Day 276 - 09 Jul 96 - Page 41


     
     1   Q.   You brought up about the witness statements being served
     2        which the plaintiffs claimed once we received their witness
     3        statements in this case we would realise that the whole
     4        fact sheet is untrue.  If you cast your mind back to that
     5        period when there was an exchange of witness statements, I
     6        think it was the summer of 1993, can you remember what our
     7        reaction was at this time?  Were we disappointed,
     8        downhearted, or exhilarated or what?  Did we feel we had a
     9        substantial case, did we feel we had --
    10        A.  I remember being exhausted.  But I do remember feeling
    11        that, you know, we had a good case and that we had managed
    12        to get about 70 witness statements, despite the fact that
    13        we had only had three weeks to get them in.  And I think
    14        that we both felt that that was a reflection of how willing
    15        people were to come forward to defend the criticisms that
    16        had been made.
    17
    18             Obviously, they were not the people making the
    19        criticisms in terms of being the leaflet.  But in terms of
    20        sort of exworkers criticising the pay and the conditions,
    21        and in terms of nutritionalists talking about the links
    22        between diet and ill health for example, that yes, that if
    23        we had managed to get that many statements in just three
    24        weeks then clearly, you know, it was obvious that we had a
    25        good case.
    26
    27             It was not like we had to sort of rummage around
    28        and scrape the bottom of the barrel to, you know, in
    29        desperation and take ages trying to drag somebody out of a
    30        hat or something like that.  These were people who were
    31        willing to come forward and it was not that hard to find
    32        them.
    33
    34   Q.   Since that time, as the case has now started and
    35        progressed, listening to the evidence in the case, has it
    36        confirmed or undermined your -- or how, when we have
    37        discussed the matters, have we felt confirmed or undermined
    38        in our belief in the truth of the fact sheet?
    39        A.  I personally am convinced that the criticisms made of
    40        McDonald's are true.  And every time I have ever discussed
    41        it with you, you have given every indication that that is
    42        your view as well.
    43
    44   Q.   But listening to the evidence in the case, have we felt
    45        that we have -- have our beliefs been strengthened or
    46        weakened as a result of hearing the evidence in the last
    47        270 days?
    48        A.  Strengthened.
    49
    50   Q.   Moving away from that for a minute, you said that you would
    51        have, regarding the allegation that I was somehow involved
    52        in the production of the fact sheet complained of, that you
    53        would have known if I had been involved because at that
    54        time we were living in the same house in Tottenham?
    55        A.  Well.
    56
    57   Q.   Why would you have known?  Would I have kept it secret or
    58        what?
    59        A.  I actually said that at the time we were living in the
    60        same house in Tottenham and that I did not see any

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