Post Office scandal: family compensation scheme created as daughter speaks of trauma
The daughter of a sub-postmaster speaks of the trauma of the Post Office scandal as a new compensation scheme for affected families is created.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The daughter of a former sub-postmaster has spoken of the lasting trauma caused by the Post Office Horizon scandal, as a new compensation scheme for close family members is created.
Becky Armstrong's father, Jono, ran a post office in East Sussex with his wife Sarah. The family later moved to Gloucestershire to start a new life. Jono died last year from a heart attack after years of fighting for compensation. He was caught up in the Horizon scandal, where faulty accounting software made it appear that sub-postmasters owed money.
On the day auditors came to the branch in 2014, Jono attempted to take his own life. Becky later dropped out of university to help the family. She said: "The only way to stop it is to prove that I'm not a thief, right?"
The extent of the scandal was revealed in an ITV drama, and compensation programmes for sub-postmasters have been established. Now a scheme is being created to compensate close family members like Becky and her siblings. Becky expressed concern about the process: "I worry that this process is going to take its time and I worry that they won't be able to put it behind them until it's done."
She described the ripple effect of trauma: "It is this ripple effect of oh I was traumatised, my parents were traumatised, that trauma's not gone and it won't go."
The government said it is committed to continuously improving support and services to postmasters and their families. A Post Office spokesperson apologised and said it is taking part in a restorative justice programme.
Becky said: "Until this is all over I don't think I will be okay. I'm using too many other coping mechanisms that shouldn't be used and I just want justice and I want it to be over."
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| A new compensation scheme is being created for close family members. | |
| Jono Armstrong died last year from a heart attack after years of fighting for compensation. | |
| The Post Office has apologised and is taking part in a restorative justice programme. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The BBC ONE West report centres on the human cost of the scandal through the story of Becky Armstrong and her father. It gives a detailed personal account, including the suicide attempt and the family's struggle, and links it to the new compensation scheme for families. The tone is empathetic and focuses on the emotional impact, while also including official responses.
- “I'm mostly sad because he didn't get to see justice.”
- “It is this ripple effect of oh I was traumatised, my parents were traumatised, that trauma's not gone and it won't go.”
- “Until this is all over I don't think I will be okay.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.