Day 006 - 05 Jul 94 - Page 36
1 personally?
A. Well, I know the effect he had on my own children.
2
Q. Yes, but I am talking about a large stastical survey.
3 A. Well, I don't think mine are all that unusual.
4 Q. You do not know the effect it has on children?
A. I know the effect it had on my children.
5
6 Q. Apart from your children?
A. I think they're pretty typical kids, or they were when
7 they were of Ronald ----
8 Q. Not in terms of McDonald's, surely not, because their
father has been an important person at McDonald's since
9 the age of 16?
A. I do not want to argue with you about it.
10
MR. JUSTICE BELL: You have opened this up this line of
11 question when there was absolutely no evidence really from
this witness as to effect one way or the other and we have
12 got a section of the case where that is presumably or may
be looked into to some extent.
13
MR. MORRIS: Yes, but Mr. Preston is aware of the motivation of
14 the company in bringing this action and what statements in
the leaflet are defamatory and he represents the corporate
15 view.
16 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes.
17 MR. MORRIS: I am trying to identify it from him so when later
on it comes up, people might say, "Well, I am just doing
18 my job in the company, I am not in charge of the policy"
or something, we can say, you can say, well, you had a
19 chance to speak to Mr. Preston on that who represents the
company policy. Obviously everybody in the company
20 represents company policy to some extent.
21 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I am not going to stop you, but all I
suggest is, if you have a particular point to make then
22 put that to Mr. Preston.
23 MR. MORRIS: Would it be fair to say that although you do not
know what happens with the reports his views will be taken
24 into consideration?
A. I will say it one more time. I am not sure what
25 conversation takes place between he and the local people.
I am sure something must take place, if there was anything
26 they were concerned about I am quite confident corrective
action would be taken, if it was rally serious, it would
27 be brought up further up the hierarchy to regional
managers or chief operating officers or myself- in all my
28 years at McDonald's in Britain I have never ever attended
a breakdown formal after the Ronald appearance discussion
29 with Ronald or other people. I just have not done it.
30 Q. But although you do not know any circumstances, if he did
have a view on something like that you would take it
