Madeleine McCann: Watching The Parents
MORE no news on the Madeleine McCann case.
It is now a week since the three-year-old girl was snatched from a Portugal holiday resort.
The story has been distressing to watch on our TV screens. What it must like for the parents of Madeleine only a few can know.
BLAME
But their misery is far from complete. With no news of Madeleine, and the Portuguese police having no need to indulge the British tabloids with speculation and theory, Madeleine’s parents are the central characters.
And today’s front-page news, as reported by the caring Mirror, is: “THEY KNOW LEAVING KIDS WAS WRONG.”
Does the Mirror mean to say that Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry, now think they did the wrong thing in nipping out for a bite to eat and leaving the children in the apartment on what they thought was a secure resort?
Does the Mirror mean that the McCanns know that popping back regularly to look at their children and checking on their well being was less than perfect?
Does the Mirror mean that the McCanns realise they should not have left their children alone, just like it is wrong to leave a child in a hotel under the auspices of a baby monitoring service, to leave a child in the car while mum goes to pay for petrol, to talk to a neighbour over a garden fence while the children are indoors?
Of course this is not the Mirror’s view. Oh, no. This is Madeleine’s grandmother, Susan Healy, saying: “They know this was a mistake. But it wasn’t child neglect, it wasn’t not caring for your children.”
That she feels the need to say this is wrong. That the Mirror can lead with Madeleine’s grief-worn parents is pathetic and misguided. That the paper can talk of “people are asking why they didn’t make use of the crèche” at the resort or take the children out to dinner with them is wrong.
But the Mirror has news to write. And the police aren’t playing the game.
THEORIES
So the Mirror produces: “THE 6 THEORIES.”
Only six! Why this cautious approach? But it is all the Mirror has. And readers hear of the “PAEDOPHILE GANG”, the “LONE PAEDOPHILE”, the “JEALOUS MOTHER”, Madeleine wandering off and “DROWNED”, the “OPPORTUNIST PAEDOPHILE”, the “CHILDLESS COUPLE”.
But the Sun has more. It has 130 more. As the front-page headline screams: “MADDIE COPS HUNT 130 BRIT PAEDOS.”
The paper says “at least” 130 British paedophiles “might” have taken Madeleine McCann.
In “ALGARVE IS ‘HAVEN’ FOR PERVS”, readers learn that Portugal is a “magnet for sun-seeking perverts from Britain and the rest of Europe”.
Who knew that perverts get off on watching children at the beach?
Us And Them
But help is on its way. The Sun lists the British coppers who will go out there and see to it that justice is done. We, says the paper, are the only country with a sex offenders’ register.
All convicted perverts must inform the police of their desire to go abroad. At least 130 have. And the police are looking for them.
But – and whisper this – might it be that convicted sexual deviants don’t all tell the police what they plan to do? They are not monitored while overseas. And might it be that not all sexual predators are caught and make it to the list?
Among the policemans’ names is Detective Superintendent Graham Hill, attached to theChild Exploitation and Protection Centre. Hill is on the case. He has flown to Portugal.
Hill worked on the case of Milly Dowler. She was snatched from near Walton railway station, Surrey, in 2002. Her body was found six months later. Her killer or killers have never been caught.
Perhaps Hill’s experiences can help. Perhaps he’ll have more luck. Perhaps not.
Meanwhile, a family is distraught, and bearing up incredibly well under the strain and the merciless gaze of the newspapers…
Posted: 10th, May 2007 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (2,260) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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September 26th, 2007 at 1:26 am
expat…what pic are you referring to?
September 26th, 2007 at 1:02 am
Angry? What planet are you on
September 26th, 2007 at 12:58 am
I cannot tell if the girl in the photo is madeleine but it should be possible to tell. If it is, then after all this, there will still be some hope.
September 25th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
No, powder monkey, I don’t think you are a glee-seeking McCann-basher .. doubts about them, or even distaste for their behaviour does not qualify for that. But Andrew ..?
You’re funny, Andrew. So many posts, all so angry; splattering around accusations about people’s perceptions, and frothing away just because they are different to yours; reaching wildly for comparisons with Hitler, the 3rd Reich and the Holocaust (6m dead if I recall) which just make everyone else say “Eh?”. Claiming to be the ‘true thinker’ whilst having made up, and closed, your mind. Not persuasive.
September 25th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Sorry everyone. I appeared i repeated myself several times. My web browser didn’t show that I had already posted, so i had to type it again. and in one case pasted it and rearranged it. I’m not a raving monster web-blogger. Apologies to everyone for what appears to be outlandish madness.
September 25th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Brenda, I have read a number of reports that the man who played tennis with Gerry McCann was Jeremy Wilkins. He was described as a T.V. producer from London and the man who, when talking with Gerry McCann at approx 21.05 didn’t see Tanner or the male she describes. I was under the impression that the Irishman mentioned was a new witness and therefore not Wilkins. Presumably there’s something been lost in translation from Portuguese news reports into English ones. Surprising really, you’d expect them to hire someone who is fluent in both, wouldn’t you?
Star, I think the forensic results expected soon are toxicology reports. How useful they will be is not yet known. Even if they show the presence of a sedative, the quantity, type and when administered will probably not be known, effectively rendering them useless for court purposes I’d think.
I agree with Amazed on this : I too find it hard to believe that 7 other people would all put their freedom, careers, characters and the children’s futures at risk to assis a couple in covering up the death of their child. It would be an extraordinarily strong friendship, firstly, for the McCanns to even think of asking their friends to assist, and secondly, for the friends to agree. The next thing would be how would they persuade a yacht owner and an incinerator owner, neither of whom they have met before, to also assist. I doubt that money would do the trick. Even if the fund was used for this purpose, split that many ways I don’t think it would be enough of an incentive, not in such a high profile case. I will, disagree with you on this : I’m not sure if I count as a “McCann basher”, although I have my doubts about them (as previously mentioned), but any pleasure I would find in them being convicted of the death of their daughter would be based on that justice would have been obtained for Madeleine, and that those responsible have been held to account. It would have to be a safe conviction with firm evidence, any doubt such as with the forensic evidence so far, would be a fudge or fit-up. I’d take the same amount of pleasure regarding whoever was convicted. Would I shout “I told you so”, no I wouldn’t, I’m not one of those who has had a firm belief one way or the other regarding the McCann’s guilt since day one.
John O, you are probably right in that we will still be sat here for some time discussing the next round of twists, turns and revelations, and then the next lot and so on. I hope you are wrong in that the case will never be resolved. I, and everyone else, obviously hope that Madeleine is found. I doubt that she will return alive but I hope her body is recovered so that she can have a proper funeral and memorial service.
September 25th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
How fruitless looking for someone you knowingly disposed of.
allegedly
September 25th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
I dont know why they have the 2 sightings in Morocco in the news again…When i first read it i thought it was NEW info. If this was in May…do they actually think she is still there?
I guess these new investigators are talking Spain and Morocco?
Well i wish them lots of luck, cause nothing has worked yet…..
September 25th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Just so we’re all entirely clear on this. Why not look up the word “Fascist” in a dictionary? Italian, or latin, even English. I will help you.
Fascio means “A bundle of sticks” Individually we are weak, together we are strong. Fascism is when people stick together.. oh, so you mean 7 people in a tapas bar who are all friends and cover up could possibly count as fascist?
Yes, that’s right. Goodnight.
September 25th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
The only fantasy and speculation here seems to be on your part. Or shall I be kind and label it as naivety as opposed to ignorance.
Clarence Mitchell and the McCanns are in my opinion nothing short of the Third Reigh in terms of Propaganda, mind control and illusion. If you actually believe they are innocent then you’re living proof I’m correct.
September 25th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Clarence Mitchell and the McCanns are in my opinion nothing short of the Third Reigh in terms of Propaganda, mind control and illusion. If you actually believe they are innocent then you’re living proof I’m correct.
The only fantasy and speculation here seems to be on your part. Or shall I be kind and label it as naivety as opposed to ignorance
September 25th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Nice to see some of you are so narrow minded as to believe the McCanns would want to tell the truth.
If you need the Third Reich’s mind control, propaganda and illusion skills explaining to you, then I’m afraid you’re lost causes already.
“some errors of judgement” Ha ha, understatement of the Century
September 25th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Madeleine is dead in my opinion and the McCann’s know this and have done all along. This is all just an elaborate charade. There are Hundreds of thousands of little blonde Girls all over Europe, of course she’s going to be spotted. Who’s to say it’s not all staged anyway. Anyone can report anything they like at any time for any motive or reason.
And to answer the previous caller “what’s all this Hitler stuff” You are obviously less intelligent than even I had you marked as if you need it explaining to you.
The Third Reich were masters of propaganda, deception and mind control, they stuck together till the last. Even when confronted with their inevitable doom they would not give in. They all lived in denial, some even eventually believing their own lies. I’ve no time for illusions thanks. I live in the real World
That’s my opinion, mixed with historic fact
September 25th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Clearly the McCanns have made some errors of judgement but to assume they are murderers and that they would be able to convince their friends and colleagues to risk their jobs and reputations in a massive cover -up - well Hello?? I dont think so!!!! How did Hitler get into this blog? Fantasy and wild speculation I see!
September 25th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Under Portuguese law, it is illegal to carry out independent inquiries into a case while a police investigation is ongoing. But it emerged this week that Mr and Mrs McCann hired investigators from Control Risks Group - who specialise in kidnap, hostage and crisis management - at the end of May.
**If my child was missing i would do anything to find her. The more people out actually looking for Madeleine, the better. As long as they are all working for the same thing…and that is finding Madeleine and finding out what happen the night she went missing. Now if these people get in the way of the investigation (is there actually one going on now) then i guess that could case a problem. I wasnt aware that the Mccanns hired these people back in MAY?!?!?
The company – which employs ex-SAS and military personnel – is thought to be focusing on Spain and Morocco, where three sightings of a little blonde girl have now been reported.
**so now we are back to looking in Spain and Morocco? Didnt Gerry make comments (early on) that they were sure Madeleine was alive and being cared for and i believe Spain was mentioned?
September 25th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
why is potugal so afriad of the McCanns getting private investagators in? They have not found Madeliene its been 4 months and they dont have a clue so why cant the private investigators have a go.
They cocked the case up from day 1 and now they dont want anyone else in on the case because it will show that they are incompetant. 1 case of not collecting evidence properly could be a mistake but the same mistakes that were made by the police on the Madeliene case was made on the Joana case 3 years before they didnt seal of the home or collect prints of anything until half the world had trecked threw.
I think that they have alot to hide if they are threatening to arrest the McCanns because they have brought in private investigators to find thier child.
It does say that they have been taking advice for nearly 4 months, so the fact that everyone wanted to know why they had not got any in to find her now knows why it wasnt public knoledge, the portuguese police dont allow it.
Whats all the rubbish about Hitler for Andrew? People will fall for a large lie your right actually just like the ones the media are spinning about how the McCanns have done this to Madeliene and the exagerated evidence.
The world is judging the McCanns due the the lies that have been told, the portugal police are fast to threaten arrests to the McCanns due to trying to find their daughter with private detectives but they havnt even bothered to repramand the police who are doing these exagerated leaks. And they havnt even bothered to try and say that these are not true. So falling for a big lie by the Portuguses Andrew yes your right.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
I’m afraid, Andrew, that telling me not to be bigoted, racist and xenophobic, and comparing me to the Germans in the 1930s says far, far more about you than about me. A strange righteous anger - since you neither know the McCanns nor Madeleine, not indeed the real facts - and a great potential for that glee.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
1940: “the parents’ guilt seems highly unlikely”
The power of Spin at it’s best. Hitler said people will fall for a large lie much easier than a small one. you are proof of this fact.
“I find it even more bizarre that up to 7 other people might agree to do the same ”
Again. look at how many people followed Hitler, willingly or not.
“But it’s the potential glee, you see.”
“I TOLD YOU SO, YOU PRATS!”
You think anyone wants to claim “superiority” in this way, and personally abuse people here?
“The PJ are not silent, uncorrupt, and brilliant. They leak; they don’t even suspend officers suspected of corruption in similar cases; they don’t know what they are doing in this case, and are in over their heads”
Like you really know what goes on within the Portugese Police. Stop being Bigoted/ Racist Xenophobic or whatever it is and listen to yourself. You mean they were hoodwinked by the McCanns like everyone else, and then let these allegedly suspected Murderers / accomplices out to walk the streets unconditionally? That’s about the worst thing they’ve done in my eyes.
If this was the UK I dare to say there’s no Magistrate in the Country that would allow them unconditional bail. They’ve been very “lucky”
September 25th, 2007 at 11:36 am
#1940 -Amazed. Well said. Thats the most sense that I’ve read on here in ages.
September 25th, 2007 at 11:05 am
I don’t have a clue who did what, and have never claimed to have. Save to say that, logistically, the parents’ guilt seems highly unlikely, although you never know. Personally, I would not risk my career and my family to protect even a much-loved couple whom I suspected / knew had caused the death of their daughter on holiday with me. I find it even more bizarre that up to 7 other people might agree to do the same - not to mention an unidentified yacht-owner, ex-con owner of an incineration plant - or any of the other possibles who are being investigated now - 144 days after the event.
But it’s the potential glee, you see. The dreadful, obvious glee that the McCann-bashers, here and elsewhere, are really hoping will allow them to shout “I TOLD YOU SO, YOU PRATS!” if the McCanns are ever charged and convicted (a forlorn hope given the progress of the investigation so far - and whose fault is that?). The PJ are not silent, uncorrupt, and brilliant. They leak; they don’t even suspend officers suspected of corruption in similar cases; they don’t know what they are doing in this case, and are in over their heads. If it’s because they have little experience of these cases, then I do sympathize with them. However, if it’s because they won’t accept help from outside, then I don’t.
The Portuguese press are the obvious sources of leaks / ‘information’ because they speak both Portuguese and English, and have the police contacts. The British media, who don’t speak Portuguese, can do nothing but follow these, and then put their own interpretation on them.. which seems to be rather doubting .. and there are good reasons for this. The bizarre allegations of the parents’ guilt with little evidence to back it up, the translation problems, the not-very-reassuring nature of the expertise and probity of the investigation, etc., etc.
I’d just like her to be found - alive, preferably. Or dead, which seems most likely. I don’t even have a view on whether her parents did it on the basis of their perceived characters, alleged boozy habits, body language, blogs, holding hands, clutching Cuddle Cat, going jogging, touring countries and drawing in the mighty to their campaign, wearing nice earrings or over-emotional T-shirts, employing spin doctors and ex-SAS people. Except to say that if they are guilty, it is the most bizarre and extraordinary cover-up in history, which exceeds even the da Vinci code in probable preposterousness. But I suppose it could JUST be true. I don’t think so, though, myself.
The most laughable is the report this morning that Gerry was pegged to be a British Government adviser on nuclear issues, so that’s why he has the ears of the mighty. He’s a cardiac surgeon.
September 25th, 2007 at 10:57 am
Sorry, before my posts were Chris but I saw there is another one,so I am Xhris, ok ?
Another link about the sightings in Morocco
http://gazetadigitalmadeleinecase.blogspot.com/2007/09/morocco-police-and-madeleine-sightings.html
September 25th, 2007 at 10:54 am
There are no 2 new sightings, these news report to May after the lady reported she saw Madeleine in Morocco, and another english man said he saw Maddie too in the same place by that time. Both sightings were investigated by Morocco but led to nothing.I think these reports come again to jusrtify why the mccanns are concentrating their private investigations in Morocco.Because someone said she was there twice.
My idea is that she might be dead because if she was abducted maybe the abductor already had to get rid of her,with all this publicity he/she would never give up, not even to that large reward. Well, at least could let her go in a safe place but then could be affraid of being recognized and little Maddie could describe him/her.I am affraid she is no longer alive :(.The theory of not abducted and maybe the parents are involved just makes me terrified,but admiting they could have had something to do with the disappearance or death, the most probable is that they had to have help from someone, would be to hard and dificult for only the 2.
September 25th, 2007 at 3:17 am
I was wondering what others thought about this. Shortly after Madeleine went missing…shirts were made with her pic and some info…(i think phone numbers, etc) There was a pic of Gerry wearing one and a comment that Kate would not wear it and her reasoning at the time was she didnt want to upset others on Holiday. That seems like a lame excuse to me….
There are some pics of Gerry with it on and i dont recall Kate wearing one.
Probably nothing, just seemed odd…
September 25th, 2007 at 3:09 am
Powder Monkey…Sorry have never had to deal with a private investigator…hope i never do.
I see there have been 2 new sightings? But they may make the Mccann friends suspects and they have said it will be hard to prove anything without a body?
This case is all over the place
September 25th, 2007 at 2:57 am
POLICE last night showed they think Madeleine McCann’s parents are lying over her disappearance as they declared the only other suspect innocent.
Detectives revealed they now believe ex-pat Brit property developer Robert Murat, 33, has nothing to do with the case.
They think he is the victim of a plot by the McCanns and their pals to frame him for Madeleine’s abduction and murder. The seven friends on holiday with the couple could all now be named suspects.
Police want to know why three of them insisted they saw Mr Murat outside the couple’s apartment the night the four-year-old disappeared when he was, in fact, not there.
Police also want to know why a fourth pal, Jane Tanner, claimed she saw a man carrying a child dressed in pyjamas towards Mr Murat’s mum’s villa.
Though denying it was him, Mr Murat himself conceded he matched the description. Detectives dismissed Miss Tanner’s account after two independent witnesses saw no-one other than her.
**To me it seems the Mccann friends make things up as they go along…if this dont work…let’s try this….Still need to sit them down and get that night in writing…would be interesting to see what adds up and what dont….
September 25th, 2007 at 2:47 am
a new sighting?
Over the weekend, it was revealed that a British man believed he had spotted Madeleine near a hotel in Marrakech in the same location and on the same day as Norwegian tourist Marie Pollard reported seeing her.
Mr Mitchell said: “They are always very pleased to hear about any sighting no matter how long after the event.
“And if it provides that key piece of information that does lead to Madeleine being recovered then it is vital.”
**unbelievable…did these people do anything about the sightings? I mean 2 different people think they saw her in the same area? No one had a camera phone or camera with them (ok i can see not having a camera…but dont most phones take pics?) Did they draw attention to this child? I hope so!
And i read there is more evidence results expected this week? Wonder what that could be.
September 24th, 2007 at 11:39 pm
If you can read french, si vous pouvez lire français….
Sos Maddie pour la Belgique
Or you can use Google translator to translate from french into english
http://sosmaddie.blogspot.com/
C’est à dire… une nouvelle façon de regarder les choses, ni portuguais, ni anglais…perfectement neutre et seulement les faits…
A new way to look at things,neutral and only pointing the facts,with reference to sources
September 24th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
Hi powder monkey,
I did not read anything yet (at least here) about the friends being named as suspects or Robert Murat become a witness, so I can’t comment, I have no idea, and even if there were news…we never know what is true or not.
About the others witnesses, the Irish man, Tapas’s employees and others, I’ve heard of them almost since week 1, in TV and also newspapers (only here) and it seems they are important because their explanations seem to contradict the things the Mccanns and friends say happened that night. There is one employee who said immediatelly when questioned by the police (the same night and next day) that he did never realise the group of friends had children, he only found out after the episode of the disappearance, because they never took their children with them.
Others said that while everybody seached for Madeleine, Mr Mccann included, Mrs Mccann went back to the apartment and stood there until midnight, she was not doing searches. The Irish man is a TV producer and allegedly was talking to Gerry (they played tennis that afternoon) when Mrs Tanner passed by them and he says he did not see any man carrying a child, because the man should have passed by them since the passage is narrow. So it seems that here things don’t match because Mrs Tanner saw a man that neither Gerry or the Irish saw.
Regarding the private investigations I read they are on the field since June but not here, they are being done in Morocco, Belgium, Spain and Malta, but I don’t know because it was the Mccanns who asked their help, so only they can confirm. I believe they are insisting in the areas where sightings were reported.
I also read the police never abandoned those investigations and are with Europol and Interpol for those countries, especially in Morocco, with a total “open line” of communications.
Europol and Interpol issued a Global Alert since 10th May and more that 180 countries have direct access to data in this case, regarding little Madeleine. This can be checked with any of the polices and at their sites.
It really seems that information appears in “waves” but generally here we can read regularly about the progress of the investigations, not very detailed, but we can see the work is being done but far from complete. In other countries I guess that only the “big lines” are published, the ones that can really catch your attention, so for you it may look like somethings only come up now, when we heard of them here months ago…
September 24th, 2007 at 10:52 pm
Well John O i actually agree with you totally, The most important thing is being forgotten in all of this and thats Madeliene, Noone can say that the parents are Guilty or innocent we just hope that the truth will come out soon.
Madeliene may be alive still and in need of help and everyone has stopped searching and are looking and waiting for the parents to confess or be charged, If she is dead then she deserves to be found and burried.
September 24th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
We will all still be sitting here next year churning out the same old stuff if we are not careful.
This case will never be resolved. There isnt and never will be enough evidence to convict anyone of a crime.
What has happened is that the initial clear cut case of child abduction which was likely to turn many tourists off Portugal is now so muddled in peoples minds that when all the media attention has died down and the dust has settled people wont remember if it was the parents or who it was who was supposed to be at fault.
The portugal tourist board can breathe a big sigh of relief.