Short Descriptive Notes
ROYAL MAIL — CONFIDENTIAL
Record of Taped Interview
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Person Interviewed
Place of Interview
Date of Interview
Time commenced
Duration of Interview
Interviewing Officer(s)
Other persons present
Katherine Jane McQue
Training Room Kendal Delivery Office 75
StiroklandGate Kendal LAS 4AA
18" June 2009
12.41 hours, Time concluded
0.30 minutes Tape reference no
Stephen Bradshaw Paul Whitaker
Ged McGrath (NFSP) ~ Friend
Exhibit No:
Number of pages:
Signature of interviewing officer producing
exhibit
13.11 hours
071391
Tape counter Person TEXT
times speaking
0.10 Re- Introductions made, Mrs McQue was re-cautioned and reminded of her legal rights.
She confirmed that she wished Mr McGrath were to remain as her Post Office Friend,
Mrs North confirmed that she was not asked any questions during the break between tapes.
1.30 It was said to Mrs North that as the tape was coming to a close, we were talking about the inflation of
the cash on hand. It was established that when Mrs McQue had returned from holiday in August 2008
she had inflated the cash on hand from 20 August 2008 Trading period five to 20 May 2009 Trading
period 01
2.00 Mrs McQue had said that she had not stolen any money but had inflated the cash to cover losses at
the branch
2.10 KMe Yes
2.20 Mrs McQue said that she had kept a record of the losses but she no longer had these records. Mrs
McQue said the inflated cash was spread across the other denominations when declaring the cash.
2.30 KMe Yes I did.
2.40 Mrs McQue admitted that she declared the amount of cash that was shown on the Horizon system as
being held at the branch
Aoyal Mais aang nae of Royal Mal Grou hs Reged numer 3
Registered im Engianc and ses, Registered cfce: 14 Old Soe, LONDON, ECV OHO
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Record of Taped Interview — Continued
Tape counter Person TEXT
times speaking
3.30 It was said that the cash shown on nine Branch Trading Statements had been inflated.
3.30 Mrs McQue was shown $B/7 a Horizon balance snapshot showing that £86,000 was held at the
branch. She was shown SB/4, SB/S5 and SBY/6. It was explained these were cash declarations and she
was asked why the coins and notes had been declared separately.
4.15 Mrs McQue said that this was the way she had been shown to do the cash declarations and explained
that SB/4, SB/5 was the bulk cash figure and SBY6 the cash in the drawer.
6.15 Mrs McQue was asked to explain further the losses at the branch as she had only been inflating the
cash to cover the losses since August 2008. Mrs McQue said that she had losses all the time she did
not know what was causing the losses
7.30 KMc. I haven't taken it and as far as I'm concerned I don't think the staff have.
Mrs McQue had kept the losses to herself and not informed the staff, she thought they were errors and
would come back.
08.45 ‘She had not sought help from either Post Office Ltd or from the National Federation of sub postmasters
and that it was her responsibility to get on with it.
9.45 When asked if the losses had increased or decreased when she employed new staff, replied it was
only a year ago when they started, it has happened at the same time.
10.30 Mrs McQue explained how knew the amount of the loss on a daily basis.
12.50 Mrs McQue when asked denied ever taking money and the shortage is down to incompetence.
13.45 Mrs McQue said that she had not felt 100% with the Horizon system
16.00 Mrs McQue explained what days she worked at the branch and what staff she employed since August
2008.
17.00 Mrs McQue confirmed that there was no password sharing and they only knew their own apart from
the User ID ANY001
17.45 Mrs McQue explained what days of the week the staff worked and the losses were not on any
particular day.
Royal Mala tacng name of Roya Mall Group he, Registered number 4726208 Ragetred im England and Wales. Regist ote: 148 ld Street, LONDON, ECV HO
Verscn 6 0008
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Record of Taped Interview — Continued
Tape counter Person TEXT
times speaking
21.30 Mrs McQue was shown SB/6 again and asked for an explanation when the unusable notes were
£7,000 and unusable coin £227.
21.40 KMc That's was because I was putting some of the money on here, which would include postage as well
Mrs McQue admitted that she had hidden the losses by inflating the cash on hand and by also putting
an amount on the unusable notes and coins.
22.00 Mrs McQue confirmed that she used ANY001 for putting the postage through the system (e-bay for
example) and that it could be anybody in the branch who could be putting the postage through
because they all knew the password.
24.15 Mrs McQue said that when the customer came to pay the postage it would be put through whichever
counter position the customer went to and not necessary ANYOO1
25.15 The interview was summarised.
29.15 Mrs McQue was asked if she still agreed to a voluntary search of her home address.
29.30 Mrs McQue was informed that she might have rendered herself liable to prosecution and given the
second caution. She was then given the opportunity to clarify anything that she had said or add
anything to the interview but she declined the offer.
30.00 Mrs McQue was handed form GS019. All persons present signed the master tape seal 071391 and the
tapes were switched off at 13.11
2 ang ame of Royal all Gout, Registered rumbe! 4138208 Regstored # Englund and Wes Registered ofc 138 OH Sree, LONDON, ECIY OHO
Verscn 6 0008
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Record of Taped Interview — Continued
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Tape counter
times
Person
‘speaking
TEXT
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