Day 098 - 07 Mar 95 - Page 42


     
     1        just those two lines which you have read or more?
     2
     3   MS. STEEL:  Yes, having a second person in attendance.  Has that
     4        always been the practice, to have two people in attendance
     5        during loading and unloading?
     6        A.  I do not know.
     7
     8   Q.   You do not know?
     9
    10   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Can we see what the practicalities are?  The
    11        driver will be one of the persons involved in the
    12        unloading?
    13        A.  Yes.
    14
    15   Q.   So it would need one extra person apart from the driver to
    16        provide two?
    17        A.  That is right.
    18
    19   MS. STEEL:  The reason for that is because it would be dangerous
    20        to have one person there if animals were escaping?
    21        A.  Yes.
    22
    23   Q.   Usually, when the animals are being unloaded do they all
    24        kind of willingly walk to the slaughter pen?
    25        A.  I mean, when they are coming off the lorry, there is a
    26        sort of fencing arrangement that kind of folds out.
    27
    28   Q.   Why is that?
    29        A.  To direct them into the gateway of the pen.
    30
    31   Q.   Because otherwise they might go in the other direction?
    32        A.  Presumably, yes.
    33
    34   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Surely, the ramp goes down?
    35        A.  Yes and there is fencing.
    36
    37   Q.   Do you not then have fencing on each side of the ramp which
    38         ---
    39        A.  Yes, we do.
    40
    41   Q.   -- stops the cattle walking off the edge if there is any
    42        kind of bustle or so on, or could they actually go off the
    43        edge?
    44        A.  The fence would serve both purposes; it would direct
    45        them one way and stop them falling off, sir.
    46
    47   Q.   Would it be fair to say if you are unloading cattle or
    48        loading them, for that matter, if you were on your own, you
    49        would always welcome a second man there, would you?  Is
    50        that fair enough? 
    51        A.  I have never actually done it myself, sir, but I would 
    52        imagine that I would welcome --- 
    53
    54   Q.   You have seen it happen; it can be a bit of a handful?
    55        A.  Yes, pleased to have the help.
    56
    57   MS. STEEL:  Because sometimes they try to escape?
    58        A.  When they are loading them?
    59
    60   Q.   When they are unloading.

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