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Bradshaw told the inquiry that he denied the allegation that he had lied and said he was not “technically minded” and therefore did not know whether there were bugs in the Horizon system.
The inquiry heard a statement by Jacqueline McDonald who made the claims against Bradshaw and other investigators during a probe into her alleged £50,000 shortfall.
McDonald pleaded guilty to theft after an audit found there had been a shortfall of over £94,000. In her interview with Mr Bradshaw, Ms McDonald was accused by the investigator of telling him a “pack of lies”.
The counsel to the inquiry Julian Blake said the witness’s words sounded “somewhat like language you might see in a 1970s television detective show”.
Bradshaw said: “I refute the allegation that I am a liar. I also refute the claim that Jacqueline McDonald was bullied … Ms Jacqueline McDonald is also incorrect in stating Post Office investigators behaved like Mafia gangsters looking to collect their bounty with the threats and lies.”
Bradshaw said his investigations had been conducted in a “professional” manner.
Prime minister Rishi Sunak is now being urged to end Fujitsu’s government contracts, following his announcement that hundreds of postmasters would have convictions overturned under new emergency legislation.
Justice secretary Alex Chalk said the IT giant should repay the compensation if it is found culpable at the inquiry.
