Day 237 - 18 04 96 - Page 9

     1        been hired?
     2        A.  It would have been about late 1990, if I remember, or
     3        early 1991 when I attended a couple of meetings at our
     4        solicitors with Mr. Nicholson.
     5
     6   Q.   So that is after the writs had been served?
     7        A.  It was about that time -- I could not say it was before
     8        or after -- it was round about that time.
     9
    10   Q.   You did not know anything?  I mean, we have got their
    11        statements and the first thing that they attend, I think,
    12        is on 21st October, 1989.  So you did not know anything
    13        about them for the whole of a year while they were -----?
    14        A.  No.
    15
    16   Q.   ----- attending meetings and events of London Greenpeace?
    17        A.  I did not attend any meetings for a considerable time.
    18        I knew, in fact, that we had entered into negotiations with
    19        this Company.
    20
    21   Q.   When did you know that?
    22        A.  Some time in either late 89 or early 90, something like
    23        that.  I cannot be specific.  I do not actually remember
    24        the date.
    25
    26   Q.   Did you know at the time of the picket of the Head Office
    27        that you gave evidence about yesterday in October 1989?
    28
    29   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  16th October.
    30
    31   MS. STEEL:  16th October 1989.  (To the witness):  Did you know
    32        about the hiring of private detectives at that stage?
    33        A.  I cannot honestly say.  I do not know.
    34
    35   Q.   This was what, being communicated to you from
    36        Mr. Nicholson, was it?
    37        A.  Yes.
    38
    39   Q.   Were you asked for your opinion before they were hired?
    40        A.  I do not know. I cannot remember.
    41
    42   Q.   You were Head of Security, 30 years experience in the
    43        police force, you might be a likely person to ask?
    44        A.  I did have other jobs to do as well.  I cannot remember
    45        exactly when I was spoken to about the thing or whether
    46        I had any dealings with it.
    47
    48   Q.   When you were told about the hiring of a company of private
    49        detectives, was it just one company or was it more than
    50        one? 
    51        A.  It was two. 
    52 
    53   Q.   It was two and do you know what the names are?
    54        A.  "Kings" and something clerical -- "Bishops", I think.
    55
    56   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  "Kings"?
    57        A.  "Kings".
    58
    59   MS. STEEL:   Kings Investigation Bureau?
    60        A.  Yes.  The other one was "Bishops";  I knew it was
 
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