POL00248785
POL00248785
From: Mark RaymondI [ GRO i
Sent: Tue 25/04/2017 4:07:22 PM (UTC)
To: Rodric Williams.
MacLeod[,__
Subject: Drumantee Post Office
Hi Jane /Rodric,
Patricia Fegan, PM from the Drumantee Post Office, NI, was sentenced at Newry Crown Court, NI, In relation to
charges of False Accounting and Fraud by Misrepresentation.
Mrs. Fegan pleaded guilty to the offences after the theft offence was dropped through insufficient evidence, having
claimed the discrepancy was due to Horizon.
Prior to sentence the case was put out for the defence to supply documentation to support her claim that fault may
lay with the integrity of Horizon. The Court were later presented with a large amount of documentation relating to
the media coverage on the Horizon issues. The prosecution relied on an email namely “ that Post Office Ltd are
absolutely confident in the integrity of the Horizon system and if any person has any specific issues or complaints
about the system then that/those matters should be raised so that they can be addressed in an appropriate manner.”
Mrs Fegan was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years. At present there appears no interest in
the case with the media in NI.
Our Security Manager in NI, Simon Hutchinson, has now been summoned to attend Court as a POL witness for the
PPS, in the Strangford case on 7‘ June. In light of the Drumantee case, it is highly likely he will be asked by the
defence to make comment on the integrity of Horizon. Could I please ask that consideration be given as to how Simon
should be advised as to a business legal response, if asked questions about Horizon during the proceedings.
Thank you,
Kind regards
Mark
Mark Raymond
Head of Security Operations
& Post Office Limited
Finsbury Dials
20 Finsbury Street
London
EC2Y 9AQ
For Government Security Classifications
OFFICIAL please use:
POL00248785
POL00248785
From: Helen Dickinson
Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2017 3:08 PM
To: Simon I Hutchinson
Cc: Mark Raymond
Subject: RE: Drumantee Post Office - Police Response
Importance: High
Sensitivity: Confidential
Hi Simon,
Sorry Simon, I missed this one.
Yes please and can you please send the green jacket into Chesterfield where it can be archived off. A lenient sentence
but still an excellent result.
Mark, can you please note the comments made by the OIC and pass them on to Rodric and Jane as the press in NI are
usually very vocal on such matters.
Kind regards
® Helen Dickinson
Security Operation Team Leader North
Accredited Financial Investigator
Room GF4, Future Walk
West Bars, Chesterfield, $49 1PF
For Government Security Classifications OFFICIAL please
From: Simon I Hutchinson
Sent: 07 April 2017 11:37
To: Helen Dickinson
Subject: Drumantee Post Office - Police Response
Helen
Please see below e mail from Mandy Campbell, Drumantee Police IO, re conviction and
associated Horizon issue! I take it I should close now?
Regards
Simon
Simon I Hutchinson
Security Manager
Brent House
POL00248785
POL00248785
15 Heron Road
Belfast BT3 9LE
For Government Security
Classifications OFFICIAL please use:
From: mandy.campbellé.
Sent: 06 April 2017 15:48
To: Simon I Hutchinson
Subject: OFFICIAL [PUBLI
Drumantee Post Office
This e-mail has been marked OFFICIAL [PUBLIC];
Hi Simon
I attended Newry Crown Court on Friday 31/03/17 in relation to R v Patricia Fegan, Drumintee Post Office Fraud. As
previously discussed there was insufficient evidence to progress the offence of Theft, however Mrs Fegan submitted a
‘Guilty’ plea in relation to False Accounting and Fraud by False Representation. She always claimed that the
discrepancy of approximately £6000 was down to a fault in the ‘Horizon System’.
The case was listed on 21/03/17 for sentencing but was adjourned as the Judge asked the Defendant to supply
documentation to back-up her claim about the Horizon system and for the Prosecution to supply documentation in
relation to its integrity. On Friday 31/03/17 the Defence team presented the court with an impressive amount of
documentation relating to the media cover about the problems Post Office’s across the UK have experienced with the
system and their unexplained discrepancies etc. Unfortunately we were only able to present one sheet of paper (your
email) which was read out in court. The lack of an official response from Post Office Ltd in relation to this issue did
not go unnoticed.
However, consequently the Defendant was issued with a lenient sentence of 9 months imprisonment suspended for 2
years.
Kind Regards
Mandy Campbell
Detective Constable
Pwi925
From: mandy.campbellf——~
Sent: 21 March 2017 13:44
To: Simon I Hutchinson
Subject: OFFICIAL [PUBLI
Drumantee Post Office
This e-mail has been marked OFFICIAL [PUBLIC];
POL00248785
POL00248785
Thanks Simon
Mandy
From: Simon I Hutchinson [mailto:
Sent: 21 March 2017 12:31
To: CAMPBELL Mandy
Subject: Drumantee Post Office
Mandy
Regarding our recent discussion and in terms of the integrity of the Post Office Horizon
system, I can again confirm that Post Office Ltd are absolutely confident in the integrity of the
Horizon system and if any person has any specific issues or complaints about the system then
that/those matters should be raised so that they can be addressed in an appropriate manor.
Regards
Simon
Simon I Hutchinson
Security Manager
Brent House
15 Heron Road
Belfast BT3 9LE
_GROI
For Government Security
HERR RR A 2K RF AR A 2K RF ARR 2 RF RR FR GRR AR RR a aaa
This email and any attachments are confidential and intended for the addressee only. If you are not the named
recipient, you must not use, disclose, reproduce, copy or distribute the contents of this communication. If you
have received this in error, please contact the sender by reply email and then delete this email from your
system. Any views or opinions expressed within this email are solely those of the sender, unless otherwise
specifically stated.
POST OFFICE LIMITED is registered in England and Wales no 2154540. Registered Office: Finsbury Dials,
20 Finsbury Street, London EC2Y 9AQ.
2H 2 29 F228 FR 2 FARR 2K 2 FARR 2K 2 2 KR 02 2 BK 08 oo aa oR a aa
FSO SI SISI CII SISIOI SIO SISICISICISISISISIOICI I SIGICIGIGIGIICICIEI I I IC I ICR aR aC IR I C3 RoR CCA aR aR I ACS RoR RCAC AC
Any views expressed by the sender of this message are not necessarily those of the Police Service of Northern
Ireland. This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to
POL00248785
POL00248785
whom they are addressed. Internet email is not to be treated as a secure means of communication. PSNI
monitors all internet email activity and content. If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the
sender immediately by using the reply facility in your e-mail software. All e-mails are swept for the presence of
viruses.
JESSE S HICSS SSSR ORICRICHIORIORIOR ISIE EIS I IOI OC SIRI RIORIGRICKIOKIOK IORI IR