Post Office Paid Widow Hush Money: Non-Disclosure Agreement for Compensation
The Post Office paid the widow of a sub-postmaster, Martin Griffiths, who committed suicide in installments after she signed a non-disclosure agreement.
The family also agreed not to pursue legal action to clear his name for additional compensation.
This information was revealed during an inquiry into the Post Office's prosecution of hundreds of sub-postmasters.
Former Post Office executive Angela van den Bogerd discussed hiring a media lawyer after learning that Griffiths was seriously ill in the hospital.
The text discusses the case of a sub-postmaster named Mr. Griffiths who was pursued by the Post Office for alleged theft and false accounting between 2012 and 2013, totaling £139,000.
The Post Office used faulty Horizon accounting software as evidence.
In July 2015, Mr. Griffiths wrote to the Post Office about a £39,000 shortfall at his branch and was also held responsible for losses from an armed robbery.
The then CEO, Paula Vennells, questioned Mr. Griffiths' mental and family history to be reported to the board.
From 1999 to 2015, the Post Office prosecuted hundreds of sub-postmasters for similar offenses based on the same software.
An email from Alan Bates to Post Office executives contained a statement from Mr. Griffiths' mother that the Post Office was responsible for her son's suicide.
When this email was forwarded to Ms. van den Bogerd, she was advised to hire a media lawyer.
During the inquiry, Ms. van den Bogerd was questioned about the Post Office's initial reaction, which she admitted was not to offer help to the family but instead to focus on hiring a media lawyer.