Day 255 - 23 May 96 - Page 19

     
     1        That does not remind you of this action?
     2        A.  No.  I am not saying that I did not instigate the
     3        letter from Barlows but I cannot remember it.
     4
     5   Q.   You do not know the source of what they have put there, the
     6        source of their information?
     7        A.  I cannot even remember it, so I ----
     8
     9   Q.   Tab 13?
    10        A.  Yes?
    11
    12   Q.   It says "Linda McCartney".  The date it is published is
    13        August 1989; date of action August 1989.  Do you remember
    14        this one?
    15        A.  No.
    16
    17   Q.   "They are cutting down the rainforest to fatten cattle when
    18        it does not even make much profit.  They slit the animals'
    19        throat, grind them up and sell them to McDonald's."
    20
         There does not appear to be anything else about McDonald's
    22        in there, but that is actually true; is it not?
    23        A.  Pardon?
    24
    25   Q.   The statement which appears to be the only statement about
    26        McDonald's in here is actually true?
    27        A.  No.
    28
    29   Q.   "They are cutting down rainforests to fatten cattle when it
    30        does not even make much profit.  They slit the animals
    31        throat, grind them up, and sell them to McDonald's."
    32
    33   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  There is no point in asking Mr. Nicholson
    34        whether things are true or not, especially if it is in an
    35        article which he says he cannot remember.  As I have said
    36        before, it would not matter what Mr. Nicholson thought
    37        about whether it was true or not.
    38
    39   MS. STEEL:  It does kind of because the point I am making is
    40        that basically they take action against people without
         checking out whether or not what they are suing over is
    42        true, and basically ----
    43
    44   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You do not need to ask Mr. Nicholson
    45        questions about it to make that point.
    46
    47   MS. STEEL:  OK.
    48
    49   MR. JUSTICE BELL: At the end of the day, I am concerned with the
    50        leaflet we have here.  We had a number of witnesses, 
    51        including Mr. Preston and Mr. Beavers, who have been asked 
    52        about the leaflet itself, and have given evidence to the 
    53        effect that it is all untrue.  If you have got a good point
    54        on this line, if you have, that is bound to be more
    55        productive than asking questions about an interview of
    56        Mrs. McCartney.
    57
    58        If you cannot press home your point that they sue
    59        regardless on the back of Mr. Beavers and Mr. Preston
    60        saying that the whole of the leaflet is untrue, you are not