Mr Bates Vs The Post Office: The Brutal Aftermath of a Scandal That Saw Dozens Die Without Justice

The Shocking Miscarriage of Justice

The Post Office scandal is widely considered to be one of the most shocking miscarriages of justice in UK history. Hundreds of sub-postmasters had their lives ruined when computer system glitches led them to be wrongly accused of theft, false accounting, and fraud.

A Harrowing Story Retold

This week, the ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office is retelling the harrowing story of the scandal. Viewers have been left appalled and astonished as the drama traces the events back to 1999 when the Post Office introduced the accounting system Horizon, and follows the lives that were ruined in its wake.

The Devastating Toll

Between 1999 and 2015, more than 700 sub-postmasters were prosecuted based on information provided by Horizon. It was later discovered that the system had "bugs, errors, and defects." The victims were forced into bankruptcy, had to pay substantial sums out of their own pockets, sold their homes, and some even served time in prison.

A Campaign for Justice

Alan Bates, one of the sub-postmasters who was wronged, led a campaign to highlight the miscarriage of justice. In 2019, the High Court ruled in their favor and found that Horizon was "not robust." The Post Office was ordered to pay out more than £58 million. However, justice didn't come fast enough for some, including four sub-postmasters who tragically took their own lives and 33 others who died.

The Stories of Tragedy

Alan Bates, portrayed by Toby Jones in the series, and his wife Suzanne used their life's savings to buy a Post Office branch in 1998. Their lives were turned upside down when they discovered issues with the accounting system and eventually lost their investment.

Lee and Lisa Castleton lost their business and home as a result of the scandal. Lee was forced to declare bankruptcy and the family faced extreme financial struggles.

Jo Hamilton wrongly believed that accounting discrepancies were her own mistakes and paid off large sums with her own money. She ended up losing her shop and had to work as a cleaner.

Seema Misra was wrongly imprisoned while pregnant and spent four months in prison. Her time behind bars was described as horrendous and she feared for her life and the life of her baby.

Martin Griffiths took his own life after being wrongly accused of stealing from his branch. His family believes that the faulty computer system was responsible for his death.

Peter Huxham served time in prison and struggled with alcoholism and mental health issues. He tragically took his own life in 2020.

Fiona McGowan spiraled into a deep depression after being accused of false accounting. She died from an overdose in 2009 while awaiting trial.

Julian Wilson took a plea deal and was sentenced to community service. The stress of the situation contributed to his death from bowel cancer in 2016.

Continuing the Fight for Justice

The Post Office scandal had a devastating impact on the lives of sub-postmasters and their families. Many continue to fight for justice, determined to clear their names and seek redress for the injustices they suffered.