Day 260 - 11 Jun 96 - Page 06

     
     1        such capacity.
     2
     3   Q.   OK.  This was just something that was brought up at a
     4        pre-trial hearing.  Are you a former police officer?
     5        A.  No.
     6
     7   Q.   For how long have you been an inquiry agent?
     8        A.  I started doing this sort of work when I left the
     9        Armed Forces in 1978.
    10
    11   Q.   So, can you just tell us how you came to be an inquiry
    12        agent investigating what was going on at
    13        London Greenpeace?
    14
    15   MR. RAMPTON:  I am a bit doubtful about this, my Lord.
    16        Obviously, there is an extent to which Mr. Bishop's
    17        experience may help your Lordship, but I am not at all sure
    18        that a detailed inquiry about something that has, so far as
    19        I can see, no bearing upon the case is in order.
    20
    MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Well -----
    22
    23   MR. RAMPTON:  I am a little nervous about this. If necessary,
    24        I shall have to tell your Lordship why.  I would rather not
    25        have to.
    26
    27   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I had understood all Ms. Steel was asking --
    28        and you may object to that, I do not know -- is how
    29        Mr. Bishop came to be engaged by the appropriate firm to
    30        investigate London Greenpeace.
    31
    32   MR. RAMPTON:  Well, yes.  I am not sure I understand the
    33        question.  He said that he was a freelance investigator.
    34
    35   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Put your question more precisely.
    36
    37   MS. STEEL:  (To the witness)  How were you asked to -- who asked
    38        you, or did you volunteer, or whatever, to become an
    39        investigator who was investigating London Greenpeace?
    40
    MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Had you done freelance work for the firm
    42        before?
    43        A.  Yes, a few jobs before.  It was put to me as one of the
    44        tasks that the company had been asked to carry out.
    45
    46   MS. STEEL:   Right.  OK.  So they asked you to carry out this
    47        investigation.  What instructions were you given?
    48        A.  Very few.  I was told to attend meetings or, in the
    49        first instance, I was told to attend a meeting at
    50        Caledonian Road and report on what happened at the 
    51        meeting.  I was given verbal descriptions of two people 
    52        I was particularly to look at, which they said, which was 
    53        yourself and Mr. Morris.
    54
    55   Q.   Given verbal descriptions of myself and Mr. Morris?
    56        A.  Yes.
    57
    58   Q.   Was it only of us two?
    59        A.  As far as I can recall now, yes.
    60