Post Office scandal: Daughter of victim, who was investigated as she fought cancer, calls on Fujitsu for compensation

The daughter of a Post Office victim who was investigated while fighting terminal cancer says it’s time Fujitsu “took responsibility” on compensation.

Katie Watson’s mother Fiona passed away in 2004 less than a year after being forced to admit to stealing from her branch.

During the investigation she was diagnosed with lymphoma.

Ms Watson described it as “cold” and “heartless” to carry on with investigating her mother instead of giving her “a chance” to rest.

“Even if it was a case of ‘go through your treatment and we deal with this on the other side’, there was none of that,” she told Sky News.

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Ms Watson added: “If she had been able to fight it properly then she may have had a bit longer… she declined really quickly…she just couldn’t do it anymore.”

IT company Fujitsu developed the faulty accounting software Horizon – which saw hundreds of sub postmasters wrongfully accused of stealing from their Post Offices between 1999 and 2015.

Ms Watson is part of a campaign group called Lost Chances which was set up after Fujitsu said it was “morally obligated” to help victims and their families in January.

Paul Patterson, Fujitsu’s European head, spoke at the Post Office inquiry saying he would “engage” in conversation with sub postmasters and relatives.

He also appeared at a select committee in the same month admitting that the company had a “moral obligation” to contribute towards compensation.

Ms Watson said: “It’s time (Fujitsu) took responsibility and meant it…so far as yet there’s been no action behind it – [Paul Patterson] actually needs to do something.”

Mr Patterson met with sub postmasters and the children of Post Office scandal victims in August.

At the time he spoke to Sky News stating that Fujitsu “will contribute to redress” but that the company’s “common position” was “when the inquiry finishes”.

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The last phase of the inquiry is now drawing to a close – with final submissions held in December.

At his last appearance at the inquiry earlier this month Mr Patterson insisted that the company still “want to engage” but he was “still unclear” on how to help relatives of victims “other than sums of money”.

He promised not to “stay silent” and would explore if Fujitsu is able to “engage” with Lost Chances “before the end of the calendar year”.

The campaign group say their aim is not necessarily just about financial redress but also getting support from Fujitsu in other ways such as establishing a “family fund” to help with things like educational grants and counselling.

After the death of her mother Ms Watson said she was forced to get her first job at 14 years old to “help put food on the table” after her family lost everything.

“We ended up in a caravan – but the caravan site you could only be there for nine months of the year so for three months we were homeless,” she continued.

She added: “I didn’t end up going to college. I missed out on those opportunities – to go to school and have all that childhood.”

Ms Watson now works two jobs, seven days a week.

She said she would “never get back what we lost” but just wanted Fujitsu “to take ownership”.

A Post Office spokesperson said: “We apologise unreservedly to victims of the Horizon IT Scandal and their loved ones.

“Post Office today is doing all we can to transform the organisation for the future and support those impacted to find closure, as far as that can ever be possible.”