The former head of Fujitsu UK, Michael Keegan, has revealed that he met with Post Office CEO Paula Vennells on four occasions, during which the Horizon IT system was discussed, contradicting earlier reports that they had met only once and had not mentioned the system. Between 1999 and 2015, over 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly accused after the Horizon software incorrectly suggested that money had gone missing from Post Office branches. During Keegan’s tenure, MPs launched a Horizon software inquiry, while forensic accountants, Second Sight, also investigated.
Keegan confirmed to BBC News that, during his 13 months at Fujitsu UK, he spoke to Vennells twice face-to-face and twice by telephone. Sub-postmasters were wrongfully prosecuted during this period. Although Keegan’s lawyers voiced regret that this had happened, the former CEO denied having been involved. Mr Keegan successfully complained to IPSO, the press regulator, in 2022, that a Sunday Times article presented a misleading account of the number of meetings that he had held with Vennells.
Lawyers for Keegan have stated that he was involved with strategic and commercial decisions in relation to the Post Office contract and did not discuss Horizon with Vennells. They also noted that a letter in which Keegan appeared to argue against a revamp of IT systems, including Horizon, was not about the software.
The Post Office commented that it had identified six meetings with Vennells during Keegan’s tenure, but could not confirm whether all of them had taken place. Keegan’s lawyers stated that two of the meetings referred to by the Post Office never happened
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