Madeleine McCann: Blown Out Of All Proportion
MADELEINE McCann is on the beach at Praia da Luz. Or at least her likeness is.
As the Mail reports, Chris Lennox and Les Harley, have driven 2,200 miles from Scotland. They have brought along a 800 sq ft giant inflatable billboard appealing for Madeleine’s safe return.
The Mail doesn’t say anything about Chris Lennox and Les Harle nor why they should choose to display Madeleine’s image in such a fashion. Is this not a little unusual, creepy even?
At least the BBC bothers to speak with campaigners. It hears Mr Lennox tell us: “My heartstrings have been pulled on this and I want to help. I have a family with small kids and my wife has been following this from day one. She told me to come out here and do what I could. I am clearly here to help raise awareness.”
Such is the way of public spectacles, like the Madeleine McCann mystery, that many feel involved. They want to do their bit. But what can they do? Put themselves in the public eye? Make a huge inflatable and show the world how much they care?
Lennox and Hale plan to tour the area with their massive inflatable sign. And surely it will keep Madeleine’s name in the public eye. People will be reminded that Madeleine McCann has gone missing. Parents on holiday will be made aware that children can be taken. They will anxiously hug their children closer. And, if they’ve read some of the over the top media coverage, they will worry over holidaying in Portugal.
Meanwhile, back in the UK, Sun readers can go online and watch a video of Madeleine. It’s called “Maddie on Mobile”. The Mail has stills of Madeleine McCann at the airport, excitedly climbing the airplane’s steps.
The two films, one of 13 seconds and another of nine, were taken on camera phones. “Somewhere in the background there’s even the sound of her voice,” says the Mail. Ghouls will love it.
And they can see it on the Sun’s website. Right after an advert for a film called Paradise Lost, featuring lot of babes in bikinis, and before “Sex in the City, a video showing a couple shagging on a London rooftop, there’s Madeleine on the airport shuttle bus.
So we look. But what does it teach us? Only that the media owns the story of Madeleine McCann. And that she is just another form of entertainment to pass the time before the next show…
Posted: 29th, May 2007 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (262) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
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August 17th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
I don’t want to say Sue W’s information is wrong but like Katrina says, I’ve not heard about Madeleine being on CCTV in a resort restaurant either.
This is my point…there is so much garbage written about the case and when it comes to the simple point: was Madeleine actually in the room that evening, it seems like the only people saying she was abducted were the parents.
If Madeleine was already missing, then the Tapas Bar story/leaving toddlers unattended seems like the perfect smoke screen.
I see not one shred of evidence that says Madeleine was actually in the room that evening apart from the parents saying she was missing (around 10pm).
Who is the last person to see Madeleine other than her parents?
August 17th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
was she in the restaurant that evening i havent read no article on it and i have followed it from day 1
August 17th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
Sue W….where is the article on the Internet that says Madeleine was on CCTV in a resort restaurant at 18:30?
August 17th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Seems like the McCann’s and others have forgotten many aspects of what happened that night then. How long did it take to get back to the room from the restaurant with the CCTV? I’d like to see a detailed chronology of the whole day. Perhaps something happened earlier in the day that is significant to the case.
How many days were the family into the holiday on May 3rd?
Had the parents gone to this Tapas bar and left the kids on previous nights?
The parents play down the aspect of leaving the kids and say it was a mistake but really, they should be quizzed in detail about that. If I was in the Tapas bar and started talking to the McCann’s about kids, I’d be horrified if they said they had left 3 toddlers in an unlocked room alone. Did they tell Madeleine that they were leaving her alone while they were going out to dinner (assuming she was there)? Saying you made a mistake is the easy way out. I’d like to know why they weren’t made to explain their actions in more detail.
August 17th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Madeleine was on cctv at the restaurant in the resort at 18.30 hours, but the parents’forgot’ and said that she was in bed at 18.30. the proprietor came forward with
the video quite late, sue
August 17th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
The burning question everyone should be asking is who says that Madeleine was in the room that evening? Answer: The McCann’s. Perhaps Madeleine was lost earlier in the day. Why is there no chronology of their activities that afternoon? Everything on the Internet centres around their activities that evening in the restaurant etc. It could be that she was never in the room at all that night.
Where did the family go that day? Who saw them return to the villa? Was there an accident earlier that day and the whole thing was an elaborately hatched plot to disguise the fact that Madeleine wasn’t even there that evening? Perhaps getting flak for leaving kids unattended is a great smoke screen to divert attention from the fact that she may not have even been in the room that evening. Better to get berated for leaving children unattended than to go to jail for something more serious?
Look at all the media stories and videos and they all talk of Kate McCann “holding back the tears”. Correct - there are no videos out there of the parents breaking down. There are no tears and the “normal” reactions just aren’t there. The whole thing is too businesslike and it lacks real emotion. For one parent to act like that is feasible but for both parents to act the way they do suggests something else is going on.
Remember these parents are doctors. Did Madeleine have an accident where the parents thought they could deal with or treat it themselves and it backfired? How can you have a missing child and then have the composure to act like an envoy travelling round the world to meet dignitaries? NONE of this makes any sense at all. If you really did feel a loss, you wouldn’t be able to function properly as a parent.
Watch out for the evidence to emerge and I feel sure that the Portuguese police know more than the papers are fabricating. There are so many characters and plot twists in this, who knows what really happened…
August 17th, 2007 at 12:34 am
I just listened again to the interviews with the McCanns - you know something - I really do think - and I have not thought this for some time now- that Madeleine is alive and well and in the UK. I really did think during the first couple of weeks that this whole thing was a money making scam and that Madeleine was well on her way back to the UK long before she was reported missing - to be kept safely here in the UK until enough funds had been raised and it was time to call it a day and “discover” her. I even thought of the senario of a Murat/McCann Scam letting my mind run riot and thinking that with border checks in Europe so lax Madeleine could have got through on Murats daughters passport. Then when it all went on for so long - I, like many others, still couldnt grasp the abduction theory but went through the motions of thinking that she was probably not ever going to be found. NOW - with the sudden change of atmosphere towards the McCanns by the police and the uncomfortable questions and accusations they have suggested that they will soon be back in the UK. 100 days without your kid would be for anyone devastating - but with a few quid to back you up the blow would be softened. I think that the fund has probably by now reached its maximum potential, so there is no need to stay on in Portugal to promote that, the police has stated that they do not consider the McCanns suspects, so presumably they are now free to go home, so if as some reports suggest that Madeleine was taken by suspects seen with a car with a UK reg. then there is every hope that she is in the UK. Maybe when the McCanns get back here they will get a ransom demand - I hope so
August 16th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
Strong Theory’ Madeleine Is Dead
one of the most senior police officers in Portugal has said it is a “strong theory” that Madeleine McCann is dead.
Alipio Ribeiro, national director of the Portuguese judicial police, said forensic test results on blood traces from the holiday flat are due “imminently”.
He told Spanish newspaper El Mundo: “Even though it’s a strong theory and there is always a possibility, we cannot say that she has died.
“It is the theory that we have to work with.”
Speaking about forensic tests, he said the quality of traces of blood found in the Praia da Luz apartment were “not very good” and it was possible they would be inconclusive.
Mr Ribeiro refused to speculate on what would happen if it did turn out to be Madeleine’s blood, but said the results would be significant.
He said he was “optimistic” about getting to the bottom of the “very complex” case.
Asked if her parents were suspects, he said: “No. The parents have never been suspects. Never.”
Asked if his force had any idea where Madeleine was, he said: “No. We have no idea where Madeleine could be.”
what do u guys and ladies think
August 16th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Of course the main objective is to “capaign to stop this happening again” BUT if nobody knows WHAT happened then how can the campaign stop it happening again. I suppose that if any good has come out of it all so far it is to raise the awareness of abduction. I am still of the opinion that I was on day one of this and that is that Madeleine was not abducted. If Madeine was not abducted then maybe when the true facts are known the campaign can shift to making an awareness of what really did happen to her and warning parents of the possibilities of other ways that children can come to harm, apart from abduction which has always been a scary thought in the minds of responsible parents. - I agree that child snatching needs to be addressed - but leaving a wide open situation for abductors to prey on small kids in not a common situation and never will be - most parents - no matter how naive in the art of parenting - would think carefully about leaving young children - almost with a label attached saying “here I am, home alone again - take me” This is exactly what the McCanns did as it was not, by their own admission, a “one Off” - they had done exactly the same thing on previous nights..
August 16th, 2007 at 11:35 am
i have done a myspace profile for maddie i will but my link here if u have myspace feel free to drop by and place ur thoughts i will not tolerate any negative comments this page is for maddie and maddie only myspace.com/redhotflame2007
August 16th, 2007 at 11:26 am
Exactly Katrina the parents in this dont count if they were right or wrong its about a small child lost.
So what if the parents are to blame or not its been the conversation for months and to be honest its just like a record stuck now same things wrote over and over and not getting anyone anywhere.
Whats important seems to be forgotten over the bitch fight about who thinks the parents are the worst or if they killed her ect, to be honest they dont even deserve the threads that are wrote what this should be about is how people can help to stop any more children being hurt like this.
August 16th, 2007 at 11:08 am
Blood Results: Was It Really Madeleine’s?
The results of tests on blood traces found in the apartment from which Madeleine McCann disappeared are not yet known, contrary to some newspaper reports.
wat is going on one paper is saying it isnt another saying it aint yet known seems like a sham to me why cant they just give ppl the right resulkyts so at least we know
August 16th, 2007 at 8:48 am
NA tests on blood found in the room from which four-year-old Madeleine McCann was snatched have shown it was not hers. The finding has come as her mother has admitted she is contemplating leaving Portugal to return home. Sky’s Paul Brennan reports.
well least we know the blood did not belong to the poor innocent child so i will keep on hoping that sweet maddie is still alive well it looks like kate s decided to return to the uk i dont give a damn about her parents they are irresponsible but when it all comes down to it we can all sit here arguing or discussing whos right and wrong but in all fairness this is all about a sweet 4 yr old who was taken from a holiday appartment and has been missing for 105 days i cant see them finding her anytime soon but when they do find her i hope she is alive .maddie my heart and thoughts are with u lil girl xxxxxxxx
August 16th, 2007 at 12:52 am
Hey - just you climb down apple - you are like the voice of guilt - If it had been a case of “help us - our child has gone” - then we would have all been on the band wagon - BUT - it was “give us money ” our child has gone and “I wore long sleeves today - give us money” our child has gone and “See the Pope - give us money” our child has gone “I dropped off my two remaining kids at the cheche - looked at the ocean ” give us money our child has gone - Our child appeared to be sited in Malta and Belgium - “give us money our child has gone” - we dont go to Malta and Belgium - we go to Italy, Morocco, Holland, Spain - WHY for GODS sake not to Malta and Belgium? after all they were the places where the most credible sitings were - I think that the money aspect of this reduces the credibiity - If not one penny had been donated to the Gerry fund I wonder how long this lot would have gone on for. What price do you put on a child - or more to the point what price do the parents put on a child?
August 15th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
i dont feel sorry for the parents i feel for the child but what i am saying is what is repeating over and over the same thing going to do.
By stating the parents are to blame dosnt help Maddie does it, They know this and so does most people on here but its been said and now get over it and do something more contructive or just dont bother.
August 15th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
look apple alice has a right to her opinion has do u at the end of the day if the parents hadnt gone out and left the kids alone then maddie wud be with them right now.instead that lil 4 yr old is god knows where and scared out of her witts if she is alive and we all have to face the fact she might not be ( god i hope she is ) i dont pray but since that lil girl as gone i pray for her every night i even have her pic up on my msn i do feel for the parents coz if it was my kids i wud be in a state yes maybe people have gone harsh on the parents but it all goes back to them leaving the 3 kids on there own
August 15th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Alice if you cant think of any more words to describe it then thank god maybe all of you will get over the fact the parents were wrong and maybe if you cant think of anything else to say your just not say anything.
It’s been 100 days of this total crap from people like you.
So the parents went out and had a meal leaving the kids alone, they were not the first and wont be the last.
Yes it was wrong, I wouldn’t do it but it happened Maddie went missing the McCann’s do realize this!
They really don’t need constant reminding they were wrong and nor do we. What counts is that children like Maddie are being abducted and something needs to be done to clamp down on these people.
Why would it make you feel good about yourself sitting at your computer bitching about how the parents are to blame get over that and if it distresses you so bad to think about this then get out and try to do something about it.
August 15th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
so in all this time the cat cud be a vital clue but guess not now the evidence as been washed wat were the police thinking they shud have took it in for analysis wat a waste of a vital clue My thoughts are with u maddie come home soon
August 15th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
I recon that cuddle cat could tell a story - but they made great emphasis in all of the news reports that it has been clutched by mother from day 1. NOW - ANNOUNCED that “it has been washed because of the sun oil and whatever… its got grubby” What the hell are the police thinking about not sealing cuddle cat in a bag for analysis - apparently the only reliable - yet “silent” witness ??- and what the hell are the parents thinking about touching it and not handing it over immediately to the authorities. It could well have the same blood specs as in the appartment. Reports state that the mother mccann knew immediately something was amis (ugghhh>>??) when cuddle cat was not in the bed but in some unfamiliar resting place in the appartment….surely Madeleine not being in her bed would confirm that something was “amis” without searching for a bloody toy cat. what was the phrase used “At worst naive” - in my opinion best pathetic - at worst - well - just cant think of words to describe
August 14th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
i agree strongly with liz on this if that was me leaving my children alone while i popped to the shop a few yards away i would have social services on my doorstep removing my kids from my care. as for bla’s comment at the end of the day there would be no missing madeline if the parents were doing the parental responsibilites properly. if it was you would you leave your kids unsupervised in a hotel appartment while you popped out to dine a few yards away coz i know for a fact i wud never dream of leaving my kids alone. i really hope madeline is found safe and sound i really do that poor girl didnt deserve any of this and god knows wat that poor girl is going through if she is alive . we are all entilted to our own opinion this happens to be mine .
August 8th, 2007 at 1:15 am
Dont lose any sleep Rob - very few folk neglect their kids to the extent that the McCanns did - most people who have kids on holiday want to be with them, look after them and god forbid would never leave them alone in an unlocked appartment. That is - unless you know differently ROB
August 6th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
that poor little girl. i hope nothing happens to your kids. you should all be ashamed,m you compassionless retards.
August 6th, 2007 at 12:44 am
This one’s going to run and run.
Bored now.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……………………
July 31st, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Hello, “Dont Understand” = that is certainly an understatement. You dont understand that children - particularly ones under 4 years old are not supposed to be “left alone!” You dont understand why no charges have been brought thus far against the parents for neglect? UNDERSTAND THIS - until all investigations are complete - no charges will be brought against anyone, as charges brought now without a conclusive end to the enquiry could hinder investigations and more serious charges pending Until the full extent of the enquiry is brought into the open (and I agree with the Portugese police to keep interim findings confidential) then it would not be prudent to charge the parents with neglect. They need to rule out the parents involvement in a more serious charge before raising the neglect issue. Only when the investigation is complete can the fringe issues be addressed
July 31st, 2007 at 9:26 pm
I am sure the parents have already been checked out and gave an account of themselves Marian, and as they are not arrested or been told not to leave the country I think they are no longer under any suspicion.
The police and social services wouldn’t have left it this long to do anything, if they felt that the McCann’s had been neglectful or in anyway anything to do with Maddies Abduction then they would have been straight onto them.
The hotels baby-sitting service wasn’t that much different to what the McCann’s done anyway.
Why is it that anyone has to be to blame other than the person that took Maddie.
I am honest with myself I cannot say that before Maddie got taken that, if I was in the same situation, were the tapas bar was not that far from the room, I can honestly say that I would not know if I would leave my children or not.
It was a holiday and for some strange reason when on holiday your perceptions on things change, what seems really out of order at home seems fine when you join up with more holiday makers.
July 31st, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Hi and if she does come back what will life be like for any / all of them. The McCans will still have to give an account of themselves, sometime.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:22 am
please please if there is a god find maddy and bring her back safely.
July 28th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Have to say that I think the parents are wholly to blame . We live in a society which isnt safe for kids . Sad but true. As Parents we have a responsibility to protect our children. My kids are now 11 and 9 and I never have let them out of my sight If I can’t get someone to babysit my kids then I have to stay in and not go to the party, or the meal.
They will live with this guilt as long as they live. I feel for poor Maddy perhaps if her parents had thought about their parental duties rather than their social life, they would be looking forward to their next holiday. If that room had gone up in fire the parent would have been charged with abandoning their kids and neglect.
I hope Maddy is found unharmed. I only hope she is able to forgive her parents. I certainly can’t
July 28th, 2007 at 10:34 am
I think if we are honest with ourselves at least we have to admit that there are more people than ever talking about crimes against children.
If the Mcanns decided to sit at home and wait for the PJ to carry out the investigation then none of us would be here talking about paedophiles, child abductors and the henious crimes that are commited against children.
Every day children and young defenseless babies are abused LIVE on the internet within an inch of their little lives while sick perverts tune in and get off on it!
Some of the tapes that were uncovered from paedophile rings were so horrific that hardened investigators were only allowed to view them for a maximum of ten minutes and many of them left the investigation room in tears to get sick! This is reality.
One baby was abused with a knife to such an extent that the investigators doubted it survived the ordeal!
The majority of these children are never found again and die in horrific circumstances.
The only way one can access some of these sites is if they first submit an equally henious video clip to show ‘commitment’ Many of the subscribers abuse their own children to do so and this frequently goes unreported.
(ref: investigation on paedo ring website ‘Children, Our little angels’)
In view of this I find it just a little bit hard to take when I read some of the postings on these forums.
You may thank your lucky stars that you are in the priviledged position to be so judgemental of the Mcanns and flippant towards the child abusers.
I for one believe that a lot of good is coming out of this investigation and that the fact that Gerry is ‘jetsetting’ around the world on ‘freebies’ has a little more depth to it than that.
A lot of heat has come under many of these groups as huge amounts of resources are finally being forced into these investigations.
I think that as a parent I have changed in my attitude on the protection of my kids. I felt I was vigilant up to this but now I am looking at more ways that they can be even more secure for instance when we are all asleep in different rooms in an apartment etc.. How can I secure the doors/windows etc. I lift the baby and bring all the children in with me now when I just pop in to pay for the petrol or pick up the newspaper. It takes a bit longer but I do it now and I thank the Mcanns for highlighting just how predatory these people are.
I wonder how healthy this is for our children though as they grow up in this climate of fear.
I seriously question the motives of people who are so anxious to criminalise the Mcanns just now. They cant complain about being bombarded with iMcann news in the media because there is a media block on so they must acitively seek out news on the story and if the motive is not to support the investigation then one must wonder what side of the fence they are on in their expressed interest.
Ask yourself how would you feel if your little sister, brother, son, daughter was missing and presumed to be taken by these paedophiles.
Would you not get on every news channel and newspaper and radio station that you could? I know I would. I would do exactly what the Mcanns are doing.
July 27th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
I see the lunatics have taken over the asylum again.