Day 272 - 02 Jul 96 - Page 78
1 1986 and I can remember then there was this definite
2 enthusiasm for it. That was not present in 1990, on my
3 behalf or in the group generally, but the idea was,"yes we
4 will picket McDonald's that day. We will go there, and
5 hand out leaflets".
6
7 Q. I mean?
8 A. That was not in 1990, interestingly, any street
9 theatre, like there was in 89. Just a straightforward
10 demo.
11
12 MR. RAMPTON: Sorry, I keep asking you. You said earlier, may
13 be 20 minutes ago, you remember the phrase "everyone hates
14 McDonald's", which was the same year?
15 A. Yes.
16
17 Q. I cannot remember the exact date, but certainly so far as
18 you were concerned that was right?
19 A. Yes.
20
21 Q. I do not--
22 A. What you have got to understand is at this time was
23 that McDonald's was not at the top of the list of
24 priorities.
25
26 Q. No, no. I understand that?
27 A. We all had our own lives and we all had other important
28 pressing things to do, not least of which was the poll tax
29 which was threatening to send people, you know, to prison
30 and ruin them, you know, and that for me and most other
31 people in the group, was the main campaign of 1990.
32
33 Q. I quite understand that Mr. Gravett, but the idea that
34 somehow or another the presence of the inquiry agents
35 within the group fostered or rekindled a hostility towards
36 McDonald's, which the group might not otherwise feel, is
37 absurd, is it not?
38 A. I do not think it is absurd. I have just explained
39 that the people involved in the group -- we were not, you
40 know, we were not feeling the same towards McDonald's in
41 1990 as we were in 1986. The presence of the inquiry
42 agents I would say had some bearing on it.
43
44 Q. In what sense?
45 A. Well, in the sense that they came to meetings; you
46 know, participated, answered letters, asked questions about
47 McDonald's, helped with stalls, offered to volunteer to do
48 things at the fayre, took part in mail outs, came along on
49 October 16th.
50
51 Q. Right. If I may leave that there Mr. Gravett we will test
52 that in the morning. My Lord, if that is a convenient
53 moment.
54
55 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes, certainly. 10.30 in the morning.
56
57 (The Court adjourned until 10.30 the following day)
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