TELL ME WHY

Post Office scandal widow's plea for answers

- HOLLIE BONE

THE wife of a sub-postmaster who died before he could clear his name in the Horizon IT scandal wants ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells to explain why it happened.

Marion Holmes, 82, says husband Peter was destroyed by the false allegations that he stole £46,000 from the branch he was managing.

He died of a brain tumour, still tormented by the court conviction that he never deserved.

Starting today, former Post Office chief executive Ms Vennells is due to be quizzed for three days as part of the inquiry into the Horizon scandal.

Marion said: "I want to be able to look her in the eye and see what she's thinking.

"I think I'll be angry more than anything. I just want to know why.

"I want to know why it all happened. Was it for profit? Was it ignorance? I'd find that hard."

Retired Anglican priest Ms Vennells, 65, held the top job at the Post Office from 2012 to 2019.