Jo Hamilton, a former sub-postmaster caught up in the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, has settled with the government for an undisclosed sum. Her conviction was overturned in 2021 when it was discovered that more than 700 sub-postmasters and postmistresses had been prosecuted due to a faulty accounting system. Ms. Hamilton said the settlement would pay off her mortgage and debts, but she got less than she hoped for. Her story featured heavily in the ITV dramatisation that brought the scandal to a wider audience.
Despite feeling “survivor’s guilt” at accepting the compensation offer, Ms. Hamilton and her husband agreed to it as they were “exhausted.” Ms. Hamilton was offered only 80% of what she wanted, and said that the Post Office “shouldn’t be arguing with anybody,” as this only increases legal fees and reduces funds for compensation. She called for the Post Office to “just pay people.” Ms. Hamilton took up cleaning jobs, mortgaged her house twice, borrowed money from friends and received donations from the community to pay back the funds.
Last week, ministers announced new measures to speed up compensation for victims, including an interim payment of £450,000 to sub-postmasters who had their convictions overturned, up from the previous £163,000. Approximately £160m had been paid to over 2,700 claimants across three compensation schemes as of 1st February, 2024, according to government data.
The government and former Post Office Chair Henry Staunton were in disagreement over compensation payments and the government’s handling of the scandal. Mr. Staunton alleged that a senior civil servant had requested the Post Office delay compensation payments, claims which have been denied. He called for a six-month deadline and a minimum compensation payment of £1m for sub-postmasters. Mr. Staunton also claimed that a Post Office investigation against him was “a stitch-up
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