Worcester News readers have been responding to news that the former Post Office boss has handed in her CBE over the Horizon IT scandal.

The ex-CEO, who led the Post Office while repeatedly denying issues with its Horizon IT system, was bestowed with the honour in December 2018.

Her decision to relinquish it came in the wake of escalating public pressure, largely due to ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office that thrust the injustice back into the spotlight.

 

 

Read more: Post Office Horizon scandal: Barnards Green postmaster plea

 

 

Readers expressed a range of emotions on Facebook, from anger to satisfaction in response to the news.

Tracey Biggs asked: "Why was she ever awarded it in the first place?

"Why did she accept?"

Similarly, Dawn Scott shared: "She had no choice. Good. She shouldn’t have had it in the first place."

Despite the High Court ruling that the Horizon system was faulty in 2019, the public pressure only intensified to such a point following the drama series' release.

The backlash was epitomised by a petition demanding that the former CEO be stripped of her CBE garnering over a million signatures.

In that vain, Louise Thomas commented: "Shame it took a TV programme for this to happen."

These thoughts were echoed by other readers with comments like "About time", from Sally Jones and Lisa Owen.

Marie Looker said: "And so she should. All those poor people prosecuted and took their own lives."

Gordon Reeves expressed the irreversible impact of the scandal with a solemn note: "Can’t return those people to families who took their own lives as well as some people who were never the same with mental health after", inferencing the victims who ended their own lives and the 60 who died before finding any justice.

Sue Harris reprimanded: "Good. Disgraceful way to treat people."

The series of comments show a clear sentiment of dissatisfaction with the former CEO's actions and the timing of her decision to return the CBE.

Worcester News: Paula Vennells

In a statement announcing her intention to return the honour, Ms Vennells said: “I continue to support and focus on co-operating with the Inquiry and expect to be giving evidence in the coming months.

“I have so far maintained my silence as I considered it inappropriate to comment publicly while the Inquiry remains ongoing and before I have provided my oral evidence.

“I am, however, aware of the calls from subpostmasters and others to return my CBE.

“I have listened and I confirm that I return my CBE with immediate effect.

“I am truly sorry for the devastation caused to the sub-postmasters and their families, whose lives were torn apart by being wrongly accused and wrongly prosecuted as a result of the Horizon system.

“I now intend to continue to focus on assisting the Inquiry and will not make any further public comment until it has concluded.”