Day 247 - 10 May 96 - Page 64
1 A. Looks like 'proposal'.
2
3 Q. A protest at the Poole branch of McDonald's on World Food
4 Day.
5
6 MR. JUSTICE BELL: That paragraph does not really matter, it is
7 the next one.
8
9 MS. STEEL: A consultant report was quoted which describes
10 failures with captive bolt methods used to prestun
11 cattle. "McDonald's Restaurants Limited have asked us to
12 point out that they do not approve the captive bolt method
13 and are highly concerned with ethical issues using humane
14 ways of killing cattle to ensure that the meat is safe to
15 health. We are glad to help McDonald's put the record
16 straight." So, it appears that they added that final
17 sentence at the request of McDonald's, the solicitors on
18 McDonald's behalf. That third paragraph, which the
19 newspaper printed, is untrue is it not?
20 A. Well, I do not know whether it is or is not. Did we or
21 did we not approve of the captive bolt system at the time?
22
23 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Well, I think it is a bit unfair when you
24 have not heard the evidence because the evidence at the
25 moment is that you did, or I have certainly got room to
26 infer you did, but I have no evidence at all that the
27 captive bolt system resulted in one third of the cattle on
28 whom it was operated standing grievously wounded, nothing
29 like that. So, there is nothing to justify that part of
30 the allegation. But what is being put to you is whether
31 that is right or not. A denial was made of approval of the
32 use of the captive bolt system when it was clearly being
33 used in slaughterhouses which provided meat to McKey for
34 turning into patties?
35 A. OK. I do not know that we ever went so far as to say
36 to McKey, or they subsequently to slaughterhouses, that we
37 did or did not approve of what system they used. I do not
38 think at the time we were large enough or had enough
39 influence to tell an abattoir, who deals with hundreds of
40 customers, whether we are going to dictate what he does in
41 his plant. We may have made our views known, and may not
42 approve of it but...
43
44 Q. There has been no suggestion that you disapproved of it.
45 That is what is being put to you.
46
47 MS. STEEL: So, are you saying the situation is that at this
48 time you may have disapproved of the captive bolt pistol
49 method?
50 A. I am not even sure, until we talked about the term in
51 this case, I even knew what it was.
52
53 Q. But your company presumably would have done.
54
55 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Where are we going?
56
57 MR. MORRIS: The solicitors.
58
59 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes, but why with Mr. Preston?
60
