A Post Office Horizon scandal victim finally received an offer of compensation – days after he died.
Terry Walters, 76, was falsely accused over thousands of pounds in supposed losses from his Hockley branch in Stockport in 2007.
Mr Walters died in February after years of ill health, but days later his widow Janet, 68, received a letter making an offer of compensation – far below the amount they had claimed.
Last night, Mrs Walters branded the offer ‘a slap in the face’ and urged the Government to speed up its compensation scheme. ‘To have the Post Office come along and accuse you of doing something – it was devastating and humiliating,’ she said.
‘We’ve lived on promises all this time. Seventeen years out of somebody’s life is a long time.’
Mr Walters was among thousands of Post Office workers blamed for non-existent shortfalls caused by the faulty Horizon computer system.
More than 700 subpostmasters were prosecuted between 1999 and 2015, and thousands more repaid money under threat of legal action. It was later proved that the shortfalls were computer errors after former subpostmaster Sir Alan Bates and 554 others, including Mr Walters, sued the Post Office.
Last year, the Government set up four compensation schemes to repay those affected. It claims £698 million has been paid to more than 4,400 claimants.
Mr Walters died in February after years of ill health, but days later his widow Janet, 68, received a letter making an offer of compensation – far below the amount they had claimed
Mrs Walters branded the offer ‘a slap in the face’ and urged the Government to speed up its compensation scheme
Terry Walters was among thousands of Post Office workers blamed for non-existent shortfalls caused by the faulty Horizon computer system
A Department for Business and Trade spokesman said compensation payments had doubled under the current Government and it was making offers to 89 per cent of those involved in the High Court legal action within 40 days of receiving applications.
But some have complained the system is too slow and complicated, with many elderly victims yet to receive anything.
Mrs Walters is now considering writing to King Charles to seek his intervention, and says she will not scatter her late husband’s ashes until his full compensation is paid – even if it takes several months.
Mr Walters used redundancy money to take over the Hockley Post Office in 2005. He was suspended less than two years later after being accused. He and his wife were then forced to sell their house and had lived in rented homes ever since.
