The oldest surviving sufferer of the Post Office Horizon scandal has had her supply of compensation elevated however she mentioned “it’s still not good enough”.
Betty Brown, 92, was initially supplied lower than a 3rd of what she had claimed for, however she has now obtained a brand new supply of 60%.
However the previous sub-postmistress informed the BBC justice was nonetheless being denied.
Post Office minister Gareth Thomas, who had beforehand promised to take a look at her case, mentioned it was at all times the federal government’s precedence to pay as a lot redress because it may.
Betty mentioned she was compelled out of her department in Country Durham in 2003 after she and her late husband spent greater than £50,000 of their financial savings to cowl shortfalls that didn’t exist.
It was the defective software program that made it appear like cash was lacking from their department.
Her publish workplace had been one of the vital profitable within the area however she was later compelled to promote it at a loss.
The Horizon IT system was accountable for greater than 900 sub-postmasters being wrongfully accused of theft, with many being prosecuted and a few even being despatched to jail. The scandal has been described as one of many widest miscarriages of justice within the UK, and was the topic of ITV drama “Mr Bates vs The Post Office”.
“It absolutely destroyed my whole life,” she informed the BBC.
She thanked Mr Thomas for serving to her however mentioned there was “still a long way to go to get the justice that we were promised”.
Betty has been ready 26 years for issues to be put proper.
“We’re just getting fobbed off. The evidence is all there,” she mentioned.
More than £892m has now been paid to over 6,200 claimants throughout 4 completely different compensation schemes, in keeping with the most recent authorities figures.
But a gaggle of MPs in January mentioned compensation is just not being paid rapidly sufficient, and referred to as for modifications to the best way redress was being delivered.
Mrs Brown was one of many authentic 555 victims who took half within the landmark group authorized motion led by Alan Bates in opposition to the publish workplace. And she is looking for her compensation by way of the GLO scheme, established simply over three years in the past.
Betty’s story has change into a high-profile case. Mr Thomas was pressed about it on BBC’s Newsnight in January, the place he promised to look into her case. He met Betty and a number of other different victims the next day.
Although Betty’s supply has now elevated from 29% to 60% of her declare it’s nonetheless far lower than what she says consultants informed her she may count on.
News of her revised supply won’t be encouraging for different victims additionally embroiled in disputes over what’s full and truthful redress.
Post Office Minister Mr Thomas mentioned he can “understand the frustration when lawyers are not able to reach an agreement on a claim”.
“It is always our priority to pay as much redress as we can, and in some cases, we have been able to offer more than has been claimed,” he mentioned, including that the federal government would take “further steps to quickly and fairly resolve” challenges in disputes akin to Betty’s.”
Betty is decided combat on to get what she nonetheless believes she is owed.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c05nn3r3zpjo