Day 240 - 24 Apr 96 - Page 22

     
     1        not already covered that you wanted to bring up?
     2        A.  No, they are very similar letters.  They are just
     3        examples.
     4
     5   Q.   Right.  Is that it for the supporting documentation or have
     6        I missed something out?
     7        A.  I am not sure whether we have covered it but ----
     8
     9   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I think you have.  What I am anxious to do,
    10        as I ruled this morning, is just go through matters which
    11        are all part of the material upon which I have to make a
    12        decision at the end of the day.  I am quite content to hear
    13        Mr. Secrett say that McDonald's did not produce any
    14        documentary evidence at the time that they did not:  Query
    15        whether that will help me, but I am prepared to hear it and
    16        we will see.
    17
    18   MR. MORRIS:  Can I just ask one question?.
    19
    20   MS. STEEL:  Just on Mr. Wright's letter that you referred to, it
         talks about the fact that they checked invoices, shipping
    22        and packing documents, government stamps and labels.  You
    23        were never shown any of them or were you?
    24        A.  No, I was not and at the time it was also my very clear
    25        understanding from research that I had done, and the
    26        researches and other people that I talked to, that it was
    27        simply not possible to carry out that level of checks in
    28        relation to determining the country of origin of beef
    29        supplies.
    30
    31   MR. MORRIS:  Can I ask you one question about your letter of 5th
    32        December 1985?
    33        A.  Yes?
    34
    35   Q.   At the end of that letter, you say that, effectively, you
    36        want to work with the fast-food industry and that you want
    37        to work together and "look forward to hearing from you
    38        soon".  An obvious question:  Your position was that you
    39        left the door open for amicable relations?
    40        A.  Yes, very much so.  Friends of the Earth is an
         organisation that wherever ----
    42
    43   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I am going to stop you there because I have
    44        assumed that that was so, but I really do not think it can
    45        help me on the decision I have got to make.  People can be
    46         -- I am not concluding that McDonald's were -- extremely
    47        stubborn, awkward, uncooperative and right.  In fact, it is
    48        particularly irritating when people are stubborn, awkward
    49        and right.  What I have to decide at the end of the day is
    50        not whether they are stubborn and awkward but whether they 
    51        were right. 
    52 
    53   MS. STEEL:  Did you ever receive any response to this letter?
    54        A.  No.  Your Honour, I think I probably was reacting to a
    55        remark made earlier and accusing myself of having a
    56        vendetta about McDonald's.
    57
    58   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Do not worry. I am just very anxious to keep
    59        our eye on what the actual ball is.  In this case it is
    60        particularly easy to wander off into what may be