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Ladybbird · 27-04-24, 09:14

Post Office Chief Who Made Postmasters' Widow Sign NDA’ Gives Evidence

Post Office boss ‘made family sign NDA for £140k after sub-postmaster took own life’

Boss Paula Vennells only wanted to pay sub-postmasters ‘token’ compensation, inquiry hears

The Telegraph 27 APR 2024

Horizon IT Inquiry: LYING Former Post Office executive says she never ‘knowingly did anything wrong’

A former Post Office boss Paula Vennells tried to silence the family of a sub-postmaster who took his own life by offering them a £140,000 settlement.

Gina Griffiths, the widow of Martin Griffiths during an interview with BBC

Angela van den Bogerd made the offer to the widow of Martin Griffiths, the sub-postmaster who stepped in front of a bus and died in 2013 after years of being pursued for shortfalls in his branch accounts.

The public inquiry into the Horizon scandal yesterday heard how the former top Post Office executive offered Gina Griffiths, his grieving widow a £140,000 settlement on the condition she and her family sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and drop their claims against the organisation.

The agreement also stated that the payments would be made incrementally “as an incentive to Mrs Griffiths maintaining confidentiality”, the inquiry was told.

Mr Griffiths’ daughter Lauren subsequently wrote to Ms van den Bogerd describing the offer as “simply disgusting” and saying she holds the Post Office “solely and wholly responsible” for her father’s death.

The revelation emerged while Ms van den Bogerd, who held various senior roles over her 35-year career at the organisation, was giving evidence for a second day at the inquiry.

Angela van den Bogerd, who was a senior director at the Post Office, gave evidence for a second day at the inquiry - UNPIXS

Jason Beer KC, the lead counsel for the inquiry, accused her of using the money as a way of keeping the Griffiths family “hushed up”.

“You ensured that there was an NDA attached to that settlement, you agreed to the staging of payments to act as an incentive and used money as a tool to keep the matter hushed up,” Mr Beer said.

“This is about the Post Office staging payments to act as an incentive to hold a ‘Sword of Damocles’ hanging above her [Gina’s] head- you do not get any money unless you keep quiet.”

Ms van den Bogerd said facilitating the payment to Mrs Griffiths had been her “primary concern” at the time and “it was never to keep it hushed up”.

Questioned on why she had attached an NDA to the settlement agreement with Mrs Griffiths, she told the inquiry that was the “standard approach”.

The inquiry continues.

27-04-24, 09:14	#11
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,804 Thanks: 27,675 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	Horizon Post Office Scandal: Chief MADE Postmasters' Widow Sign NDA Post Office Chief Who Made Postmasters' Widow Sign NDA’ Gives Evidence Post Office boss ‘made family sign NDA for £140k after sub-postmaster took own life’ Boss Paula Vennells only wanted to pay sub-postmasters ‘token’ compensation, inquiry hears The Telegraph 27 APR 2024 Horizon IT Inquiry: LYING Former Post Office executive says she never ‘knowingly did anything wrong’ A former Post Office boss Paula Vennells tried to silence the family of a sub-postmaster who took his own life by offering them a £140,000 settlement. Gina Griffiths, the widow of Martin Griffiths during an interview with BBC Angela van den Bogerd made the offer to the widow of Martin Griffiths, the sub-postmaster who stepped in front of a bus and died in 2013 after years of being pursued for shortfalls in his branch accounts. The public inquiry into the Horizon scandal yesterday heard how the former top Post Office executive offered Gina Griffiths, his grieving widow a £140,000 settlement on the condition she and her family sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and drop their claims against the organisation. The agreement also stated that the payments would be made incrementally “as an incentive to Mrs Griffiths maintaining confidentiality”, the inquiry was told. Mr Griffiths’ daughter Lauren subsequently wrote to Ms van den Bogerd describing the offer as “simply disgusting” and saying she holds the Post Office “solely and wholly responsible” for her father’s death. The revelation emerged while Ms van den Bogerd, who held various senior roles over her 35-year career at the organisation, was giving evidence for a second day at the inquiry. Angela van den Bogerd, who was a senior director at the Post Office, gave evidence for a second day at the inquiry - UNPIXS Jason Beer KC, the lead counsel for the inquiry, accused her of using the money as a way of keeping the Griffiths family “hushed up”. “You ensured that there was an NDA attached to that settlement, you agreed to the staging of payments to act as an incentive and used money as a tool to keep the matter hushed up,” Mr Beer said. “This is about the Post Office staging payments to act as an incentive to hold a ‘Sword of Damocles’ hanging above her [Gina’s] head- you do not get any money unless you keep quiet.” Ms van den Bogerd said facilitating the payment to Mrs Griffiths had been her “primary concern” at the time and “it was never to keep it hushed up”. Questioned on why she had attached an NDA to the settlement agreement with Mrs Griffiths, she told the inquiry that was the “standard approach”. The inquiry continues.