Day 248 - 13 May 96 - Page 18


     
     1   Q.   Whether it be discussion verbally or discussion in writing?
     2        A.  I do not accept that, he responded to an article
     3        fulfilling out the details which were inaccurate in his
     4        mind, and I would support that.
     5
     6   Q.   The reality is, Mr. Preston, is it not, that your company
     7        just lies and misleads journalists left right and centre to
     8        suit your own ends?
     9        A.  No, I do not accept that.  It is not true and I resent
    10        it.
    11
    12   MR. MORRIS:  Can you turn to tab No 4 in that file; is that
    13        'libel action background briefing'?
    14        A.  Yes.
    15
    16   Q.   Is it dated 11-94 at the back?
    17        A.  Yes.
    18
    19   Q.   That is after the case started, of course?
    20        A.  Yes.
    21
    22   Q.   And there you have it on page 2 of that document.  You have
    23        what McDonald's says the issues are, and their response
    24        about basically how, do you not?  So, the Company is
    25        responding publicly about all the issues in the case?
    26        A.  The first line on the paragraph it refers to the
    27        London Greenpeace leaflet, the leaflet states that
    28        McDonald's does a list of things, this list goes on to say
    29        we are going to say the opposite and will demonstrate in
    30        court that the company is quite the opposite of what you
    31        say in the first 8 items.
    32
    33   Q.   Yes.  You have put down your case comprehensively to the
    34        media of exactly what you are saying McDonald's is doing,
    35        so you have continuously dealt publicly with the issues in
    36        the case?
    37        A.  No, we have not.  We have responded to requests for
    38        information from others, we have not done anything other
    39        than that, and certainly I would be hard pressed to call
    40        this comprehensive given the length of this case.
    41
    42   Q.   Virtually all of those things, you say, are disputed in
    43        this case are they not?
    44        A.  That is a matter for the evidence.
    45
    46   Q.   That is right.  So, if that material has been put out by
    47        the Corporation then myself and Helen and anybody else is
    48        entitled to put over what they think the facts are, are
    49        they not, in response to that?
    50        A.  I am sorry, you lost me there. 
    51 
    52   Q.   Maybe that is a matter of argument. 
    53
    54   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, I think it probably is.
    55
    56   MR. MORRIS:  You can put that file away now.  Thank you very
    57        much.
    58
    59   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Put it on one side, please, Mr. Preston.
    60

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