Day 110 - 29 Mar 95 - Page 11

     
     1        condition of those cows, then, of course, that would be
     2        relevant and admissible evidence as evidence of fact.
     3
     4        I question, as I do with Clare Druce, whether Dr. Long has
     5        any qualification whatever to give opinion evidence as an
     6        expert might.  One sees from the first page of his
     7        statement of July 1993 that he says that his background is
     8        that of a biochemist and nutritionist.  That is about the
     9        beginning of the last quarter on that page, my Lord.  He is
    10        (or was, I think) closely associated with the Vegetarian
    11        Society.
    12
    13        He does not claim (and must do if he is to write a
    14        statement in that capacity) any relevant veterinary or
    15        scientific qualifications.  He does not, so far as I read
    16        his statement, claim any practical experience, any more
    17        than Mrs. Druce did, of intensive farming of cattle.
    18
    19        My Lord, I fear, therefore, that we are going to be
    20        subjected to another day or day-and-a-half, as it may be,
         of evidence, if I can call it that, which is really totally
    22        irrelevant and, indeed, inadmissible, as was the vast bulk
    23        of what Mrs. Druce had to say.
    24
    25        My Lord, the same observations apply to Mr. Tyler who is at
    26        tab 2.  Quite frankly, on his last page he says what one
    27        would expect him to say.  He is a journalist.  Again, he
    28        has no professional or occupational or experiential
    29        qualification to give evidence as an expert.  He says,
    30        quite candidly, in his last ---
    31
    32   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, I remember that.
    33
    34   MR. RAMPTON:  -- paragraph of his statement that he has no
    35        knowledge of McDonald's supplier.  I leave it to your
    36        Lordship and the Defendants what useful evidence can be
    37        extracted from these two witnesses.  But I do say that I am
    38        very reluctant to sit here patiently, as I did throughout
    39        Mrs. Druce' evidence, without making objection to the vast
    40        mass of irrelevant and inadmissible material which she
         delivered to your Lordship.
    42
    43        I will not do it, unless your Lordship tells me to sit down
    44        and be quiet; I will not be so patient with these two
    45        gentlemen.  I say that because I would hope the Defendants
    46        themselves might be able to focus on what real evidence
    47        either of these gentlemen is able to give before they are
    48        called.
    49
    50        My Lord, that is the first matter that I wished to raise 
    51        with your Lordship.  If your Lordship would like to hear 
    52        from the Defendants about that before I go on ----- 
    53
    54   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You had better deal with the next point you
    55        want to raise as well, Mr. Rampton.
    56
    57   MR. RAMPTON:  My Lord, these are much shorter points.  The time
    58        is fast approaching when we will wish your Lordship to ask
    59        the Defendants what the results of their enquiries have
    60        been of their employment witnesses.