The Post Office has agreed to compensate more than 500 former subpostmasters wrongfully convicted in the Horizon scandal – after bungling officials accidentally leaked their names and addresses on its website.
In a staggering data breach, the Mail revealed last June how 555 Post Office victims had their personal details published on the company’s website.
It was described as an insult to injury by those whose lives have already been ruined by being falsely accused of stealing in Britain’s biggest ever miscarriage of justice.
The 555 former postmasters whose home addresses have been published were among the group involved in bringing High Court class litigation against the Post Office in 2019.
Hundreds of innocents were bankrupted, jailed or driven to suicide after being wrongly accused of plundering their own tills between 1999 and 2015, when money appearing to be ‘missing’ from their branch accounts was really down to an IT glitch.
According to the BBC, the individuals whose personal details were leaked will be compensated in what could cost the Post Office up to £2.8million.
In a statement provided to the public broadcaster, the Post Office said victims would receive £5,000 or £3,500, depending on whether the address published last year was current, although higher claims may still be pursued.
The statement said: ‘We have written to all named individuals either directly, or via their solicitors.
This is a redacted version of the document containing personal details which was published in full in June last year
Former subpostmaster Sir Alan Bates who has long led the campaign to get justice for those affected by the Post Office scandal
Former Post Office subpostmasters celebrate after 42 of the victims were cleared in April 2021
‘If there are any individuals whose name was impacted by last year’s breach, but who have not received information about the payment for some reason, they can contact us or ask their solicitors if they have legal representation.’
Chris Head, the youngest former subpostmaster, told MailOnline he ‘welcomed’ the compensation, but added: ‘It’s taken far too long.’
The 37-year-old told MailOnline: ‘It was brought into the spotlight by the media in June 2024 – and nearly a year later it’s only being resolved now.
‘You just can’t believe what the Post Office would make such a basic mistake.
‘When we are talking about a confidential settlement agreement made out of court, that should never have made public, especially around such a sensitive topic.
‘If we are looking on why it had such an impact, based on the original scandal and the further impact, I don’t think Post Office realised the level of impact it had.
‘This is not just an ordinary breach, this was on top of what people have been through over the last 25 years – all suffered at the hands of the Post Office.’
Mr Head said an initial offer from the Post Office, which included a lower figure and did not cover all 555 victims, showed they ‘did not think it was that serious’.
He added: ‘After everything the subpostmasters have been through, they just haven’t understood the level of impact. People have been in a lot of distress and anxiety and it’s so much on top of everything that has happened.
Chris Head (pictured), the youngest former subpostmaster, told MailOnline he ‘welcomed’ the compensation, but added: ‘It’s taken far too long.’
‘I have to hope they will finally learn their lesson this time. But only time will tell.’
Speaking about whether victims will be content with the new offer, Mr Head said: ‘I think in the context of things, for some people it will be fair and sufficient.
‘But for others, there will be further harm – especially those who have had severe mental health problems, people who have young families children, elderly people.
‘Some people have upgraded security or cut short holidays because their addresses were leaked – they may be entitled to more.’
Law firm Freeths told the BBC 348 clients who had their data breached had already received payment.
Lawyer Will Richmond-Coggan said: ‘We welcome the progress we have made with this case, but there is still a long way to go to recognise the devastating impact of this breach for those affected.’
More than 900 sub-postmasters were prosecuted for stealing because of false information from the Horizon IT system.
Hundreds are still awaiting compensation despite the previous government announcing that those who have had convictions quashed are eligible for £600,000 payouts.
The Post Office has paid out roughly £438million to 3,100 claimants.
A Post Office spokesperson said: ‘Post Office can confirm that it has agreed to pay individuals whose names appeared in last year’s data breach either £5,000 or £3,500, depending on whether the individual was also living at the address at that time.
‘Post Office has confirmed that it will consider any special cases if any individuals consider they are entitled to further amounts.
‘We have written to all named individuals either directly, or via their solicitors. If there are any individuals whose name was impacted by last year’s breach, but who have not received information about the payment for some reason, they can contact us or ask their solicitors if they have legal representation.
‘In the meantime we remain in full cooperation with the ICO’s investigation which was opened following our initial self-referral when the breach was discovered.’
