‘I do wonder what kind of god you worship,’ ex-subpostmaster emailed to Vennells
Tim McCormack tried to warn the Post Office about the Horizon system.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A former subpostmaster who tried to warn the Post Office about the Horizon IT system emailed Paula Vennells when she was chief executive, saying: “I do wonder what kind of god you worship”.
In 2015, Tim McCormack wrote to Ms Vennells, an ordained priest, warning her that he had “clear and unquestionable evidence of an intermittent bug in Horizon that can and does cause thousands of pounds in losses to subpostmasters”.
The email was forwarded to Post Office lawyer Rodric Williams, who told colleagues that they should ask Mr McCormack to send them the information and also suggested they reply with a standard response, the Horizon IT inquiry heard.
You are a complete bunch of idiots playing havoc with the lives of people you have little interest in
“Generally, my view is that this guy is a bluffer, who keeps expecting us to march to his tune,” Mr Williams wrote in an email to colleagues.
“I don’t think we should do that, but instead respond with a straight bat.”
Giving evidence at the inquiry, Ms Vennells denied sharing the view that Mr McCormack was a bluffer but said she did not recall what she did about the subpostmaster’s email.
The probe heard Mr McCormack sent another message to Ms Vennells in July 2016, saying: “A typical head in the sand reply from the team you have placed too much trust in.
“Once the police investigation is completed it is highly likely, indeed probable, that members of your staff will be sent to prison.
“Your role in this will not escape attention.”
He added: “I do wonder what kind of god you worship.”
Mr McCormack sent a follow-up email in August 2016, in which he told of the “very same” computer error occurring in another branch and said: “You are a complete bunch of idiots playing havoc with the lives of people you have little interest in.”
Asked if she refused to engage with Mr McCormack after this email, Ms Vennells told the inquiry: “I don’t believe so but I think by this stage… Rod Williams had taken on the responses, which I am very sorry about, on behalf of the Post Office.”
She also said during her evidence she regrets that concerns raised by Mr McCormack “took too long to address”.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.