Revealed: The human impact of the Post Office scandal

The girl of a Post Office unfortunate has told Sky News she suffered "dark thoughts of suicide" successful the years aft her parent was accused of stealing.

Kate Burrows was 14 years aged erstwhile her mother, Elaine Hood, was prosecuted and subsequently convicted successful 2003.

The archetypal nationalist enquiry study connected the Post Office - examining redress and the "human impact" of the scandal - is owed to beryllium published today.

"I've suffered with panic attacks from astir 14, 15 years old, and I inactive person them to this day," Kate said.

"I've been successful and retired of therapy for what feels similar astir of my big beingness and it perfectly categorically goes backmost to [what happened]."

Kate, on with others, helped acceptable up the foundation Lost Chances, supporting the children of Post Office victims. She hopes the enquiry volition recognise their suffering.

"It's important that our voices are heard," she said. "Not lone wrong the report, but successful instrumentality actually.

"And past possibly that would beryllium a deterrent for immoderate aboriginal cover-ups, that it's not conscionable the 1 idiosyncratic it's the full household [affected]."

Her sister, Rebecca Richards, who was 18 erstwhile their parent was accused, described however an eating upset "escalated" aft what happened.

"When my mum was going done everything, my lone power of that concern was what nutrient I enactment successful my body," she said.

She besides said that seeing her parent astatine tribunal erstwhile she was convicted, would "stay with maine forever".

"The 2 investigators were sat successful beforehand of my dada and I, sniggering and saying 'we've got this one'.

"To ticker my mum successful the docks handcuffed to a guard... not knowing if she was going to beryllium coming home... that is the astir standout representation for me."

The sisters are hoping the enquiry findings volition propulsion Fujitsu into fulfilling a committedness they made astir a twelvemonth agone - to effort and assistance the children of victims.

Last summer, Kate met with the European brag of the company, Paul Patterson, who said helium would look astatine ways they could enactment Lost Chances.

Despite appearing astatine the enquiry successful November past twelvemonth and saying helium would not "stay silent" connected the issue, Kate said determination has been small question successful presumption of support.

"It's precise overmuch a enactment of 'we're going to hold until the extremity of the enquiry study to decide'," she said.

"But Mr Patterson met america successful person, looked america successful the eye, and we shared the astir profoundly idiosyncratic stories and helium said we volition bash something... they request to marque a difference."

Fujitsu, who developed the faulty Horizon software, has said it is successful discussions with the authorities regarding a publication to compensation.

The enquiry volition delve successful item into redress schemes, of which 4 exist, 3 controlled by the authorities and 1 by the Post Office.

Victims of the ungraded accidental they are hoping Sir Wyn Williams, seat of the inquiry, volition urge that the authorities and the Post Office are removed from the redress schemes arsenic thousands inactive hold for afloat and just redress.

A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said they were "grateful" for the inquiry's work, describing "the immeasurable suffering" victims endured and saying the authorities has "quadrupled the full magnitude paid to affected postmasters", with much than £1bn having present been paid to thousands of claimants.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed oregon suicidal tin telephone Samaritans for assistance connected 116 123 oregon email jo@samaritans.org successful the UK. In the US, telephone the Samaritans subdivision successful your country oregon 1 (800) 273-TALK