Dr Kay Linnell, who works alongside her business partner, Barbara Jeremiah, and the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance (JFSA) has been instrumental in uncovering systemic flaws and advocating for restitution in the Horizon scandal.
The 70-year-old has now been recognised with the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
Speaking candidly about the honour, she told the Gazette that she is delighted about the recognition, but she is still concerned that the victims have not got their money back.
Dr Kay Linnell (Image: Supplied) READ MORE: Here are the people who have made the New Year’s Honours list 2024
“It’s really a recognition of the struggle of the group, rather than me personally,” Dr Linnett said.
“We still haven’t got the money back that was wrongly taken, and it’s just a matter of keeping going until everyone’s got the money and redress they need.”
A story of technology failures and managerial oversight, the Horizon scandal saw hundreds of sub-postmasters wrongly accused of theft, fraud, and false accounting due to errors in the Post Office’s Horizon IT system.
Dr Linnell, a qualified Chartered Accountant and an expert in financial investigations, played a key role in bringing these injustices to light.
Her involvement with the case began with Jo Hamilton, a former sub-postmistress from South Warnborough, who suffered devastating shortfalls attributed to Horizon.
Barbara Jeremiah, a friend and business partner, initially spearheaded efforts to support Jo.
Since 2012, Dr Linnell and Ms Jeremiah have worked alongside the investigative team Second Sight and Sir Alan Bates, founder of the JFSA.
But despite the New Year’s honour, Dr Linnell shared the frustrations of prolonged legal battles and unresolved compensation.
“Alan Bates, Jo Hamilton, and all of us have been working towards this for years,” she said.
“They’re just still waiting for the outcome, which is a shame.”
Dr Linnell’s career is distinguished by her expertise in fraud and tax inquiries, having served as chief investigating accountant for HMRC and as a forensic director at BDO, a global business advisory firm.
While humbled by the honour recognising her work, Dr Linnell spoke about the collective effort behind the cause.
“It’s the group, the justice for postmasters, that really is being recognised,” she said.
“It’s always nice to be acknowledged. But I think it’d be nicer if everyone got the money back. The struggle must go on until then.”