Day 307 - 27 Nov 96 - Page 27


     
     1        things.  I will have a quick look to see if I can see
     2        anything else that clearly refers to McDonald's press
     3        release.
     4
     5   MS. STEEL:   I cannot remember which article it was, but I do
     6        remember one article in there which said that it had
     7        interviewed both myself and Mr. Morris and I never actually
     8        spoke to them.  So, I am just really making the point that
     9        it is not safe to infer that, because our names are
    10        mentioned in articles, we must have spoken to them.
    11
    12   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.
    13
    14   MS. STEEL:   Just about the publication by the support campaign
    15        and other people, another point is that we are not in
    16        control of what everybody else does.  Supporters choose
    17        their own actions and whilst, you know, we could perhaps
    18        have some influence if we became aware of something which
    19        we viewed as incorrect that we have not written and we
    20        could then ask them to alter it, in reality, we have no
    21        power or control over anybody to force them to alter what
    22        they have written.  I mean, we would hope that they would
    23        respect our wishes if we were aware of something that was
    24        incorrect.  But, in any event, there are many times when we
    25        are not aware of matters until after they have been
    26        published and, therefore, you know, we cannot be
    27        responsible for each and everything published about this
    28        case or about McDonald's.
    29
    30        I mean, the same point relates to paragraph 4, about it was
    31        to be inferred that we were responsible for computer
    32        postings.  In actual fact, at the stage of this pleading
    33        and the press releases, I knew absolutely nothing about the
    34        Internet and E Mail, and things like that.  Basically,
    35        there is no evidence that we are responsible.
    36
    37   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   Were you going to say anything about (4), or
    38        have you really covered that?
    39
    40   MS. STEEL:   Which (4)?
    41
    42   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Little (4) at the bottom of page 7, which is
    43        the last of these assertions.
    44
    45   MS. STEEL:   I just said, that is the same as the others.  There
    46        is no reason to infer that we were responsible.  McDonald's
    47        have not brought any evidence to show any act to connect us
    48        to those postings.
    49
    50        Going on to page 8, the numbering system is really 
    51        confusing under this.  This is then big (4), under the 
    52        particulars which started on page 4. 
    53
    54   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.
    55
    56   MS. STEEL:   McDonald's say: "In the premises the Defendants
    57        have intentionally or recklessly or caused to be
    58        published", and so on.  I do not know if I am reading this
    59        wrong, but that seems to imply that (4) is following on
    60        from number (3).  Well, (1), (2) and (3).  I do not know if

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