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An Post investigation underway after Santa letter doesn't reach North Pole

Cue one baffled three-year-old.

THE CAMPBELL FAMILY got a bit of a surprise recently when one of their letters to Santa was returned.

Their three daughters posted their letters this Christmas, and assumed Santa received them all – but one was returned this month due to “insufficient address” the Sunday Times reported yesterday.

The letter in question had been sent by the family’s three-year-old, who luckily had already met Santa in Dundrum and told him what she wanted for Christmas.

An Post has apologised for the mix-up with the letter.

On today’s John Murray Show on RTÉ Radio One, Alan Campbell, the children’s father, said that the family have a Christmas tradition where they dress up and get their photo taken before going to post their letters to Santa.

“We were horrified to get a letter like that back,” said Alan Campbell. The parents told their daughters that sometimes the elves get things mixed up.

“We’re sorry”

Today, An Post were very apologetic about what occurred. In a statement, they said:

We were very upset to learn of this case – it simply should not have happened. It is as simple as that. No excuses. Since learning and discussing the issue in more detail with the child’s father, an investigation has been underway. We have been doing this for so long that it runs with military precision and great attention to detail.

An Post said they take their role in helping Santa Claus reply to children’s letters “very seriously”. This year, An Post helped Santa reply to almost 140,000 letters.

Of their communications with Alan, they said:

We apologised totally for what had happened and offered to do whatever we could to make good the damage done to his daughter’s faith in Santa and Santa letters.

An Post also said they “took immediate action and went to great lengths to speak to him directly so as to get it sorted to his satisfaction and that of his family”.

Read: 9 adorable Santa letters from Irish kids>

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36 Comments
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    Mute Mark Gerard Lochlain
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    Jan 26th 2015, 5:28 PM

    They didn’t have to show or tell the little girl!!!! For Gods sake she’s 3!!!!

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    Mute Jennie Watson
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    Jan 26th 2015, 5:38 PM

    According to other media outlets it thwe 3yo sister who picked up the post in the hall when delivered. Also it was reported that the father did not think that An Post response was good enough.

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    Mute MrsFarrell
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    Jan 26th 2015, 6:28 PM

    That’s what I read, the father was saying they were traumatised and not happy with An Post trying to rectify the situation ….. Hmmmm , sounds like someone is looking for compo …

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    Mute Kane Abel
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    Jan 26th 2015, 7:51 PM

    Anyone hear the radio interview live? It was such a non-story, seriously why the man was ever entertained and listened to in the first place is beyond me – I’d say John Murray sacked his researcher twice afterwards……

    102
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    Mute poisonivy
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    Jan 26th 2015, 8:44 PM

    This while story just screams first world problems. Priorities people, priorities.

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    Mute steve cummins
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    Jan 26th 2015, 5:15 PM

    Has anyone considered that the little girl may have been on the naughty list?

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    Mute Mark Nolan
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    Jan 26th 2015, 4:40 PM

    ‘we were horrified to get a letter like that back’ Jesus Christ, hate to see how worried he’d be about something serious!

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    Mute Garreth OMahony
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    Jan 26th 2015, 4:21 PM

    Fair play to an post for looking into this matter and resolving it takes the family’s satisfaction

    267
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    Mute Matthew Fitzpatrick
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    Jan 26th 2015, 4:37 PM

    Ah yeah, blame the elves… Typical of the endemic Elfism in the public service these days.

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    Mute Rachel Whelan Sheridan
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    Jan 26th 2015, 6:49 PM

    Does no one throw them up the chimney anymore?

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    Mute John Hayes
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    Jan 26th 2015, 7:04 PM

    Is that slang for anal ?

    68
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    Mute steve cummins
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    Jan 26th 2015, 9:54 PM

    It is now.

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    Mute Lorraine Gardiner
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    Jan 26th 2015, 6:43 PM

    Is the father looking for a freebie here?????

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    Mute Exit Stage Left
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    Jan 26th 2015, 6:15 PM

    How is Santa Claus the North Pole insufficient addresses info?

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    Mute Darren Christie
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    Jan 26th 2015, 11:03 PM

    He hardly lives in the middle of a housing estate up there

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    Mute zebedee
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    Jan 26th 2015, 5:40 PM

    It’s Santy…repeat SANTY!

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    Mute Darina Dower Mccabe
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    Jan 26th 2015, 5:54 PM

    This happened to my son also last year, luckily he wasn’t home when the letter came back in the door. I was very disappointed with an post & the fact that numerous people would handle this letter & let it be returned to the child. I left a comment on an post facebook page, but got no reply from them ! I just wanted to let them know that it was bad practice on their part.

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    Mute Hevin Bear Kiggins
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    Jan 26th 2015, 4:18 PM

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHHAAHHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH

    49
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    Mute Emily Elephant
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    Jan 26th 2015, 4:30 PM

    Good point.

    55
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    Mute Hevin Bear Kiggins
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    Jan 26th 2015, 4:35 PM

    Sorry my finger slipped

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    Mute Hevin Bear Kiggins
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    Jan 26th 2015, 5:19 PM

    I’m gay.

    47
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    Mute dj dangermouse
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    Jan 26th 2015, 5:41 PM

    I’m bi.Fancy a pint later?

    93
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    Mute Mark O'Hagan
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    Jan 26th 2015, 9:07 PM

    FFS. Sounds like someone needs to get a grip. He has probably got Joe Duffy lied up tomorrow for an hour’s moaning on Liveline.

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    Mute pandapoints
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    Jan 26th 2015, 4:17 PM

    Bah humbug An Post

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    Mute mrs b
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    Jan 26th 2015, 9:18 PM

    Idiotic. What an insult to those with actual problems that this family were ‘horrified’ by the return of a letter.

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    Mute jack frost
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    Jan 26th 2015, 4:25 PM

    As way of compensation you can have free post for the year..

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    Mute trickytrixster
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    Jan 26th 2015, 4:23 PM

    Union probably wouldn’t allow an extra letter in the mailbag,sets a dangerous precedent

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    Mute metro101
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    Jan 26th 2015, 7:24 PM

    Is it true that Santa files his income tax return by elf assessment?

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    Mute Marko Burns
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    Jan 26th 2015, 4:29 PM

    “But Daddy, why doesn’t Santa have email?

    When I grow up I’m going to go into politics and sell off AnPost to the highest bidder. My revenge will be sweeeeet…..”

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jan 26th 2015, 8:46 PM

    Sometimes at Christmas there is so much post that some gets lost in the system?

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    Mute Jeanette A Mcdonald
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    Jan 26th 2015, 10:44 PM

    You see, had the fairies been in charge this would never have happened. Those damn elves mess up and it gives all us magic folk a bad name. And do not get me started on the leprechauns!!!

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    Mute realgael
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    Jan 27th 2015, 2:41 AM

    are the parents that desperate for attention?

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    Mute John Ward
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    Jan 27th 2015, 12:11 AM

    Bullshit!

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    Mute Anne Casey
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    Jan 27th 2015, 6:01 AM

    Its all about money …

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    Mute Eddie Bulfin
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    Jan 28th 2015, 4:48 PM

    I would buy it, and then work there. With the amount of items sold to the UK and then “lost” by AnPost it must be a highly desirable job and very lucrative.

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