Day 001 - 28 Jun 94 - Page 29
1
2 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes.
3 MR. RAMPTON: May I give your Lordship some other reference?
Without wading through the material, there is a very large
4 number of recent documents to similar effect mainly
emanating or have been published at the instigation and
5 with the co-operation of the defendants. My Lord, those
references in pink bundle 1B are 122, 132, 155, 159, 171,
6 175, 178 and 179, the second page, where there is an
odious comparison by the defendants between McDonald's and
7 the late Mr. Robert Maxwell.
8 My Lord, there is one document in this bundle which
I should wish to draw to your Lordship's attention. I can
9 do that before the adjournment. It is at tab 95 of pink
bundle 1B.
10
MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes.
11
MR. RAMPTON: This is a document headed: "Greenpeace (London)
12 5 Caledonian London" and so on. Somebody has helpfully
dated it September 1991. "Dear friends". Your Lordship
13 will remember, I told your Lordship earlier, the other
three defendants to the original writ had shown the white
14 flag and settled by January 1991. In fact, settlement was
on 2nd December 1990, so by this date in September 1991
15 there are only two defendants left, that is, the two
defendants who are here in court.
16
"Dear friends", it reads, "enclosed are a number of
17 leaflets including one about the McLibel Support Campaign
set up to support the two people who are being taken to
18 court by McDonald's for alleged libel". Your Lordship sees
there the reference to the two people: "On 16th October
19 it is the Annual World Day of Action against McDonald's.
We are calling on all groups to organise a picket or
20 demonstration on or around that date outside their local
McDonald's. It is vital that as many groups as possible
21 do this to support the McLibel Two and to show McDonald's
that the World Wide Campaign against them will continue
22 despite their efforts to stifle free speech. The next
hearing in the McLibel case is on November 6th. This is
23 an important procedural hearing. The actual case will not
be heard for at least a year."
24
One might smile wryly at that when one looks at the date
25 now. "In the meantime, the two people being sued have the
case hanging over them. The McLibel Support Campaign has
26 organised a march through London on November 9th to demand
that McDonald's drop the case and stop this intimidation.
27 We call on everyone to attend the march and bring all your
friends to show support to the multinational companies and
28 others. Stop using oppressive laws against people who
expose their dirty business and to fight for free speech
29 and of course to oppose McDonald's.
30 Also enclosed is a leaflet about McDonald's which we will
be handing out outside their head office on October 16th"
