Day 120 - 03 May 95 - Page 32

     
     1        rumours.
     2
     3   MR. MORRIS:  It is absolutely-----
     4
     5   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  It does not take it anywhere.
     6
     7   MR. MORRIS:  It does.
     8
     9   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  What would it prove at the end of the day?
    10
    11   MR. MORRIS:  A rumour can be used to cause fear amongst staff
    12        and help to reinforce a taboo which our witness-----
    13
    14   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  That is right, I suppose, but it is pretty
    15        indirect.  In any event he has said he has not hear the
    16        rumour.
    17
    18   MR. MORRIS:  Can I ask you about Dublin.  When did you have any
    19        responsibilities for anything to do with Ireland? We are
    20        talking about southern Ireland here.
         A.  I think we took over responsibility for it in 1985.  Up
    22        until that time it had been administered by an organisation
    23        called McDonald's Development Corporation.
    24
    25   Q.   The McDonald's Development Corporation is like the
    26        international arm?
    27        A.  It was an organisation -- it does not exist now --
    28        charged with the responsibility of developing McDonald's
    29        restaurants throughout Europe.  It had nothing at all to do
    30        with the UK, although for a time it was headquartered in
    31        the UK.  But their responsibility was developing all of the
    32        other countries.  Well, except Germany.  Germany was a
    33        company in its own right.  The UK was a separate company,
    34        and they developed all the other countries.
    35
    36   Q.   Including Ireland?
    37        A.  Yes in the early days.  Ireland, I believe, was formed
    38        in 1974.  I think we took over responsibility for it in
    39        1985.  I believe that is the right date.  When it did I do
    40        not have responsibility for.
    41
    42   Q.   When you say you took responsibility; it was like a legal
    43        transfer was it?
    44        A.  No, we just assumed responsibility for it; we serviceed
    45        it.  It was a an entirely franchised operation, so Field
    46        Services Department checked on the running of the
    47        restaurants.  I did the personnel on it.
    48
    49   Q.   Was that 1st January 1985 or something?
    50        A.  I cannot be that precise, but it was round about that 
    51        time. 
    52 
    53   Q.   Was it early 1985, late 1985?
    54        A.  No, I cannot remember.
    55
    56   Q.   How long did that responsibility continue?
    57        A.  It is still continuing.
    58
    59   Q.   McDonald's Restaurants Limited administers -----
    60        A.  Administers McDonald's Restaurants of Ireland Limited.