Day 248 - 13 May 96 - Page 50
1 may find it helpful.
2
3 Re-examined by MR. RAMPTON QC
4
5 MR. RAMPTON: Mr. Preston, do you have your supplementary
6 statement, the one about the counterclaim?
7 A. I do.
8
9 Q. Do you have appendix 3?
10 A. I do.
11
12 Q. Is the first document in that appendix headed "McLibel
13 Support Campaign Summary, January 1994"?
14 A. It is, yes.
15
16 Q. Do you see the third paragraph which, I think, begins
17 (although it is obliterated in my copy), "Over the years";
18 do you see that?
19 A. I see it.
20
21 Q. Do you see the last sentence of that third paragraph, yes?
22 A. Yes.
23
24 Q. "A detailed six sided fact sheet, 'What's Wrong with
25 McDonald's? Everything they don't want you to know' is
26 produced and translated and taken out in dozens of
27 countries". So far as you are concerned, is the leaflet
28 complained of in this case a fact sheet or not?
29 A. I think it is quite the opposite. It is not truthful
30 at all.
31
32 Q. Then do you see the fifth paragraph?
33 A. I do.
34
35 Q. "Libel laws exist to protect the interests of the rich and
36 powerful. The laws and court procedures are extremely
37 complex and unless you are represented or have legal advice
38 you stand virtually no chance of being able to defend a
39 case. The costs of legal representation is hugely
40 expensive and no legal aid is available to fight the libel
41 cases.
42
43 "It is for these reasons that people apologise for what
44 they have said, not because it was untrue. The purpose of
45 libel law is not, as we are told, to uphold the truth but
46 rather to ensure that critics are wealthy people and
47 powerful organisations are silenced". Do you see that?
48 A. I do see it.
49
50 Q. So far as that may be thought to bear upon your reasons for
51 bringing this action, what comment do you have?
52 A. I came here for one reason and one reason alone: To
53 establish the truth.
54
55 Q. That is all we need. Then the next heading, "The McLibel
56 Case" -- this case, in other words: "Despite McDonald's
57 efforts, the grass root campaign continued to grow. In
58 September 1990, after having sent spies to
59 London Greenpeace meetings and events, individuals
60 connected to the group had writs served on them alleging
