Day 307 - 27 Nov 96 - Page 27
1 things. I will have a quick look to see if I can see
2 anything else that clearly refers to McDonald's press
3 release.
4
5 MS. STEEL: I cannot remember which article it was, but I do
6 remember one article in there which said that it had
7 interviewed both myself and Mr. Morris and I never actually
8 spoke to them. So, I am just really making the point that
9 it is not safe to infer that, because our names are
10 mentioned in articles, we must have spoken to them.
11
12 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes.
13
14 MS. STEEL: Just about the publication by the support campaign
15 and other people, another point is that we are not in
16 control of what everybody else does. Supporters choose
17 their own actions and whilst, you know, we could perhaps
18 have some influence if we became aware of something which
19 we viewed as incorrect that we have not written and we
20 could then ask them to alter it, in reality, we have no
21 power or control over anybody to force them to alter what
22 they have written. I mean, we would hope that they would
23 respect our wishes if we were aware of something that was
24 incorrect. But, in any event, there are many times when we
25 are not aware of matters until after they have been
26 published and, therefore, you know, we cannot be
27 responsible for each and everything published about this
28 case or about McDonald's.
29
30 I mean, the same point relates to paragraph 4, about it was
31 to be inferred that we were responsible for computer
32 postings. In actual fact, at the stage of this pleading
33 and the press releases, I knew absolutely nothing about the
34 Internet and E Mail, and things like that. Basically,
35 there is no evidence that we are responsible.
36
37 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Were you going to say anything about (4), or
38 have you really covered that?
39
40 MS. STEEL: Which (4)?
41
42 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Little (4) at the bottom of page 7, which is
43 the last of these assertions.
44
45 MS. STEEL: I just said, that is the same as the others. There
46 is no reason to infer that we were responsible. McDonald's
47 have not brought any evidence to show any act to connect us
48 to those postings.
49
50 Going on to page 8, the numbering system is really
51 confusing under this. This is then big (4), under the
52 particulars which started on page 4.
53
54 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes.
55
56 MS. STEEL: McDonald's say: "In the premises the Defendants
57 have intentionally or recklessly or caused to be
58 published", and so on. I do not know if I am reading this
59 wrong, but that seems to imply that (4) is following on
60 from number (3). Well, (1), (2) and (3). I do not know if
