Day 278 - 11 Jul 96 - Page 17

     
     1        they have wanted to speak to me I have not, but--
     2
     3   Q.   So the fact that the press were here, one of the rare
     4        occasions when the press were here in any numbers, for
     5        Mr. Preston's resumed cross-examination, that was nothing
     6        to do with you or Mr. Morris; is that right?
     7        A.  I cannot speak for Mr. Morris, I do not know.
     8
     9   Q.   You set it up did you not?
    10        A.  I believe that the support campaign put out a press
    11        release.  I do not know.
    12
    13   Q.   Before we go on to Spotlight, tell me about the support
    14        campaign.  It started shortly after the writs were issued
    15        did it not?
    16        A.  Yes.
    17
    18   Q.   In those days whom did it consist of in the Mclibel support
    19        campaign?
    20        A.  Generally various warehouse people who had been
         involved in London Greenpeace and a couple of others.
    22
    23   Q.   Including the five defendants?
    24        A.  No, not Jonathan and not Dave.
    25
    26   Q.   So when the Mclibel support campaign--
    27        A.  No, I was just going to say, because Jonathan more or
    28        less from the start, because of personal reasons, felt
    29        unable to fight the case.  Mr. Gravett at first wanted to
    30        fight the case, and I do not think it was until, I think,
    31        originally after we had got the initial advice Mr.
    32        O'Farrell felt that for personal reasons he could not fight
    33        the case.  He was prepared to make a reluctant apology.
    34        Then some time after that Mr. Clarke decided that he too
    35        would.  Mr. Gravett still wanted to fight the case until, I
    36        think, it was very shortly before the apology was actually
    37        give that he changed his mind, and Mr. Morris was not
    38        really around so he did not get involved.
    39
    40   Q.   So the stuff that Mclibel support campaign puts out goes
         out without any participation by you or Mr. Morris; is that
    42        right?
    43        A.  Some of it, yes.
    44
    45   Q.   And the stuff that is taken from materials in the case --
    46        documents, transcripts, remarks about discovery, that is
    47        nothing to do with you or Mr. Morris?
    48        A.  We check some of the stuff that goes out, yes.
    49
    50   Q.   You would not let them put out stuff that was untrue now
    51        would you?
    52        A.  No, I would not.
    53
    54   Q.   No.  Well, we will have a look at some of their stuff later
    55        on in the light of that answer.  You made a great thing
    56        yesterday about being anxious never to mislead the public
    57        did you not?
    58        A.  I have no desire to mislead the public.  I do try to be
    59        as truthful and as honest as it is possible to be.
    60