Anorexia, bankruptcy, suicide – how the Horizon IT system ruined lives
This Is Why
Sky News
4.0 • 552 Ratings
🗓️ 8 July 2025
⏱️ 17 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The inquiry's chair, Sir Wyn Williams, has found that at least 13 postmasters may have taken their own lives after being accused of wrongdoing based on evidence from the Horizon IT system which both the Post Office and its maker, Fujitsu, knew could be false.
In today's episode Niall Paterson speaks to our business correspondent Paul Kelso about just how damning these findings are and also to former postmistress Janet Skinner who was sent to prison after wrongly being accused of stealing £59,000.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.
Producer: Soila Apparicio
Editor: Wendy Parker
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Evening, John. |
| 0:12.0 | For terraced properties with unusually big back gardens, |
| 0:19.0 | with the UK's largest choice of homes, |
| 0:21.6 | if the outdoorsy Dixon's can find it, so can you. |
| 0:25.5 | Right Move. Believe it. |
| 0:27.5 | Verify at rightmove.coma. UK slash claims. |
| 0:30.1 | Thanks for the key deliverables, David. |
| 0:32.1 | Now, who'd like to... |
| 0:33.8 | Stay out all night! |
| 0:35.6 | Yoohoo! |
| 0:37.0 | That's brilliant. |
| 0:37.9 | So, okay, sales targets. |
| 0:40.2 | Are we hitting it? |
| 0:41.2 | The dance floor. |
| 0:42.4 | Honey time! |
| 0:43.5 | Woohoo! |
| 0:45.0 | There's more than one you. |
| 0:46.4 | And with Specsavers 2 for 1, you can choose glasses for at least two use from 70 pounds with standard single vision lenses. |
| 0:53.6 | Nice moves, David! |
| 0:55.5 | Book an appointment at specksavers.co.uk, conditions apply. |
| 1:01.5 | Coming up on the Sky News Daily with me, Neil Patterson, the latest in the post office horizon |
| 1:06.2 | IT scandal. At least 13 people may have taken their own lives after allegations of theft and fraud |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Sky News, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Sky News and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.