Day 246 - 09 May 96 - Page 23
1 and whilst the case is going on, we may anticipate some of
2 it to be critical. We will be issuing briefing material to
3 all restaurants and to the media to ensure that our reasons
4 for bringing the case and our intentions are fully
5 understood.
6
7 We will keep you fully informed of development as events
8 unfold. In the meantime, our slogan throughout this court
9 case is that : 'McDonald's: For free speech. Against
10 costly lies'," and that has been crossed out. Why did you
11 decide against that?
12 A. I am sorry, I was not there on the day. Our primary
13 goal is to establish the truth. I think when you relate
14 back, all we have talked about to establish the truth and
15 showed the leaflet to be entirely baseless, the relevance
16 of free speech and costly lies has no place in this.
17
18 MR. MORRIS: You are seeking an injunction, are not you?
19 A. Yes, I am.
20
21 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I do not want any debate about free speech.
22 It does not help me. At the end of the day, if it turns
23 out to be relevant to any finding I have to make on an
24 issue in the case, or any order I have to make of any kind
25 against any party, then I will listen to argument about it.
26
27 I have allowed some debate about it in relation to
28 witnesses as they have given their evidence but there must
29 be a time when the arguments on both sides have been
30 canvassed more than once and we have got to leave it where
31 it is.
32
33 MR. MORRIS: But Mr. Preston has said -- It must be about 18
34 times in the witness box -- that their aim is to establish
35 the truth. If that was the case, then they should drop the
36 injunction because the injunction attempted ----
37
38 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I am sorry, this is just why I do not want
39 argument. I am here to administer the law.
40
41 MR. MORRIS: Then Mr. Preston should not be allowed to say.
42
43 MR. JUSTICE BELL: He has given his answers to questions asked
44 by Mr. Rampton. He has given his answers to questions
45 asked by you and Ms. Steel. I think I have had enough of
46 it, quite frankly, on that topic.
47
48 MR. MORRIS: I have not asked a single question yet today.
49
50 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I know, but I can see where you are going and
51 I really do not think it is going to help me at this stage,
52 having heard as much as I have done already. All it does,
53 quite frankly, is you put your point of view, which gives
54 an opportunity for Mr. Preston to put his point of view,
55 and your point of view does not change and his point of
56 view does not change, no matter how often it is raised.
57
58 MR. RAMPTON: Can I make one observation, my Lord, which may be
59 helpful for the future. Mr. Morris seems to me to be
60 labouring under the misapprehension that one can claim an
