**Family Forced Into Caravan After Mother Wrongly Accused in Post Office Scandal**
For the Watson family, life in a quiet Welsh community once brimmed with hope, friendships and a thriving local business. That was until a catastrophic series of events triggered by a faulty IT system left them destitute and ostracised. Katie Watson, now in her thirties and living in Bridgend, has bravely shared the devastating impact the notorious Post Office Horizon scandal had on her family, a story that mirrors the pain suffered by hundreds across the UK.
Fiona Watson, Katie’s mother, was a beloved subpostmistress in her town during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Awarded Post Office of the Year in 2000, Fiona’s commitment to her community and her work made her an obvious choice when the Post Office looked for branches to pilot its new computer system, Horizon. Tragically, this would prove to be a turning point in the family’s fortunes.
Shortly after adopting the new system, irregularities emerged during an audit. Without warning, Fiona was accused of misappropriating tens of thousands of pounds. She was suspended, forbidden from entering her own Post Office, and instructed to repay the allegedly missing money. Shockingly, during this period of extreme stress and uncertainty, Fiona was also diagnosed with terminal cancer, compounding the family’s ordeal.
Facing mounting accusations and public suspicion, the Watsons made the agonising decision to sell their shop, Post Office and adjoining home to pay the debts. The combination of financial ruin and social stigma forced them to leave their community altogether. With their savings depleted, they ultimately sought shelter in a caravan, where they attempted to rebuild their lives, far from the friends and neighbours who once held them in such high regard.
Katie recounts how her mother, despite always keeping meticulous records and having an unblemished reputation, was offered little chance to defend herself. “Once you’re accused, you’re out,” Katie said. “She didn’t even have the chance to gather evidence or prove her innocence. Locals stopped talking to us, friends faded away. My mother died at 44, never knowing her name would one day be cleared.”
The broader Horizon scandal – which has since been traced back to fundamental flaws in the Fujitsu-developed computer system and the Post Office’s practices – devastated hundreds of families. Sir Wyn Williams, who is heading the official Post Office inquiry, has formally recognised the “very significant suffering” endured by both the subpostmasters and their relatives, recommending a dedicated compensation scheme for children impacted by the disaster.
Katie explains how the repercussions of the scandal didn’t end with her mother’s death. Not only did the family lose their income and home, but she also missed out on a normal adolescence. At just 14, Katie found herself working nights and weekends, trying to support her bereaved father. Her dreams of further education evaporated as she shouldered financial responsibilities far beyond her years.
She reflects, “It’s impossible to overstate the knock-on effects. My education and my childhood were taken away. I’m only now, in adulthood, able to think about studying again, but the opportunities I lost can’t be replaced.” Katie now works both in financial services and as a carer, supporting herself through sheer resilience.
The group Lost Chances, formed by the children of those wrongly accused, has been instrumental in highlighting the secondary impact of the Horizon scandal. Katie Burrows, vice-chair of the organisation and herself a victim’s daughter, stresses the importance of listening to children’s voices: “Katie Watson’s story is heartbreakingly familiar. We must acknowledge the grave, enduring harm this scandal has wrought on families and ensure compensation is both meaningful and timely.”
The Watsons’ tragedy is, unfortunately, not unique. Other families, like that of Alun Lloyd Jones from Llanfarian, experienced similar ruination. Jones, himself previously a county councillor and subpostmaster, paid £20,000 to avoid prosecution for a crime he did not commit. He shares, “It’s a story I’ve heard time and time again. The damage is immense, and support is desperately needed – not only financial compensation but genuine mental health support for the innocent children caught up in this disaster.”
In response to the growing pressure, both the Post Office and Fujitsu have issued public apologies and indicate their willingness to cooperate with recommendations from the ongoing inquiry. Post Office chairman Nigel Railton has personally vowed to expedite compensation and fully address the inquiry’s findings.
Regardless, many families like the Watsons continue to wait for resolution and justice. As Katie says, “The compensation isn’t just about money – it’s about acknowledging what happened to us and ensuring it never happens again. It’s time our voices were truly heard.”
Those wishing to support affected families can do so via Lost Chances, an organisation reliant entirely on fundraising in its mission to secure justice and promote healing for the children and families devastated by the Horizon scandal.