Consolidated pursuant to order of Sir Michael Davies
dated 28 April 1995
1994-H-No-1654 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION BETWEEN
(1)
NEIL HAMILTON
Plaintiff
and
(1) DAVID HENCKE (2) PETER PRESTON
(3) GUARDIAN NEWSPAPERS LIMITED
Defendants
1994-G-No-1776
I N THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION
BETWEEN
(1)
IAN GREER (2) IAN GREER ASSOCIATES LIMITED
Plaintiffs
and
(1)
DAVID HENCKE
(2) PETER PRESTON
(3) GUARDIAN NEWSPAPERS LIMITED
Defendants
WITNESS STATEMENT OF IRIS HELEN BOND
I, Iris Helen Bond, c/o 60 Park Lane, London, W1Y
3TG, will say as follows:
1. I am a secretary in Mr
Al-Fayed's office at 60 Park Lane, a position I have held since
1979. During the course of my work I was aware that Mr Ian Greer
was retained by Mr Al-Fayed as an advisor, subsequent to Mr Al-Fayed's
acquisition of House of Fraser.
2. Ian Greer Associates would send invoices
to the 60 Park Lane offices for payment. These invoices would
then be forwarded to the accounts department for payment. In
addition to payments made pursuant to invoices, Mr Greer would
also receive cash payments.
3. I have been shown a copy of a transcript
of an entry from Mr Al-Fayed's telephone message book dated 4
November 1988 which reads "you owe July, August, September
£5,000 - Iris tell AF." This confirms my recollection
that quarterly payments of £5,000 in cash were made to Ian
Greer.
4. On these occasions I would then inform Mr
Al-Fayed that either Ian Greer or his secretary had telephoned
asking for payment. Mr Al-Fayed would in my presence place two
bundles of £2,500 notes in £50 denominations in a plain
envelope which he would then instruct me to deliver to Mr Greer.
I would then arrange for a porter to deliver the envelope to
Mr Greer at his office, although sometimes Mr Greer personally
collected these envelopes from the reception desk at 60 Park
Lane and I believe on some occasions he arranged for a courier
to make collection.
5. Mr Neil Hamilton was a frequent visitor to
Mr Al-Fayed's office at 60 Park Lane. Initially most of the meetings
were at 60 Park Lane although I am aware that he subsequently
met Mr Al-Fayed at Harrods. The Park Lane meetings were at one
time as frequent as several times a month. Apart from these meetings
Mr Hamilton telephoned Mr Al-Fayed at 60 Park Lane on numerous
occasions and they conversed. On the occasions that Mr Al-Fayed
was not available I would inform Mr Al-Fayed of Mr Hamilton's
calls. Mr Hamilton's wife, Christine, would also call to arrange
meetings between Mr Al-Fayed and her husband.
6. I remember on several occasions that prior
to a meeting with Mr Hamilton, Mr Al-Fayed would make a remark
to the effect that he was coming to collect his money and would
prepare an envelope for him with a bundle of £2,500 notes
in my presence.
7. I also remember an occasion when Mr Al-Fayed
telephoned me from Harrods and told me to bring £5,000 in
cash as he was expecting Mr Hamilton to meet him there.
8. As with Ian Greer there was at least one
occasion when I left an envelope containing cash at the reception
at 60 Park Lane for collection by Mr Neil Hamilton.
I confirm that the contents of this statement
are true to the best of my knowledge, information and belief.
27 September 1996
|