Day 055 - 25 Nov 94 - Page 54

     
     1        touch with McDonald's or their solicitors to find out
     2        whether this article was an accurate report of the case
     3        before it was published?
     4        A.  I do not know.
     5
     6   Q.   Finally then, perhaps, on this topic, Ms. Dibb:  if it
     7        should turn out at the end of this case that, in substance,
     8        this report is 100 per cent inaccurate and misleading, do
     9        you think that your magazine might publish some kind of
    10        correction or apology?
    11        A.  That would need to be considered in the light of if
    12        that were to be the case.
    13
    14   Q.   Yes.
    15        A.  Therefore, it is difficult for me to answer a
    16        hypothetical question at this point relating specifically
    17        to this article.  But, in general, I can say that the
    18        editors of Food Magazine would, if it were so shown that
    19        there had been an error, wish to make that clear to
    20        readers.
    21
    22   MR. RAMPTON:   Can we move away from that for the moment, at
    23        least?
    24
    25   MR. MORRIS:  Can I make a legal point or interjection?  Is it
    26        fair to the witness for Mr. Rampton to make all sorts of
    27        implications and allegations without actually saying which
    28        of those points he considers to be inaccurate reporting?
    29
    30   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  He has not, in fact, asked any question which
    31        is in any way out of order at the moment.
    32
    33   MR. RAMPTON:  If Mr. Morris would like to know -- he does
    34        already of course know why it is inaccurate.
    35
    36   MR. MORRIS:  I know one thing is inaccurate; it is about a
    37        report about the Defendants; what it says about the
    38        Defendants is inaccurate.  It says we directed -----
    39
    40   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I do not think it is worth taking time on
         this.
    42
    43   MR. MORRIS:  I do not know what it says about McDonald's.
    44
    45   MR. RAMPTON:  What is reported about Brazil is inaccurate, as
    46        Mr. Morris very well knows.
    47
    48   MS. STEEL:  There was a statement served yesterday by Mr. Walker
    49        confirming that the company had purchased beef from
    50        Brazil.  So I do not see how they can now say that it is 
    51        inaccurate. 
    52 
    53   MR. RAMPTON:  The company's policy, my Lord (and always has
    54        been) is not to purchase beef from rain forest areas; and
    55        Ms. Steel knows it, because it is in her opening.
    56
    57   MS. STEEL:  It does not say "rain forest areas".
    58
    59   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Let the argument stop now and the
    60        cross-examination continue.