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 Office s 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.