Fujitsu Boss Apologizes to Former Sub-Postmasters in London Meetings
In a significant development, Paul Patterson, the boss of Fujitsu’s European arm, has personally apologized to former sub-postmasters who were wrongfully accused of stealing. The meetings, held in London, were described by Patterson as “really good conversations” held in private.
During a brief statement to the press following the meetings, Patterson expressed his gratitude to the former sub-postmasters for taking the time to meet with him. He also acknowledged the emotional nature of the discussions, stating, “It’s not for me to get into that now – it was actually quite emotional to hear it.”
When questioned on the delay in meeting with the sub-postmasters, despite promising to do so in January, Patterson explained that it took time to tie up various aspects before the meetings could take place. He reiterated his appreciation for the former sub-postmasters for giving him their time.
This marks the first time that anyone from Fujitsu has met with former sub-postmasters in person since the Post Office scandal came to light. Between 1999 and 2015, more than 700 sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted by the Post Office, with many blaming Fujitsu’s faulty Horizon computer system for the accounting errors. Fujitsu also provided support to the Post Office in its prosecutions.
Julie Beisner, a former sub-postmistress who attended the meetings, shared that Patterson had promised to be “super transparent” going forward. However, she also expressed disappointment, stating, “Fujitsu were part of the problem – Fujitsu is, so far, not part of the solution.”
Beisner added that while Patterson had apologized and expressed his respect for the sub-postmasters, what they needed was positive action. Earlier this year, Fujitsu acknowledged their “moral obligation” to contribute towards compensation for the victims of the Post Office scandal.
During his conversation with Sky News, Patterson reaffirmed this commitment, stating, “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.”
In related developments, Mark Kelly, another former sub-postmaster who was falsely accused of stealing, shared that the apology from Patterson provided some relief. However, he emphasized the need for tangible action and not just words. He also mentioned that future meetings were discussed to explore ways of “moving forward.”
One such suggestion raised by Kelly was for Fujitsu to provide financial support to the children of the victims, not just the sub-postmasters themselves. Albert Harwood, a partner at Howe & Co, the law firm representing the former sub-postmasters since 2013, described the meetings as “positive.”
Harwood added, “It’s a matter of waiting and seeing now – to see if the words are matched by actions. [Patterson] has given the impression that they do have an open mind.” He also noted that the meetings had provided Fujitsu with a different perspective on how to move forward in the future.
