Day 115 - 06 Apr 95 - Page 45
1 Q. It says -- it was 11th August 1993 -- "Mr. John Bruton was
2 employed as a poultry catcher with Sun Valley Poultry from
3 23rd November 1987 until 10th June 1993. Whilst in our
4 employment his work and attendance was good. Yours
5 faithfully, Stewart Rhoney, Operations Manager". Is that
6 correct, is that the reference you were given?
7 A. Yes, at that time I was dismissed Stewart Rhoney was
8 not the operations manager. There was a man called Geoff
9 Boule.
10
11 Q. So this was written by the manager?
12 A. They was just on the change over. Like, Friday of this
13 week when I was sacked, Jeff Boule was in charge of the
14 catching operation and Stewart Rhoney started on the
15 Monday.
16
17 MS. STEEL: No further questions.
18
19 Cross-Examined by Mr. Rampton Q.C.
20
21 Q. Mr. Bruton, did you ever kick birds to get them out of the
22 way to make room for the crates or whatever they are?
23 A. Yes, I did.
24
25 Q. Did you ever pick them up by the wings or the neck?
26 A. Yes, I did.
27
28 Q. You know that kind of behaviour was directly contrary to
29 the company's instructions, do you not?
30 A. Not really, sir, no.
31
32 Q. You do not? I apologise for this question but it is
33 something the Defendants told us earlier. Can you read?
34 A. Not very well.
35
36 Q. Not very well. When you took your job at Sun Valley, was
37 it explained to you that birds must not be held or
38 supported by their wings, neck or tail?
39 A. No.
40
41 Q. It was not. Was it explained to you that loading too many
42 birds in a crate causes the factory problems?
43 A. Yes.
44
45 Q. Was it explained to that it is the responsibility of every
46 catcher to ensure that no bird is trapped in the module?
47 A. No.
48
49 Q. Was it explained to you that smothering birds causes loss
50 to the grower, loss to the foreman's bonus and contravenes
51 the Bird Welfare Act?
52 A. Of birds being smothered, yes.
53
54 Q. Was it explained to you that anyone mistreating birds must
55 be sent back to Hereford and his supervisor informed?
56 A. No.
57
58 Q. It was not? You were never sent back to Hereford for your
59 mistreatment of the birds?
60 A. No.
