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From: Tom WechslerI
Sent: Thur 29/01/2015
1PM (UTC)
To: Alisdair Cai
OfFarrellf
Cc: ,
J; Angela Van-Den-
Subject: RE: Mediation Scheme
Just discussed with Paula. She is not available on Monday in any event but she should not have met them then
anyway.
I'd suggest we do not commit to a meeting until after we have seen what they do on Tuesday. I’d simply reply along
the lines that “Paula is not available on Monday and you'll get back to them with what might be possible shortly”.
Tom
Tom Wechsler
From: Alisdair Cameron
Sent: 29 January 2015 18:19
To: Avene O'Farrell
Cc: Patrick Bourke; Tom Wechsler; Mark R Davies; Jane Hill; Angela Van-Den-Bogerd; Chris Aujard
Subject: Re: Mediation Scheme
My feelings are
1) we have to listen
2) in replying we should say that we are keen to see any evidence they have to support these concerns and hope they
will be rigorous in distinguishing between where they do and don't have it
There is then the question of Monday. My feeling is that meeting Monday may let them feel they can be more explicit
on Tuesday. Either route can backfire but I would be tempted to offer dates later in the week.
Al
Sent from my iPhone
On 29 Jan 2015, at 18:09, Avene O'Farrell
P wrote:
Dear all,
Please see below email from Ron at Second Sight, which Paula has yet to see. Any views on how we
respond would be helpful.
Many thanks,
Avene
Avene O'Farrell I Executive Assistant to Paula Vennells, Chief Executive
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148 Old Street, London, EC1V 9HQ
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postoffice.co.uk
@postofficenews
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From: Ron Warmington [mailto?
Sent: 29 January 2015 18:00
To: Paula Vennells
Cc: 'Ian Henderson’; cwh@.._ GRO}
Subject: Mediation Scheme
Paula,
Thank you for your email of 28 January. We appreciate your
confirmation that direct lines of communication between us remain
open.
We are about two thirds of the way through writing our Case Review
Reports. In carrying out the in-depth case investigations, both Post
Office and Second Sight have learned a great deal about the way that
Post Office and its Subpostmasters have interacted and how the
system has been operating.
Insofar as the Mediation process is concerned, we have noted the
increasing influence of your legal team, including its impact on the
wording of Post Office's Investigation Reports (POIRs) and on answers
to associated questions.
Whilst we have always said that the time to draw and communicate
conclusions will arrive only when we have finished our examination of
the last POIR, and we have not yet quite reached that point, we would
indeed like to take up your invitation to provide you with our comments
and thoughts on the work that we have done so far. Possible points for
discussion include:
+ whether the Horizon system suffered from systemic flaws and
whether it was sufficiently error-repellent;
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+ the failure to properly investigate cases that were subsequently
prosecuted;
« whether there have been any miscarriages of justice;
* concern about the operation of Post Office's Suspense Account
and the possibility that Post Office may have benefitted from
amounts charged to Subpostmasters;
+ why matters seem to have worsened, for some Subpostmasters,
after 2009 and 2010;
« why certain products and services seem to have been the main
cause of problems for Subpostmasters;
« whether the training provided to Subpostmasters, both initially,
and on migration to Horizon and then to HOL, was adequate;
« why some Subpostmasters got in such a muddle and felt that
they then had no option other than to falsify their branch's
books; and
« the consequences of Subpostmasters ‘inheriting’ staff where
Post Office had information relating to possible poor
performance or misconduct.
Ian and I will be at Old Street at 2:00 pm on Monday 2 February for a
meeting with your new Finance Director in regard to Post Office's
Suspense Account so perhaps you would like us to meet you that
afternoon and discuss these matters?
With kind regards,
Ron.
Ron Warmington CFE, FCA
Managing Director
Second Sight support Services Ltd
Tythe Farm
Maugersbury
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Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL54 1HR
CONFIDENTIALITY: This email and any attachments are confidential and may also be privileged. If you are not the
intended recipient, please notify me at rw@ ind delete the email and any attachments.
From: Avene O'Farrell [mailto: On Behalf Of Paula Vennells
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2015 4:04 PM
Subject: Mediation Scheme
Dear Ron,
I hope you are well. I thought I would drop you a line as we are as we have come to the end of our
investigations here and ahead of the Select Committee next week. Whilst I see no particular reason for
us to speak, I just wanted to reiterate that lines of communication are open, should you need to speak to
me.
Best wishes,
Paula
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