Day 259 - 10 Jun 96 - Page 67
1
2 But what we cannot do is have witnesses giving a certain
3 part of their evidence and then leaving the witness box to
4 come back when the matter has been argued at some later
5 stage, be it half a day into the future or a day into the
6 future. So, what I suggest is -- Mr. Bishop, is it not,
7 who is -----
8
9 MR. RAMPTON: He is here, my Lord.
10
11 MR. JUSTICE BELL: What I suggest is that Mr. Bishop is called.
12 When we get to cross-examination, I am quite prepared to
13 take stock again at the first moment when any question of
14 yours or Ms. Steel's is objected to.
15
16 But if you do have counsel to argue the point, I think
17 counsel has to be prepared not just to argue the general
18 principles, but the specific situation in relation to your
19 question, which will mean having some information about
20 just what it was that Mr. Bishop was asked when Mr. Rampton
21 took his objection.
22
23 I am not closing my eyes to the very real probability that
24 there will be objection, but I just have to wait and see.
25 Sometimes they are actually solved without great argument
26 on principle. I just want to wait and see.
27
28 MS. STEEL: Can I ask, I did mention about the notes from
29 Mr. Bishop from 17th May, which he refers to in his third
30 statement, and which have not been disclosed at all.
31 Obviously, we want those to be disclosed.
32
33 The other thing, also, is that if the Plaintiffs could
34 please copy overnight -- as I understand it, they have a
35 colour photocopier in their offices -- if they could copy
36 the photographs that were shown for the first time in court
37 this morning?
38
39 MR. JUSTICE BELL: It is 8th May, you say?
40
41 MS. STEEL: 17th May.
42
43 MR. RAMPTON: The reason for that is -- I will just get the
44 papers to see if that can be done -- whether it can be done
45 overnight is not within my power. My Lord, so far as
46 17th May is concerned, the only significance is it was
47 Mr. Bishop's first visit. Your Lordship said the other
48 day, in the ruling on the Defendants' application for leave
49 to serve interrogatories on these questions -- and, with
50 respect, this has been the attitude that I have adopted --
51 meetings which are not attended by Ms. Steel or Mr. Morris
52 and/or at which no question relating to McDonald's arose
53 are not relevant. The only significance of 17th May was
54 that that was his first meeting; that is when his
55 undertaking began. There is nothing in the notes which has
56 any bearing on any issue in the case.
57
58 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Is there any harm in disclosing them?
59
60 MR. RAMPTON: Yes, there is this harm, that I am very resistant,
