Post Office. But why was that so important? Why did it matter so much?

This is the thing I don't understand.

Yes certainly around the time it was being privatised, and to protect bonuses.

DanielGault · 07/06/2024 07:54

GnomeDePlume · 07/06/2024 07:42

@Peregrina I think the difference is that the inquiry is looking at the level of corporate conspiracy not simply to cover up bad decisions but to continue with the decisions, for years, knowing they were bad.

What we are seeing is evidence of a wilful conspiracy. The motive seems to have been to protect the good name of the Post Office. But why was that so important? Why did it matter so much?

This is the thing I don't understand.

I assume, as always, money.

GnomeDePlume · 07/06/2024 07:42

@Peregrina I think the difference is that the inquiry is looking at the level of corporate conspiracy not simply to cover up bad decisions but to continue with the decisions, for years, knowing they were bad.

What we are seeing is evidence of a wilful conspiracy. The motive seems to have been to protect the good name of the Post Office. But why was that so important? Why did it matter so much?

This is the thing I don't understand.

Peregrina · 06/06/2024 19:14

I feel it will be like the Hillsborough enquiry. The fans were cleared of blame, but as far as I remember, no one responsible has gone to prison or fined substantially.

friendlycat · 06/06/2024 19:11

Whilst I fully support the need for this enquiry as it was a terrible travesty of justice, I can't help but wonder what will be the outcome at the end.

As all the key people are being so evasive and playing a role so as not to incriminate themselves, the lawyers are highlighting yes that they were aware of multiple issues but collectively they all went along with the denial of anything seriously wrong with Horizon.

Once the enquiry has been concluded, with whatever summing up papers released what happens next? Will any of the people involved actually face prosecution or will it be just their public fall from grace and major trashing of their reputations?

Many of them are well into retirement age, or approaching it. Are they just going to have tarnished reputations at the end of all of this?

NeverDropYourMooncup · 06/06/2024 19:09

SparksFlyUpward · 06/06/2024 16:17

Her parting words are 'I think I'm suffering from brain fog'.

Isn't she about 20 years too late to use that as an excuse?

Newbutoldfather · 06/06/2024 18:56

The problem with this whole enquiry is that the senior executive can’t take responsibility without risking jail, so they are very careful. They could be granted immunity, and I am sure that they would say very different things, but I don’t think they should.

The only enquiry which should be happening is by the police, hopefully leading to charges.

I am not sure I really see the point of this enquiry, entertaining as it is, except to kick the can down the road and buy more time for the powerful to evade proper scrutiny in a real court.

PlacidPenelope · 06/06/2024 18:33

nauticant · 06/06/2024 13:47

On this day of commemorating D-Day, they just read out on the radio the message Eisenhower would have given had the invasion plan failed:

Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based on the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.

I listened to it and then wondered what AP's version would have been.

That's a very powerful, leader takes full responsibility statement shows up the leadership of the Post Office for the arse covering weaklings they are.

DanielGault · 06/06/2024 18:23

SparksFlyUpward · 06/06/2024 17:21

Yes, I think I'll say I imagine I would have been using an umlaut because I'm a very good person but I can't remember why I put it there and I don't understand the words and they weren't my words and that's not my handwriting and knowing what I know now I clearly remember that a lawyer definitely advised it or a lawyer failed to definitely not advise it and I was overtaken by events and I'm feeling very tired now and I'd like to say I am a very good person.

😂😂😂😂😂

Original poster
nauticant · 06/06/2024 17:55

I was wrong about the story the media would take from the past 2 days. I went for AP, Vennells, and Mark Davies guy looking into ways to nobble the Panorama investigation into the Post Office. But I just heard reporting that the government were thinking of sacking Vennells. Although that's the BBC's choice of angle, maybe for some reason they're not too keen on reporting how exposed their reporting is to the influence of shadowy networks of ex-Civil Servants, ex-SpAds, and hangers-on.

OP posts:
SparksFlyUpward · 06/06/2024 17:21

Yes, I think I'll say I imagine I would have been using an umlaut because I'm a very good person but I can't remember why I put it there and I don't understand the words and they weren't my words and that's not my handwriting and knowing what I know now I clearly remember that a lawyer definitely advised it or a lawyer failed to definitely not advise it and I was overtaken by events and I'm feeling very tired now and I'd like to say I am a very good person.

minou123 · 06/06/2024 16:55

Dont worry @SparksFlyUpward .
If this thread is ever used as evidence in a Statutory Public Inquiry, we can both give witness statements explaining the faulty autocorrect function

(Although we both may decide to conveniently forget the intentions and meaning behind our words)

SparksFlyUpward · 06/06/2024 16:45

Please excuse my extraneous 'e'. I love an opportunity for an umlaut but autocarrot doesn't account for it.

minou123 · 06/06/2024 16:36

SparksFlyUpward · 06/06/2024 16:30

She simultaneously wants to be fully responsible for the Post Office, but also not be responsible for any if it.

A case of Shröedinger's Chair, innit.

😁100%

SparksFlyUpward · 06/06/2024 16:30

She simultaneously wants to be fully responsible for the Post Office, but also not be responsible for any if it.

A case of Shröedinger's Chair, innit.

DanielGault · 06/06/2024 16:23

SparksFlyUpward · 06/06/2024 16:17

Her parting words are 'I think I'm suffering from brain fog'.

Strikes a blow for the sisterhood on the way out!

SparksFlyUpward · 06/06/2024 16:17

Her parting words are 'I think I'm suffering from brain fog'.

PerkingFaintly · 06/06/2024 16:17

nauticant · 06/06/2024 15:55

Ms Patrick is being rather effective here on putting AP on the spot. In addition to memory failures, AP is doing a big too-weary-for-all-of-this-now act.

Isn't she just! Ms Patrick, that is. "I'd like to stop you there, Miss Perkins!"

SparksFlyUpward · 06/06/2024 16:16

I'm also so in awe of Jo Hamilton. She has more integrity, decency and courage in her little finger than this woman has in her whole body.

DanielGault · 06/06/2024 16:16

'Brain fog' 🙄

minou123 · 06/06/2024 16:13

I've managed to catch up and only 20 mins behind.

Jo Hamilton is hete, loving her work as always. 😍

What a mess AP is.

She simultaneously wants to be fully responsible for the Post Office, but also not be responsible for any if it.

I'm not a psychologist, nor a psychiatrist, and maybe I am being unfair, but to me she seems to display narcissistic traits.
I know its thrown on MN all the time, but to me, she is incredibly self-centred, lacks empathy and has an excessive need for admiration - she wants to be admired for things she didn't actually do, just "what she would have done, had she known".