Day 291 - 31 Oct 96 - Page 14
1 would not be making a secret of it when they come round."
2 It was not something that he had tried to hide. The OVS
3 had seen them using goads, the MAFF people had seen them
4 using goads. He thought it was likely that McKeys had seen
5 them using goads. He said he cannot recall that issue ever
6 being raised with him by McKeys. Day 97, page 78. He said
7 that he would usually accompany the people who were doing
8 the audits.
9
10 So, it would be an indication of the fact that even when
11 McDonald's, through their suppliers, have got a policy
12 which they say is not to be breached -- basically, totally
13 disregarded. And this is their major supplier in this
14 country.
15
16 On day 98, page 37, line 9, he said there was only one
17 official veterinary surgeon at the Midland plant and that
18 that person had quite widespread duties, not just looking
19 at the animals but also the hygiene side of things as
20 well.
21
22 On day 98, pages 40 to 41 there was various detail about
23 all the lengths that the company went to to prevent animals
24 from escaping from the slaughter house.
25
26 MR. JUSTICE BELL: We will break off then until twelve o'clock.
27
28 (Short Adjournment)
29
30 MS. STEEL: Just a brief mention about day 98, page 45, line
31 6. Mr. Chambers related that there was a small structure
32 coming out of the stunning box which encourages the animal
33 to keep its head up. He said that that had been in place
34 for four years. He said it became a requirement to, sort
35 of, restrict the head movement in order to facilitate a
36 more accurate stun. He said that this was a MAFF enforced
37 thing. He said he was not aware that stunning had become
38 more accurate since then. But I think it should be borne
39 in mind that he had only been quality assurance manager for
40 five or six years, and that prior to that time basically
41 most of his duties were, I think, just concerned with the
42 hygiene side of things. But I think that point is
43 relevant, that this new procedure of the box to keep the
44 head up to improve the aim of the stunning has come in
45 since the time of the alleged libel.
46
47 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Dr. Gregory said that head restraints were
48 not used at Midland Meat Packers or Jarrets, and it is
49 probably reasonable to infer that it was something short of
50 a head restraint or similar, or he would have mentioned
51 it. I do not know.
52
53 MS. STEEL: I don't know, I think head restraints are quite
54 different.
55
56 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Well, they are in relation to stunning.
57
58 MS. STEEL: I know.
59
60 MR. JUSTICE BELL: One might have expected to say there were not
