Fujitsu boss tells Sky News of ’emotional’ first face-to-face meetings with Post Office victims
The boss of Fujitsu’s European arm has apologised in person to former sub-postmasters.
Speaking following the meetings in London, Paul Patterson told Sky News he was “really grateful for their time”.
He described “a really good conversation” held in private.
“It’s not for me to get into that now – it was actually quite emotional to hear it,” he said.
When pushed on why it had taken seven months to meet them despite promising to back in January he replied: “It’s taken a little bit of time because I was trying to tie up a number of things together which we couldn’t quite do in the time frame.
“I’m very grateful to them for giving me the time today.”
It’s the first time anyone from the company has met with former sub-postmasters in person since hundreds were wrongfully accused of stealing.
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More than 700 were prosecuted by the Post Office between 1999 and 2015.
Fujitsu developed the faulty Horizon computer system responsible for erroneous shortfalls in accounting.
They also supported the Post Office in its prosecutions of sub-postmasters.
Julie Beisner, a former sub-postmistress who met with Mr Patterson said he told her he would be “super transparent” going forward.
“There was a lot of listening and writing,” she said, “but Fujitsu were part of the problem – Fujitsu is, so far, not part of the solution.”
“He did apologise, he said he had great regard for the postmasters – he apologised – but they are empty words, what we need is positive action.”
Earlier this year, Fujitsu admitted it had a “moral obligation” to contribute towards compensation for victims.
Mr Patterson told Sky News: “We made that comment in January, that we will contribute to redress.
“And we will do that. Our current position is that’s when the inquiry finishes.”
Mark Kelly, another former sub-postmaster who was wrongly accused of stealing, said Mr Patterson’s apology “did give some relief”, but he also wants to see action.
He said that future possible meetings were talked about to discuss ways of “moving forward”.
In particular, Mr Kelly said he had raised the idea of Fujitsu giving money to help the children of victims, not just sub-postmasters.
Albert Harwood, partner at Howe & Co which has been representing former sub-postmasters since 2013, said the meetings seemed “positive”.
“It’s a matter of waiting and seeing now – to see if the words are matched by actions,” he said.
“[Mr Patterson] has given the impression that they do have an open mind.
“This was an opportunity for Fujitsu to meet with sub-postmasters and it’s given them a different perspective on where they now go in the future.”