Day 253 - 21 May 96 - Page 47
1 which they have pleaded on so slim a foundation.
2
3 MR. JUSTICE BELL: You spoke of answers to 1 and 2. Has
4 Mrs. Brinley-Codd had time to reduce those to writing yet?
5
6 MR. RAMPTON: Well, my Lord, they are the names of the people
7 who -- yes it is in a letter -- names of the people whose
8 witness statements have been served. A letter went to
9 your Lordship on 16th May which was actually last week.
10
11 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Let me just find my correspondence bundle.
12 What is the date?
13
14 MR. RAMPTON: 16th May, I think, my Lord.
15
16 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I have one here of 16th May.
17
18 MR. RAMPTON: Yes.
19
20 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Is there more than one letter of 16th May?
21
22 MR. RAMPTON: My Lord, it is one which begins: "We refer to your
23 letter of 15th May handed to us in court".
24
25 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Let me look again.
26
27 MR. RAMPTON: My Lord, there may be two together, I am told.
28
29 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Was it the one with Mr. Russell and
30 Mr. Clare's additional statements.
31
32 MR. RAMPTON: No, it is not, my Lord. It is not that 16th May.
33 It is a different letter of 16th May. There is a long one
34 of 16th May and a short one, and it is the short one is the
35 one in question. Mr. Glen was given it this morning,
36 I think, my Lord, but I am quite happy to hand up another
37 copy. (Handed)
38
39 What it, in fact, says is this: You have the names of all
40 the inquiry agents, save one. In other words, they have
41 Clare, they have Russell, they have Pocklington, and they
42 have Bishop. They also have, through their own admission
43 ----
44
45 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I have not seen this letter of 16th May. It
46 had not come through to me for some reason.
47
48 MR. RAMPTON: May I ask your Lordship to read it. Your Lordship
49 will see the position I now find myself in.
50
51 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes. (Pause) Can I keep this copy?
52
53 MR. RAMPTON: Yes, my Lord. There is nothing more that we feel
54 that we are obliged to do, so far as that is concerned. If
55 the Defendants cannot make a case on the basis of that
56 information, 6 names, they have got all the so-called
57 pseudonyms, so far as I know. They have got all the dates
58 at which McDonald's matters were discussed at which the 4
59 witnesses we intend to call arose, and if they cannot make
60 a case through themselves and their witnesses on the basis
