Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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
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.

OP posts:
nauticant · 06/06/2024 15:44

Ahh, here's AP being shown that she was neck-deep in political management of language in the Royal Mail prospectus, contrary to her early denials on the point. AP tried deflecting but counsel shut that down.

That's a big blow to her credibility in terms of the evidence she's given.

So much for the above it all/can't help you with that lines.

OP posts:
nauticant · 06/06/2024 15:35

Ms Patrick to ask questions about 3 issues:
The Royal Mail prospectus
Mark Davies, PR guy
The Zetter note.

OP posts:
nauticant · 06/06/2024 15:29

Next up:

https://www.doughtystreet.co.uk/barristers/angela-patrick

and then maybe counsel for AP for possible damage limitation.

OP posts:
nauticant · 06/06/2024 15:20

Also, as to his role at the Inquiry:

https://www.mountfordchambers.com/edward-henry-kc-to-cross-examine-paula-vennells-at-post-office-inquiry/

OP posts:
nauticant · 06/06/2024 15:18

https://www.mountfordchambers.com/profile/ed-henry-kc/

OP posts:
ThreeTescoBags · 06/06/2024 15:16

Who's the bald guy in the grey suit asking the questions, who does he represent?

(I'm watching slightly behind so it may have moved on from him, he's got HJA on his name card)

If I'm ever rich and in trouble this is the guy I want on my team!

DanielGault · 06/06/2024 15:10

She's like the court equivalent of a footballer rolling around on the ground holding his leg feigning an injury with all her 'go back' etc 😡

nauticant · 06/06/2024 15:09

AP now being questioned by counsel for Vennells.

OP posts:
SparksFlyUpward · 06/06/2024 15:04

He's on to PV's 'I've earned my keep' comment re the prospectus. AP says it was up to RM and it's lawyers to decide what was in it.

Lunde · 06/06/2024 15:04

nauticant · 06/06/2024 15:02

Counsel sarcastically dropped in that AP lectures and speaks on corporate governance!

😂Good grief

DanielGault · 06/06/2024 15:02

nauticant · 06/06/2024 15:02

Counsel sarcastically dropped in that AP lectures and speaks on corporate governance!

Heh!

nauticant · 06/06/2024 15:02

Counsel sarcastically dropped in that AP lectures and speaks on corporate governance!

OP posts:
nauticant · 06/06/2024 14:57

Ears prick up at the mention of "flotation".

Apparently AP had no interest in what happened with the flotation of Royal Mail, and says how it went would have no impact at all on Post Office. That's very difficult to believe.

Especially since Vennells did AP a massive favour over the prospectus.

OP posts:
SparksFlyUpward · 06/06/2024 14:36

AP 'I was always ready to face bad news'.

SparksFlyUpward · 06/06/2024 14:34

AP has conveniently forgotten to bring back the hard copy of her witness statement after the lunch break. Thereby using up valuable minutes of time to get it up on screen so she can read it. Counsel immediately asks his junior in an aside when he started. He knows exactly what she is doing.

DanielGault · 06/06/2024 14:33

He doesn't hold back does he!

Quirkyme · 06/06/2024 14:32

"A whole range of epithets have dropped from your lips"

Jheeeeeez 🤣

Quirkyme · 06/06/2024 14:32

Lady not today

Quirkyme · 06/06/2024 14:32

She finds the Q offensive. Get out of here today

DanielGault · 06/06/2024 14:25

nauticant · 06/06/2024 14:24

Yes. But remember the NFSP has been a Quisling entity that stabbed in the back subpostmasters who the Post Office went after.

Ah ok. Thanks!

nauticant · 06/06/2024 14:24

DanielGault · 06/06/2024 14:20

Is this woman representing the post masters?

Yes. But remember the NFSP has been a Quisling entity that stabbed in the back subpostmasters who the Post Office went after.

OP posts:
DanielGault · 06/06/2024 14:24

nauticant · 06/06/2024 14:22

AP being asked whether her mismanagement had an adverse impact on the British tax-payer. AP steered well away from that in her answer

I think this relates to where the Inquiry might go with this. I don't think she'll be criminally prosecuted but if there's a political will to add her to the list of sacrificial people scalped to appease an angry public, this might be done by prosecution or regulatory action for corporate misconduct. The would turn her reputation completely to mud. That fear has informed many of her answers over the past 2 days.

Surely her reputation is mud now anyway. Doing herself no favours here anyway.

nauticant · 06/06/2024 14:22

AP being asked whether her mismanagement had an adverse impact on the British tax-payer. AP steered well away from that in her answer

I think this relates to where the Inquiry might go with this. I don't think she'll be criminally prosecuted but if there's a political will to add her to the list of sacrificial people scalped to appease an angry public, this might be done by prosecution or regulatory action for corporate misconduct. The would turn her reputation completely to mud. That fear has informed many of her answers over the past 2 days.

OP posts:
DanielGault · 06/06/2024 14:22

Bank of Ireland 😬😬😬😬