The daughter of a post office victim who was investigated while battling terminal cancer says it’s time for Fujitsu to “take responsibility” for compensation.
Katie Watson’s mother Fiona died in 2004, less than a year after she was forced to admit stealing from her branch.
During the investigation, he was diagnosed with lymphoma.
Ms Watson described it as “cold” and “heartless” to continue investigating her mother instead of giving her “a chance” to rest.
“Even if it was ‘keep up with your treatment and we’ll take care of it on the other side’, there’s none of that,” she told Sky News.
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Ms Watson added: “If she had been able to fight it off properly she might have had a little more time… she declined very quickly… she just couldn’t take it anymore. »
Katie’s mother died of cancer after being falsely accused of stealing from the Post Office
IT company Fujitsu developed faulty Horizon accounting software – which saw hundreds of sub-postmasters wrongly accused of theft of their post offices between 1999 and 2015.
Ms Watson is part of a campaign group called Lost Chances, set up after Fujitsu said it was ‘morally obligated’ to help victims and their families in January.
Fiiona Watson (left) died before her innocence was established. Photo: Document to distribute to the family
Paul Patterson, Fujitsu’s European director, spoke out at the Post Office inquiry saying he would “initiate” a conversation with sub-postmasters and their loved ones.
He also appeared before a select committee the same month, admitting the company had a “moral obligation” to contribute to compensation.
Ms Watson said: “It’s time for (Fujitsu) to take responsibility and mean it… so far there has been no action behind this – (Paul Patterson) actually needs to do something. »
Mr. Patterson met with deputy postmasters and the children of victims of the Post Office scandal in August.
At the time he spoke to Sky News saying that Fujitsu “will help remedy the situation” but that the company’s “common position” was “when the investigation is complete.”
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The final phase of the investigation is now drawing to a close – with final findings expected in December.
During his last appearance at the inquest earlier this month, Mr Patterson insisted the company “still wanted to engage” but was “still unclear” on how to help relatives of the victims “otherwise than through sums of money”.
He promised not to “remain silent” and would explore whether Fujitsu was able to “engage” with Lost Chances “before the end of the calendar year”.
The campaign group says its aim is not necessarily just financial redress, but also to gain support from Fujitsu in other ways, such as setting up a “family fund” to help with things like scholarships and advice.
After her mother died, Ms Watson said she was forced to get her first job at 14 to “help put food on the table” after her family lost everything.
“We ended up in a caravan – but on the caravan site you could only be there nine months a year, so for three months we were homeless,” she continued.
She added: “I didn’t end up going to university. I missed those opportunities: going to school and experiencing that whole 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 apologize unreservedly to the victims of the Horizon IT scandal and their loved ones.
“Today, Swiss Post is doing everything in its power to transform the organization for the future and to help those affected find the solution, wherever possible. »