From Misery to Honor: Betty Brown's Inspiring Fight for Justice Amidst the Post Office Scandal

Betty Brown, the oldest surviving victim of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, has been honored with the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her relentless fight for justice and the recognition of the numerous victims affected by wrongful prosecutions. At 92 years old, Betty operated the Annfield Plain Post Office alongside her late husband Oswall since 1985. However, their thriving business was devastated in 2003 when they were compelled to cover non-existent financial shortfalls, ultimately costing them over £50,000 in personal savings.

In a recent interview with BBC Breakfast, Betty expressed that she accepted the OBE not just for herself, but on behalf of all victims of the scandal, stating, “Every one of them should have an OBE for what they put us through.” The Horizon IT system was responsible for the wrongful prosecutions of over 900 sub-postmasters, leading to what many consider one of the worst miscarriages of justice in UK history, impacting thousands beyond just those who faced prosecution.

Describing the mismanagement and pain caused by the scandal, Betty shared that it had “absolutely destroyed my whole life” but expressed being “honoured and humbled” to finally see her pain recognized by the system after 26 years. In 2025, she received a long-awaited financial settlement from the government, remarking on the slowness of justice, stating, “pity they took so long”.

The Horizon inquiry has brought to light the severe human impact of the scandal, prompting the government to acknowledge its failures, with over £1.3bn paid out to more than 10,000 victims. The Post Office has publicly offered an unreserved apology for their actions, while Betty’s relentless pursuit for justice stands as a testament to the resilience of the …