Day 079 - 27 Jan 95 - Page 20


     
     1        for our witness.  It was part of the papers, official
     2        documents, in the settlement she got from McDonald's.  I am
     3        absolutely convinced no-one has had a copy of it.
     4
     5   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Right, very well.  If you are getting a
     6        statement anyway, I suggest you find out about
     7        distribution.
     8
     9   MR. MORRIS (To the witness):  So, McDonald's admit
    10        responsibility for a serious food poisoning outbreak of
    11        E.coli -----
    12
    13   MR. RAMPTON:  My Lord, Mr. Morris has to make it clear -- he may
    14        not understand it -- to the witness, so that the witness
    15        can be fairly treated in the witness box, that that
    16        admission was made for the purposes of these proceedings
    17        and these proceedings only.
    18
    19   MR. MORRIS:  We are in these proceedings, therefore, McDonald's
    20        have admitted responsibility for this food poisoning
    21        outbreak in Preston in 1991 of E.coli, a serious poisonous
    22        bacteria, leading to hospitalisation of a number of
    23        people.  You have discussed it, have you not, with the
    24        world's leaving authority on E.coli, you say, yes?
    25        A.  Yes.
    26
    27   Q.   You have discussed it with people at McDonald's at the
    28        highest level?
    29        A.  Yes.
    30
    31   Q.   You have discussed it, have you, with a wide range of
    32        authoritative officials, other interested parties?
    33        A.  Yes.
    34
    35   Q.   What caused the outbreak?
    36        A.  As far as I am aware, I am privileged to information of
    37        the Department of Health of the Elephant & Castle that
    38        there is a strong suspicion that it was dairy milk of a
    39        local dairy, but that was not -----
    40
    41   Q.   Used by McDonald's?
    42        A.  I do not know whether it was used -- no, it would not
    43        be used by McDonald's because that dairy does not supply
    44        McDonald's.  But, as far as I am concerned, that is
    45        privileged information.
    46
    47   Q.   So McDonald's have admitted responsibility for a food
    48        poisoning incident -----
    49        A.  That is McDonald's responsibility, not mine.  I never
    50        agreed with that. 
    51 
    52   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  That is a fair enough answer.  You may have a 
    53        good point, but I do not see it as a point with this
    54        witness, do you see?  If McDonald's have admitted it, he
    55        disagrees with it.  You may say he is wrong about that, but
    56        that is the stand he has taken.
    57        A.  If I can add to that -----
    58
    59   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  No, do not add anything for the moment unless
    60        you are asked a further question.

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