Day 267 - 21 Jun 96 - Page 45


     
     1
     2   Q.   At that time?
     3        A.   Yes.
     4
     5   Q.   Did you know whether or not it was a criminal offence if
     6        you were going to put them back?
     7        A.   If it was a criminal offence I probably would not have
     8        done it.  In fact, I know I would not have done it.
     9
    10   Q.   Well, what was your state of knowledge about the law in
    11        this area at that time?
    12        A.   If it was wrong, I would not have done it.
    13
    14   Q.   Well, what did you know?
    15        A.   I do not recall.
    16
    17   Q.   So you just got on with doing it whether or not it was
    18        legal?
    19        A.   If it was illegal I would not have done it.
    20
    21   Q.   Well, how did you know it was not illegal?
    22        A.   Because subsequently, when discussing it with
    23        principals and when it was photocopied, nothing was
    24        mentioned that it was wrong.  Therefore, I assumed it was
    25        not.
    26
    27   Q.   So at the time you took them you did not know whether or
    28        not it was legal to take them?
    29        A.   At the time I took them I did not know, or I had no
    30        belief, that what I was doing was wrong.
    31
    32   Q.   So, you would not have a problem if someone went into your
    33        house and took your letters.  You would not have considered
    34        that there was anything illegal in that?
    35        A.   If they were there uninvited, perhaps, yes.
    36
    37   Q.   Well, you were not invited to take these letters were you?
    38        A.   I was there as a member of the group.
    39
    40   Q.   You still were not invited to take the letters though, were
    41        you?
    42        A.   Not verbally, no.
    43
    44   Q.   So why should you think that what you were doing was not
    45        illegal?
    46
    47   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   Well, does it matter?  I mean, you have
    48        asked several questions about this.  If you want to say to
    49        me in due course he behaved badly and therefore I should
    50        not attach weight to his evidence, then say it.  You do not 
    51        have to go over it several times. 
    52 
    53   MS. STEEL:  Well, did your employers say to you: "Go in there.
    54        Get as many copies of letters as you can and do not worry
    55        about it because if we put them back there is nothing
    56        illegal about it."
    57        A.   I do not recall that, no.  It may have happened.  I do
    58        not recall.
    59
    60   Q.   So, you do not recall whether it was on your initiative or

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