Sub Postmaster Alan Bates News Today

The 65-year-old businesswoman drew audible gasps from the audience as she gave evidence at the Horizon IT Inquiry into why hundreds of branch managers were wrongly prosecuted.

The ex-chief executive is due to begin her three days of evidence to the Horizon IT inquiry amid claims she covered-up the Post Offices knowledge of bugs in the faulty accounting software.

Ms Vennells broke down again as she was asked about her response to the death of Martin Griffiths, a subpostmaster who died by suicide after walking in front of a bus after being pursued for a shortfall.

The former subpostmaster and campaigner gave his reaction to the shamed former Post Office boss giving evidence today at the Horizon IT public inquiry amid fury about her PR apology.

The shamed former Post Office boss was handed detailed case files for eight subpostmasters in 2013, including one who went to jail and that of Lee Castleton who was made bankrupt.

ITV boss Kevin Lygo has revealed the hit drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office made a loss of around a million pounds despite the show being sold to a host of foreign broadcasters.

The former chief executive had been briefed about allegations concerning the existence of the remote unit at Fujitsus Bracknell headquarters in 2013.

The Commons Business and Trade Committee looks to take action against former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells for potentially misleading Parliament over the Horizon scandal.

During a taped meeting with investigators from Second Sight on July 2 2013, Ms Vennells was informed of the allegations that sub-postmaster branch accounts could be accessed remotely.

The 52-year-old was forced to endure a  prison sentence in 2007 over an alleged shortfall of £59,000 from her Post Office in Hull .