Day 001 - 28 Jun 94 - Page 30
1 -- my Lord, that leaflet is at page 293 of the same
bundle -- "which we will be handing out outside their head
2 office on October 16th. Feel free to use it to make your
own leaflet for your local picket. Everything in the
3 leaflet is true and is based on books, articles and
research. However, it does contain statements similar to
4 those McDonald's are suing us over, such as those about
exploitation and workers, being anti-Union, the poor
5 nutritional value of their food, the torture and murder of
animals and the destruction of rainforests for cattle
6 ranching, wastage of paper for packaging", etc. etc.
7 "We stand by everything said in the leaflet. We urge
others to do the same and to refuse to bow to
8 intimidation. If you are very worried different leaflets
are obtainable from Veggie Catering Company" - and I will
9 not give the address or telephone number - "costs £9 per
thousand plus £3 for postage and packing. These leaflets
10 were made after threats by McDonald's. Since the
amendments were made we have received no further
11 complaints by McDonald's although the leaflet does contain
similar material to that which McDonald's are suing us
12 over. You could try writing your own, whichever you feel
most happy handing out. It does not matter. The
13 important thing is that the campaign against them [that is
McDonald's] Continues. We will not be intimidated by
14 multinationals or others in power. They only make people
more angry, more determined to oppose their practices".
15
My Lord, this document your Lordship may easily conclude,
16 was written by the defendants. They are the "we" and the
"us" who are the only defendants left in the libel action
17 at this stage. They have reasserted the truth of the
words complained of; they have admitted what they have
18 since published contains a similar statement about
McDonald's. Perhaps one could leave the publication at
19 that.
20 My Lord, perhaps also one can say this. Then, my Lord,
after the adjournment I will go briefly to the defence and
21 counterclaim, then take your Lordship not through a
summary of the evidence but merely an indication of what
22 we see the important issues to be. I will only say this,
that having seen those few documents to which I have
23 referred your Lordship, your Lordship might be persuaded
(as the plaintiffs contend) there is indeed a pressing
24 need for the fact to be recognised in public in a public
court in this country.
25
If it be a fact that the defendants' allegations are a
26 tissue of falsehood, there should be an injunction to
restrain their repetition in perpetuity.
27
Would that be a convenient moment?
28
MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes. We will resume at 2 o'clock.
29 (1.00 pm)
30 (Short Adjournment)
