Day 247 - 10 May 96 - Page 64


     
     1        A.  Looks like 'proposal'.
     2
     3   Q.   A protest at the Poole branch of McDonald's on World Food
     4        Day.
     5
     6   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  That paragraph does not really matter, it is
     7        the next one.
     8
     9   MS. STEEL:   A consultant report was quoted which describes
    10        failures with captive bolt methods used to prestun
    11        cattle. "McDonald's Restaurants Limited have asked us to
    12        point out that they do not approve the captive bolt method
    13        and are highly concerned with ethical issues using humane
    14        ways of killing cattle to ensure that the meat is safe to
    15        health.  We are glad to help McDonald's put the record
    16        straight."  So, it appears that they added that final
    17        sentence at the request of McDonald's, the solicitors on
    18        McDonald's behalf.  That third paragraph, which the
    19        newspaper printed, is untrue is it not?
    20        A.  Well, I do not know whether it is or is not.  Did we or
    21        did we not approve of the captive bolt system at the time?
    22
    23   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Well, I think it is a bit unfair when you
    24        have not heard the evidence because the evidence at the
    25        moment is that you did, or I have certainly got room to
    26        infer you did, but I have no evidence at all that the
    27        captive bolt system resulted in one third of the cattle on
    28        whom it was operated standing grievously wounded, nothing
    29        like that.  So, there is nothing to justify that part of
    30        the allegation.  But what is being put to you is whether
    31        that is right or not.  A denial was made of approval of the
    32        use of the captive bolt system when it was clearly being
    33        used in slaughterhouses which provided meat to McKey for
    34        turning into patties?
    35        A.  OK.  I do not know that we ever went so far as to say
    36        to McKey, or they subsequently to slaughterhouses, that we
    37        did or did not approve of what system they used.  I do not
    38        think at the time we were large enough or had enough
    39        influence to tell an abattoir, who deals with hundreds of
    40        customers, whether we are going to dictate what he does in
    41        his plant.  We may have made our views known, and may not
    42        approve of it but...
    43
    44   Q.   There has been no suggestion that you disapproved of it.
    45        That is what is being put to you.
    46
    47   MS. STEEL:   So, are you saying the situation is that at this
    48        time you may have disapproved of the captive bolt pistol
    49        method?
    50        A.  I am not even sure, until we talked about the term in 
    51        this case, I even knew what it was. 
    52 
    53   Q.   But your company presumably would have done.
    54
    55   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Where are we going?
    56
    57   MR. MORRIS:  The solicitors.
    58
    59   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, but why with Mr. Preston?
    60

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