Greenock man's Post Office compensation claim has been lost

Keith Macaldowie, from Greenock, says he's been told that his compensation claim for losses he suffered as a result of the Horizon scandal has been lost, and will have to be submitted all over again.

Keith, whose story first featured in the Tele in May 2022, ran the Angus Road post office in Larkfield for five years until he ended up caught up in one of the UK's biggest ever scandals.

He was one of the 550 sub postmasters who first took on the might of the Post Office, who refused to accept their Horizon computer system was faulty.

After he was forced to walk away in 2011, the 51-year-old ended up on the brink of suicide, and was forced to pay back cash he'd never stolen in the first place in order to stay out of jail.

Keith Macaldowie (Image: George Munro) Keith, through lawyers Howe & Co, the firm who represent the 550, submitted his claim in August, with the new Labour government promising to deal with them in 40 days.

But he’s now been told that the Department of Business and Trade (DBT) has no record of his claim – which meant it had to be re-submitted and further delayed Keith’s hopes of finally being compensated.

The UK Government announced this week that £1.8 billion will be set aside for compensation payouts to Horizon victims.

Keith said: "The only thing I didn't lose was my liberty. They took everything else from me.

"All I want is justice, and the chance to rebuild my life. The compensation would go some way to helping with that. 

READ MORE: Former sub postmaster says he was left feeling suicidal after being falsely accused of theft (May 2022)

"But I am now having to face all the uncertainty again. I feel that the government makes promises and they are all talk, but I will believe it when I see it. "

The scandal hit the wider public consciousness in January through the ITV drama series, Mr Bates Vs The Post Office.

Keith continued: "Since January I have really struggled with flashbacks and the trauma of what we have all went been put through. It’s like it has suddenly hit me all over again.

"I have been in touch with the Inverclyde Royal crisis team. It has been very difficult."

Keith says that he’s been “overwhelmed” by the support of former customers in Larkfield who never stopped believing him.

"I can't thank our former customers enough for sticking by us,” he said.

Keith ran the post office in Angus Road until 2011; the row of shops has since been demolished. (Image: Google Street View) “We loved serving the people of Larkfield. We had the newsagents from 1998 before taking on the post office in 2006. 

"We would do anything for them. I remember going to paint and decorate a wee pensioner's house for him. 

"I met one of my customers recently. She said the Post Office never asked the people of Larkfield what they thought, and that if they did, ‘we would have told them exactly what we thought’."

Keith’s marriage broke down after he lost the post office and tragically his wife passed away last year, leaving Keith a lone parent to his two sons, aged 22 and 18.

Though Keith was part of the 550-strong group led by Alan Bates, now Sir Alan, he never went to one of the village hall meetings organised by the campaigners.

But he says he now plans for that to change.

“For the first time I am able to go to one, to meet all those other people,” he said.

READ MORE: Ex Greenock subpostmaster falsely accused of theft shares his story on TV (February 2024)

“I think it will be good to be with other sub post masters who have been through it, who understand.

“People think it is over now, but it will never be over.

"I have gone to local groups for help, but it doesn't help, really. I feel so isolated."

The DBT apologised for losing details of Keith’s claim.

A spokesman said: “Postmasters have already waited too long for redress and we apologise to Keith that an unacceptable clerical error means his offer has been delayed.

"We’re doing everything we can to expedite his claim, and we will ensure this doesn’t happen again.

“At the end of September, the GLO [group litigation order] scheme had made offers to 269 people. Nearly 80 per cent of them have accepted, and more are still considering, while we are also making 90 per cent of initial offers within 40 working days of receiving completed claims.”

Alan Bates led the sub postmasters' fight for justice - and was knighted in the King's birthday honours list earlier this year for his efforts. (Image: PA) Inverclyde MP Martin McCluskey said: "People like Keith who were affected by the Post Office scandal have waited too long for redress and for compensation for the pain and injustice they have suffered. 

“During the budget on Wednesday the Chancellor committed £1.8 billion to compensate victims of the scandal - the first time that specific funding has been set aside for this. 

“What is now essential is that compensation reaches people as quickly as possible in order to enable people to have some closure on this awful injustice.”