The European head of Fujitsu has faced intense scrutiny after he refused to publicly state how much the technology giant should contribute to compensating victims of the Horizon IT scandal.
Patterson's Grilling at the Public Inquiry
Paul Patterson, the director of Fujitsu's European operations, gave evidence to the statutory public inquiry on Monday, 6th January 2026. Under questioning from inquiry counsel Jason Beer KC, Patterson repeatedly declined to name a specific figure his company should pay towards the redress scheme for wronged sub-postmasters.
When pressed, Patterson stated that Fujitsu had a "moral obligation" to contribute to the compensation costs. However, he argued that determining the exact amount was a matter for the government, given the complex history of the contract and the ongoing inquiry. "The responsibility for this miscarriage of justice sits with Fujitsu. We were involved from the start... we did have bugs and errors in the system. We helped the Post Office in their prosecutions of sub-postmasters. For that we are truly sorry," Patterson told the hearing.
A History of Failure and Denial
The scandal, one of the most widespread miscarriages of justice in British legal history, saw over 900 sub-postmasters prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 based on faulty data from Fujitsu's Horizon accounting software. The system, rolled out by the Post Office, created phantom shortfalls in branch accounts.
For years, both the Post Office and Fujitsu denied there were any systemic problems with the IT system, leaving victims to fight alone. Many lost their livelihoods, savings, and reputations, with some imprisoned and others driven to bankruptcy and suicide.
The inquiry heard that Fujitsu staff knew about bugs in the Horizon system as far back as the 1990s. Patterson admitted the company's "moral obligation" to contribute financially, a significant shift from its previous stance, but stopped short of a concrete commitment.
The Mounting Pressure for Financial Justice
The government has already set aside over £1 billion for victim compensation, with the final bill expected to rise significantly. There is now growing political and public pressure for Fujitsu, which earned billions from the Post Office contract, to pay a substantial share.
Patterson's evidence marks a crucial moment in the inquiry, moving beyond an apology to the contentious issue of financial responsibility. His refusal to name a sum is likely to fuel further anger among victims and campaigners who have waited decades for full accountability.
The inquiry continues to examine the roles of all parties involved, including the Post Office, Fujitsu, and government ministers. The final report, expected later in 2026, will shape the final compensation settlements and any potential criminal or civil actions against individuals and the corporations involved.
