Day 070 - 20 Dec 94 - Page 40


     
     1        been very widely disseminated.  In consequence of that,
     2        a large number of inaccurate, misleading and, one might
     3        argue, damaging reports so far as McDonald's are concerned,
     4        have been published.
     5
     6        I put it quite bluntly:  I do not trust the Defendants with
     7        the identity of a slaughterhouse.  If I have to give it,
     8        I give it, but I give it under protest and with a heartfelt
     9        request that your Lordship impose upon that information the
    10        most stringent, as I have said, requirements of
    11        confidentiality.
    12
    13        My Lord, it is something to which I shall have to return.
    14        I say this now, and I was going to come to it at a later
    15        juncture in the case: a thought which has occurred to us is
    16        not an appealing thought, and I know it is not one that is
    17        going to appeal to your Lordship, is this, that if misuse
    18        of these transcripts continues in the way that it has been
    19        going throughout the currency of this case -- I have before
    20        me a document which invites readers (it is a magazine
    21        article) to apply for transcripts from the libel trial at
    22        25 Caledonian Road, London N1 -- if that abuse continues,
    23        then we shall have to seriously consider whether we, the
    24        Plaintiffs, are willing to continue paying for the
    25        provision of the transcripts to the Defendants.
    26
    27        I am not saying that what has happened is a contempt of
    28        court, or anything like that.  I do not ask for an order.
    29        I would not dream of doing something like that without
    30        first telling your Lordship, and inviting your Lordship to
    31        make such comment as your Lordship thought right upon our
    32        intention, if that should in the end be our intention.
    33
    34        My Lord, it is with that sort of background in mind that
    35        I am very concerned about the revelation of the identity of
    36        chicken plants, slaughterhouses, feed lots, or anything
    37        else, so far as these Defendants are concerned.
    38
    39   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.  Is there anything you want to say about
    40        that?  I am not going to draw any inference against you,
    41        personally.
    42
    43   MS. STEEL:  We did not know which document he was referring to.
    44
    45   MR. MORRIS:  Are you disclosing this?
    46
    47   MR. RAMPTON:  You can have it.  It is not a form of disclosure.
    48
    49   MR. MORRIS:  I do not know what point Mr. Rampton is making.
    50 
    51   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Forget any allegation which may be taken to 
    52        be directed at you and Ms. Steel, personally. 
    53
    54   MR. MORRIS:  Yes, I understand.
    55
    56   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  The anxiety is that if the identity of a
    57        particular slaughterhouse is trumpeted, someone may be
    58        misguided enough to attack that establishment.  Forget any
    59        insinuation so far as you or Ms. Steel are concerned.
    60        That, it is said, would be (a) unfortunate and (b)

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