Post Office (PO) chief executive Nick Read has claimed he does not need to clear his name following criticism of his leadership over the Horizon scandal.

Read has spent three days, since 9 October, giving evidence at a public inquiry into the Horizon scandal, which has seen him questioned by Sir Wyn Williams.

Read has so far been pressed on investigators working under PO, as well as redress schemes for postmasters.

On the first day of giving evidence, Read claimed he did not feel he needs to clear his name, and that he was told private prosecutions “were presented…as a historic issue that ceased before 2015”, and “not to dig into” details of the Horizon scandal when he first joined the business in 2019.

He also alleged that existing leadership was “part in denial, part in paralysis”, and in denial about the scale of the scandal when he joined the company, adding that it is “disappointing” some branches are still experiencing discrepancies.

NFSP appeals for help in contacting Horizon scandal victims

Addressing serious bugs, errors and defects found in the Horizon system in late 2019, Read added that there were “no urgent calls or panicked discussions” among senior leadership and the board.

Information on current relations with Fujitsu was also revealed, with Read stating that PO remains “suspicious” of the company.

On the second day of giving evidence, Read admitted that it is not appropriate that some that worked at the PO at the height of the Horizon scandal were still employed under the company now, and that PO had “struggled” to “move people on”, despite apparent government encouragement.

Read also claimed to Jason Beer KC that he was confident that no-one from the scandal period remains in investigations or auditing today.

Previous hearings have seen executives claiming Read was “obsessed” with increasing his salary, a topic that he is to be questioned about on 11 October.

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