I was told he died from an ‘accident’ until the truth came out

A dad suffered a stroke after being ordered to pay GBP65,000 during the Post Office scandal. Pete Murray, 57, started noticing thousands of pounds worth of accounting discrepancies at his Hope Farm Road Post Office in Great Sutton, Wirral[1], after he took over in October 2014. Pete, from Liscard[2], said he was unaware at the time that the man who ran the branch before him[3], Martin Griffiths, was also accused of stealing thousands and had taken his own life.

Pete said Martin's death was referred to as "the accident" at the time - and it was only years later that he discovered what he had been through.

Pete, who also ran the Grove Road Post Office in Wallasey[6] with his wife, told the ECHO: "I was told the sub-postmaster had died when I was arranging the take over of the retail section with his mother. "She referred to it as 'the accident' as other people did as well.

Obviously she didn't want to talk about her own son's suicide." The scandal was brought back into the spotlight this month by the ITV[7] drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office. Pete said: "I watched the dramatic re-enactment of Martin Griffiths thinking that could have been me.

That is the branch I worked in after him." Between 1999 and 2015, the Post Office prosecuted[8] 736 sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses, based on faulty information from Horizon, a piece of accounting software that indicated money had gone missing. After 20 years, campaigners won a legal battle to have their cases reconsidered.

To date, only 93 people have had their convictions overturned.

"I told them there's no way I can't trust my staff"

Pete was never prosecuted but he was accused of stealing and suspended in November 2018, at which time he was ordered to pay back GBP65,000. The dad-of-three said he repeatedly called the Post Office for help and was told "don't trust your staff". He said: "Some days there would be GBP2,000 missing from the system, then GBP5,000, then another day it would be GBP8,000.

This would just happen completely randomly. I was just told I had to pay back the loss out of my income. "They would just take my card details over the phone.

They tell you you're the only one going through this and that it's not happened to anyone else. "I was borrowing from family and friends and from the retail itself. I was ringing every department.

They'd say 'I can't help you, you've got to pay it.' "I said 'look me and my staff members are willing to show our bank accounts to show there's nothing untoward'. They said 'we're not interested in that, we don't do that.'"

One day an auditor was sent out to the Hope Farm Road branch, but Pete said they didn't even look through his paperwork or the Horizon system.

Pete said: "I told them there's no way I can't trust [my staff] they work alongside me. I know they're brilliant at what they do. They suspended me from both Post Offices that I still had outgoings over but I had no income."

"I was a physical, emotional wreck by then"

Pete had a nervous breakdown and suffered a stroke after he was suspended in November 2018, which he said was caused by the stress of the situation.

For years he paid GBP1,000 a month to the Post Office, despite telling them he had done nothing wrong. In 2019, two High Court trials found the Post Office was wrong to force sub-postmasters to pay for discrepancies which were ultimately caused by errors in the Horizon computer system. Pete was not part of the group legal action but he received compensation from the Post Office in 2021.

Mental health support

Helplines and support groups

The following are helplines and support networks for people to talk to, mostly listed on the NHS Choices website[9]

• Samaritans[10] (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you're feeling, or if you're worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at [email protected][11].
• CALM[12] Campaign Against Living Miserably (0800 58 58 58) is a leading movement against suicide. It runs a UK helpline and webchat[13] from 5pm to midnight 365 days a year for anyone who has hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support.
• PANDAS[14] (0808 1961 776) runs a free helpline and offers a support service for people who may be suffering with perinatal mental illness, including prenatal (antenatal) and postnatal depression plus support for their family or network.
• Childline[15] (0800 1111) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK.

  Calls are free and the number won't show up on your phone bill.

• PAPYRUS[16] (0800 068 41 41) is an organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.
• Mind[17] (0300 123 3393) is a charity providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
• Students Against Depression[18] is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts.
• Bullying UK[19] is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying.

• Amparo provides emotional and practical support for anyone who has been affected by a suicide. This includes dealing with police and coroners; helping with media enquiries; preparing for and attending an inquest and helping to access other, appropriate, local support services.

  Call 0330 088 9255 or visit www.amparo.org.uk[20] for more details.

• Hub of Hope[21] is the UK's most comprehensive national mental health support database. Download the free app, visit hubofhope.co.uk[22] or text HOPE to 85258 to find relevant services near you.
• Young Persons Advisory Service - Providing mental health and emotional wellbeing services for Liverpool's children, young people and families. tel: 0151 707 1025 email: [email protected][23][24]
• Paul's Place - providing free counselling and group sessions to anyone living in Merseyside who has lost a family member or friend to suicide. Tel: 0151 226 0696 or email: [email protected][25][26]

• The Martin Gallier Project - offering face to face support for individuals considering suicide and their families.

  Opening hours 9.30-16.30, 7 days a week. Tel: 0151 644 0294 email: [email protected][27][28]

• James' Place - supports men over 18 who are experiencing a suicidal crisis by providing quick access to therapy and support. Call 0151 303 5757 from Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 5.30pm or visit https://www.jamesplace.org.uk/[29][30]

He was allowed to return to work following his suspension but later decided to sell both Post Offices.

Pete said: "I was a physical, emotional wreck by then. I was the owner of the business - the general public thought the closure of the offices was my fault. "Things are a lot brighter now.

I'm working in the travel industry, I'm happy again. I've got a distraction. For years inbetween I've been an emotional wreck often, and the silliest thing can make my cry for no reason.

"I have dark days when I hide away and when I don't want to see anyone." Pete now suffers from PTSD and has been referred to a psychiatrist. The dad-of-three said he won't have closure until all of the auditors and Post Office staff involved in the scandal are prosecuted. A public inquiry into the scandal is ongoing.

A Post Office spokesperson said: "We fully share the aims of the current Public Inquiry, set up to get to the truth of what happened in the past and accountability. We are deeply aware of the human cost of the scandal and are doing all we can to right the wrongs of the past, as far as that is possible. "Both Post Office and Government are committed to providing full, fair and final compensation for the people affected.

To date, offers of more than GBP138 million have been made to around 2,700 Postmasters, the majority of which have been agreed and paid. Interim payments continue to be made in other cases which have not yet been resolved." Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here[31]

Win an incredible airport experience and flights to your chosen destination with Liverpool John Lennon Airport [32]

References

1. ^ Wirral (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
2. ^ Liscard (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
3. ^ the man who ran the branch before him (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
4. ^ School evacuated over mysterious 'weird smell' (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
5. ^ Murder arrest as missing woman found dead in house (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
6. ^ Wallasey (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
7. ^ ITV (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
8. ^ Post Office prosecuted (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
9. ^ NHS Choices website (www.nhs.uk)
10. ^ Samaritans (www.samaritans.org)
11. ^ [email protected] (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
12. ^ CALM (www.thecalmzone.net)
13. ^ webchat (www.thecalmzone.net)
14. ^ PANDAS (pandasfoundation.org.uk)
15. ^ Childline (www.childline.org.uk)
16. ^ PAPYRUS (www.papyrus-uk.org)
17. ^ Mind (www.mind.org.uk)
18. ^ Students Against Depression (studentsagainstdepression.org)
19. ^ Bullying UK (www.bullying.co.uk)
20. ^ www.amparo.org.uk (www.amparo.org.uk)
21. ^ Hub of Hope (www.hubofhope.co.uk)
22. ^ hubofhope.co.uk (www.hubofhope.co.uk)
23. ^ Young Persons Advisory Service (www.ypas.org.uk)
24. ^ [email protected] (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
25. ^ Paul's Place (beaconcounsellingtrust.co.uk)
26. ^ [email protected] (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
27. ^ The Martin Gallier Project (www.gallierhouse.co.uk)
28. ^ [email protected] (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
29. ^ James' Place (www.jamesplace.org.uk)
30. ^ https://www.jamesplace.org.uk/ (www.jamesplace.org.uk)
31. ^ Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
32. ^ Win an incredible airport experience and flights to your chosen destination with Liverpool John Lennon Airport (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)