Sir Wyn Williams announces the death of Gillian Blakey

A leading former sub-postmaster who was wrongly sacked from the Post Office has sadly died before receiving her full compensation.

Transcript

00:00Ladies and gentlemen, it's my sad duty to announce that Mrs. Gillian Blakely, one of

00:06our core participants, passed away last week.

00:11Mrs. Blakely had been the sub-postmaster at Ryeby Post Office in Lincolnshire.

00:19During her period as a sub-postmaster, data from the Horizon system suggested that there

00:26was a substantial shortfall at the branch, and the use of that data in due course led

00:33to Mrs. Blakely's husband David being prosecuted and Mrs. Blakely ceasing to be the sub-postmaster.

00:42Mr. Blakely's conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal Criminal Division in April

00:472001.

00:51Both Mr. and Mrs. Blakely were claimants in the group litigation.

00:57My understanding is that Mrs. Blakely had not received the additional compensation to

01:04which she was entitled under the GLO scheme.

01:08That must be a matter of great regret for all concerned.

01:14On behalf of all the members of the Inquiry team, and on my own behalf, I extend my deepest

01:21sympathies to all Mrs. Blakely's family and friends.

01:26I understand, and if any necessary formalities need to be undertaken, this will be done,

01:32that Mr. Blakely will represent his wife's interests as a core participant during the

01:38remainder of the Inquiry.