Day 246 - 09 May 96 - Page 22
1 having the freedom to move around. I put it to you that
2 they are untruthful and designed to mislead the Company and
3 that therefore that is another reason why it is
4 inappropriate to call McDonald's an honest company?
5 A. I do not accept that.
6
7 Q. Can I ask you about the next paragraph. It says:
8
9 "We are not seeking to threaten any individual, to prevent
10 free speech or to play big brother."
11
12 That is entirely what you are doing, is it not, Mr.
13 Preston.
14 A. No, I am not. I am here to establish the truth. That
15 is all.
16
17 Q. You have taken no action against individuals?
18 A. Well, there was no choice. London Greenpeace was not
19 an incorporated body. It was against individuals or not do
20 anything at all.
21
22 Q. When you took out the writs, it was against five
23 individuals and basically you threatened them that if they
24 did not apologise, you were going to drag them all the way
25 through the courts?
26 A. I would hardly call that threatening; it is a statement
27 of fact. I have a right to defend McDonald's reputation
28 and I will do so in the face of what I believe, and I hope
29 this court will find, to be libelous statements about it.
30
31 Q. The point is though that you have used the words "any
32 individual" to try and create the impression that it is
33 another organisation that you are taking on and that is
34 incorrect, is it not?
35 A. Ms. Steel, your name, and that of your partner here,
36 have never appeared in any McDonald's literature of: "We
37 are doing something with Ms. Steel or Mr. Morris". We have
38 talked about London Greenpeace. We have talked about the
39 two Defendants. I have genuinely attempted to keep this
40 100 per cent away from a personal level.
41
42 I have served writs on yourselves, or the due process of
43 law has served writs on yourselves, because there was no
44 corporate entity on which to do it. We had no recourse but
45 to serve them on individuals. I did it because I wanted to
46 defend my company, its word and its integrity which I
47 believe to be right.
48
49 I do not believe we do not make mistakes. I believe we do
50 make mistakes. I believe we are capable of standing up and
51 saying we are wrong when we are wrong, but I will not say
52 I am wrong when I am correct.
53
54 Q. This briefing sheet continues:
55
56 "During the trial, we anticipate that there will be
57 demonstrations by London Greenpeace supporters both outside
58 our London restaurants and elsewhere in the country.
59
60 There may Well be some heavy media exposure about the case
