Day 079 - 27 Jan 95 - Page 20
1 for our witness. It was part of the papers, official
2 documents, in the settlement she got from McDonald's. I am
3 absolutely convinced no-one has had a copy of it.
4
5 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Right, very well. If you are getting a
6 statement anyway, I suggest you find out about
7 distribution.
8
9 MR. MORRIS (To the witness): So, McDonald's admit
10 responsibility for a serious food poisoning outbreak of
11 E.coli -----
12
13 MR. RAMPTON: My Lord, Mr. Morris has to make it clear -- he may
14 not understand it -- to the witness, so that the witness
15 can be fairly treated in the witness box, that that
16 admission was made for the purposes of these proceedings
17 and these proceedings only.
18
19 MR. MORRIS: We are in these proceedings, therefore, McDonald's
20 have admitted responsibility for this food poisoning
21 outbreak in Preston in 1991 of E.coli, a serious poisonous
22 bacteria, leading to hospitalisation of a number of
23 people. You have discussed it, have you not, with the
24 world's leaving authority on E.coli, you say, yes?
25 A. Yes.
26
27 Q. You have discussed it with people at McDonald's at the
28 highest level?
29 A. Yes.
30
31 Q. You have discussed it, have you, with a wide range of
32 authoritative officials, other interested parties?
33 A. Yes.
34
35 Q. What caused the outbreak?
36 A. As far as I am aware, I am privileged to information of
37 the Department of Health of the Elephant & Castle that
38 there is a strong suspicion that it was dairy milk of a
39 local dairy, but that was not -----
40
41 Q. Used by McDonald's?
42 A. I do not know whether it was used -- no, it would not
43 be used by McDonald's because that dairy does not supply
44 McDonald's. But, as far as I am concerned, that is
45 privileged information.
46
47 Q. So McDonald's have admitted responsibility for a food
48 poisoning incident -----
49 A. That is McDonald's responsibility, not mine. I never
50 agreed with that.
51
52 MR. JUSTICE BELL: That is a fair enough answer. You may have a
53 good point, but I do not see it as a point with this
54 witness, do you see? If McDonald's have admitted it, he
55 disagrees with it. You may say he is wrong about that, but
56 that is the stand he has taken.
57 A. If I can add to that -----
58
59 MR. JUSTICE BELL: No, do not add anything for the moment unless
60 you are asked a further question.
