Madeleine McCann Not In Malta Or Morocco
FROM Paulo Reis in Portugal:
Portuguese CID spokesman, about Madeleine abduction: “The clue to this mistery is in Praia da Luz”
Portuguese authorities have dismissed as groundless all leads on sightings of Madeleine McCann in other countries rather than Portugal, namely in Morroco and Malta, said Polícia Judiciária (PJ), Portuguese CID, spokesman Olegário de Sousa (…) Further investigations are being carried out centered mainly on the area of Praia da Luz itself, said Mr. Olegário de Sousa. «The clue to this mistery is in Praia da Luz», according to other police source quoted by Diário de Notícias. (…)
Note: Kate and Gerry McCann are innocent.
Posted: 9th, July 2007 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (6,189) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
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November 28th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
HI Everyone:
Hi Maggie:
I cried when I saw that picture of Maddie and Amelie!!!! She seemed to be such a loving sister!!! - and…. just to think that Xmas is around the corner!! :(-
Annie1:
Hope your trip to the US went well. - I do have a question though…. - why are you so concerned about the usage of the fund? It really seems to be bothering you quite a lot…- What if the parents did not do anything to her, and I sure hope the heck they didn’t… -
Hey Kirstie:
Yes, it’s horrible , horrible !!!! - some people who do this horrible stuff don’t realize how precious children really are. - some people cannot have children who would love to have their children, so why not give them up instead of leaving them for dead ??? -
So sad!!!-
November 28th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Jornal de Notícias - 28/11/2007
——————————————————————————–
PJ and an expert in pathology leave today for England
Luís Forra / lusa
Marisa Rodrigues
The Judicial Police (PJ) will meet tomorrow in Birmingham, England, with the technical forensic laboratory responsible for testing the samples collected during the investigation on the Madeleine McCann’s case. Researchers should receive from the hands of those responsible in the Forensic Science Service (FSS) the report of all the analysis.
JN discovered that the meeting will be held on the premises of the FSS, the reputable laboratory in charge of analyzing the samples collected in the apartment of the Ocean Club, on the Praia da Luz, where the girl disappeared, and the car driven by Kate and Gerry when they were in the Algarve. The team of PJ consists of two technicians from the Laboratory of Forensic Science and a criminal investigator.
Three days of meetings
With them will be Francisco Corte Real, of the Delegation of the Center of the National Institute of Legal Medicine. The departure was scheduled for this morning at the International Airport of Faro. The four will be on British soil for three days, with the return scheduled for the 30th. Investigators will use the stay to meet with the British police that in Portugal cooperated with the investigation.
Source linked to the process explained that the expectations on this voyage are high. It is hoped that the tests, expected for several months, are all completed and the results will give a further step into the research.
The same source explained that the voyage has nothing to do with the letters that will be sent to England at any time. The document has been completed and will allow, among other steps, to question again the friends that spend holidays with the McCanns’.
Murat impatient
The research “did not stop”, assured sources from the PJ, which continues to focus all the attention on Kate ,Gerry and their friends. The same is not true with Robert Murat, the first defendant in the process. A status that the lawyer of the British citizen, Francisco Pagarete wants to see “quickly” changed.
“My client has not been sought by the Judiciary Police since August,” said the lawyer to JN, referring to the investigation into cars, including Murat’s car, in which the English dogs that detect blood and body scent were used . “Nothing was found,” which, according to Pagarete, shows that the Englishman “has nothing to do with this case.”
Hair behind the sofa
Among the results of further tests that are awaited by the PJ, as was already reported by JN , are those relating to samples of hair found on the back of a sofa in the apartment of the Ocean Club, in Praia da Luz, in the last search. The PJ has great expectactions in the analysis of the hair, since it is biological and non degradable material - unlike fluids and “dry” blood - and allows toxicological testing. It is not yet known whether the parents gave any drugs to the children.
Boot of the rented car
Traces found in the Renault Scènic rented by the McCanns’ 25 days after the disappearance of the girl and the smell of death in clothes of the mother and in toy of the child, led that Kate and Gerry were seen as suspects and led to the interrogations in which they were made defendants . The examinations of the fluids found in the boot of the car show a match of around 80 per cent match with the DNA profile of Maddie.
http://jn.sapo.pt/2007/11/28/p…..em_ho.html
November 28th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Hi Maggie
Thanks for that post. Let’s hope that the McCanns Home Office DNA results correspond 100% with the Portuguese/Birmingham. It looks as though this will be an important week in relation to the case as I would imagine that the results, in their totality, are finally through. Let’s hope that the PJ publicly announce the results, as they were quick enough to spout information before experts had even had a chance to look at the so-called evidence. If the results tally it might put a stop to the hounding of the McCanns and regenerate 100% interest in finding Madeleine.
Maggie that photograph is lovely, isn’t it. Madeleine and Amelie are just beautiful and look so happy and well cared for. I just hope that someone finds Madeleine soon and reunite the family.
November 28th, 2007 at 9:44 am
‘I saw Madeleine being dragged towards the marina,’ says new witness
Last updated at 08:57am on 28th November 2007
A British businessman has come forward and claimed that he saw Madeleine McCann only eight hours after she went missing as she was dragged towards a Portuguese port by a “suspicious-looking” man and woman.
The British expat, George Burke said he saw a girl who looked “remarkably like Madeleine” being dragged along a road leading to Lagos marina at 6am on May 4th.
Although Burke reported the sighting to Portuguese police at the time, it has taken until now for his account to be taken seriously, according to the McCanns’ private detectives, Metodo 3.
Madeleine McCann: The new sighting coudl mean that she was kidnapped and then taken by sea
Mr Burke, who is originally from Liverpool but now lives in Portugal, said he saw the suspicious couple as he drove past the marina early on the morning after Madeleine went missing.
He told the Daily Mirror: “It was very, very dark and it was hard to make out exactly what the couple looked like. But through the gloom I could see a very suspicious-looking man and woman, with a child who fitted Madeleine’s description.
“Though there was nobody else on the road, they were hurrying across a road that leads straight to the train station and marina.”
The McCanns have said in the past that they believe that their daughter was taken by sea, possibly to Morocco or elsewhere in North Africa.
A source said: “The private investigators are now concentrating on Lagos and the marina.
“What Mr Burke saw could be incredibly valuable.
“He was concerned enough to call the police and they eventually followed up on his information.
“Now the investigators want to talk to Mr Burke. There is a strong chance Madeleine was taken by boat from the marina and is still alive somewhere.”
November 28th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Morning everyone,
I have just read the link provided by swissmiss about baby Grace, or Riley. Horrific. That poor little baby. What the hell is wrong with people?? Damned right they should get the chair. I agree bring back death penalty, something has to be done about the most disgusting of people in our world- not one of them fit to have children or walk amongst them. And no loss to anyone.
Poor little Riley, you are safe now angel.
November 28th, 2007 at 7:37 am
There’s a beautiful picture of madeleiene and her little sister on this site, its just heartbreaking.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/maddie/article516650.ece
FORENSIC experts found NO blood, NO hair and NO body fluids from Madeleine McCann in her parents’ hire car, it emerged last night.
Home Office-approved scientists hired by Kate and Gerry McCann say there is no evidence Maddie was ever in the Renault Scenic, rented 25 days after she disappeared.
Portuguese detectives who made the McCanns suspects have claimed Maddie’s DNA was found in the car.
They alleged the couple accidentally killed their daughter, then used the car to move her body later.
But a source who has seen the forensic scientists’ final report said: “If her body had been in the car, there would have been traces all over it – and there aren’t any.”
Experts also rejected claims there were traces of Maddie’s DNA on a small piece of the car retained by Britain’s Forensic Sciences Service.
Family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: “We feel it is impossible there can be anything found on the piece.
“From our understanding, it is part of the tailgate fitting and is supposed to have tiny droplets of a substance on it. But we do not believe that has proved to contain any of Maddie’s DNA.
“There is no way that if, as has been suggested, her corpse was put in the car there would be no other trace of her DNA apart from on this one tiny fragment.
Leaked
“If her body had been in there, there would have been traces all over it. And there aren’t any. Because she was never in there.”
The experts hired by the McCanns were paid for by multi-millionaire businessman Brian Kennedy.
They were led by US professor and DNA specialist Dan Krane, who has taken part in more than 60 cases.
His team carried out independent tests on the Renault over several weeks and found no trace of Maddie, four.
Leaked reports from Portuguese cops had given conflicting accounts on the strength of a DNA match, with some saying 80 per cent and others 100 per cent.
But more recent leaks said the DNA evidence was inconclusive and would not stand up in court.
Maddie vanished from her parents’ holiday apartment in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz while doctors Kate and Gerry, both 39, were having dinner nearby with pals.
Portuguese detectives were last night liaising with cops in Madrid after a child porn ring was smashed.
Detectives seized 13 suspected paedophiles in ten swoops across Spain.
The raids came after a woman looking at baby websites stumbled across pictures of two men abusing a little girl.
She also found the names of people who were sent the images – and called police. Huge amounts of child porn were seized.
Portuguese cops are probing theories Maddie was snatched or killed by paedophiles.
Meanwhile, the lawyer for suspect Robert Murat called for the McCanns to be CURSED.
Francisco Paragete raged: “They deserve to be cursed for leaving three children unprotected.” He also called the pair’s private detectives “dodgy mercenaries
DONATIONS to the Find Madeleine fund have slowed to a trickle, sparking fears the McCanns will struggle to pay for the ongoing search.
The fund stands at almost £1.1million but £700,000 has been earmarked to pay the private eyes. At its height the fund was receiving £450,000 a month. But that is now down to £30,000.
Mr Mitchell said: “The money has slowed down – that’s only natural. It’s a steady income rather than big amounts
November 28th, 2007 at 1:25 am
I wonder if the McCann fund directors will do the right thing - like the TV phone line scams - and offer to refund all of the money donated if it is found that the parents had anything to do with the disappearence of Madeleine, If it should be found to be a fraudulent appeal made by them knowing that Madeleine will never be found - then maybe the law will insist on the money being redistributed to the original contributors - in my opinion this would be the only thing which should happen, then ones who donated could choose a worthwhile charity to donate the money to. To have foolishly handed over what could amount to £750,000 to a detective agency is manic - what a lot of good that amount would have done for some other children who desperately need help - in my opinion if the detective agency used by the McCanns were as good as they made out they were, they would have used this high profile case as a publicity arena for them and acted on behalf of the McCanns free of charge. If they had come up with a result - which quite honestly now seems unlikely - they would have been made for life. Everyone is being encouraged to “search for Madeleine” - but to charge 750,000 pounds with no guarantee of a result and money which according to the directors of the fund would eventually go the a childresn charity - well words fail me !!! Anyone know who the directors of this ‘tec agency are????
November 28th, 2007 at 1:12 am
Clarence Mitchell - you should be ashamed of yourself “a steady income” It is the welfare of a missing child - not how much of a “steady income” can be generated - SHAME ON YOU ALL
November 28th, 2007 at 1:10 am
I too can paste and copy and this is a disgrace - counting their money - when they could have been counting their blessings if they still had their daughter - or not, whichever way you look at it
Questions are being raised over how long Kate and Gerry McCann can continue the hunt for their daughter after a huge slump in donations to Madeleine’s Fund.
Madeleine vanished in Portugal When the young girl vanished on May 3, cash poured in to find her, but now it is comparatively little more than a trickle.
The fund has £1,095,223.50 in its coffers, according to its website.
But an estimated three-quarters of this will just be used to pay the six-month contract the McCanns took out with detective agency Metodo 3.
The Spanish-based agency is likely to be charging around £2,000 a day, crime experts have told Sky News Online.
When travel and other expenses are added, the final bill for the contract is likely to be as much as £750,000.
And this does not cover the cost of publicity campaigns and other expenses as the McCanns focus their search on Morocco - the area they have been told Madeleine is most likely to be in.
The McCanns are also using other specialists. But their spokesman Clarence Mitchell’s reported £75,000 salary is being covered by millionaire Brian Kennedy.
Slump in donations to fundOther wealthy benefactors - like Richard Branson - have offered financial support to cover their legal bills.
But it is not known how much money, if any, they have pledged towards the fund itself. Or whether they would step in if the McCanns ran out of cash.
The couple, both 39, saw a massive drop in donations after they were named official suspects in the case, and it emerged they had used the fund to pay their estimated £2,000 a month mortgage.
Their spokesman told Sky News Online it is natural for the flow of money to diminish after a fund’s launch.
But in Madeleine’s case, this is not due to a lack of publicity as her story regularly features on the front pages, even six months after she vanished.
The fund raised around £450,000 a month after its launch, but this has now plummeted to around £30,000 a month, according to its website.
Mr Mitchell admits: “The money has slowed down - that’s only natural. Money pours in at the start and dries up after a while, it’s natural.”
He added: “Money is still coming in - not at the vast rate it was initially…It’s a steady income rather than big amounts.”
November 28th, 2007 at 12:39 am
Hi all
Latest article from the Mirror.
McCanns should be cursed, says Murat’s lawyer
By Mirror.co.uk 27/11/2007
In an astonishing attack, Robert Murat’s Portuguese lawyer claimed Kate and Gerry McCann deserve to be cursed for leaving their children alone.
Francisco Pagarete also labelled the Metodo 3 private detectives who are investigating Maddy’s disappearance as “mercenaries.”
Mr Pagarete’s bitter attack on the McCann family appears in Portuguese newspaper 24 horas.
Referring to how the McCann’s left their children asleep in their Algarve holiday apartment while they went for a meal at a tapas restaurant nearby, he said: “The McCanns deserve to be cursed to pay for leaving three children unprotected.”
He also accused the McCann’s of “swaggering around” while his client Murat and girlfriend Michaela Walczuch are having their names dragged through the mud.
“The people from Metodo 3 have spoken to everyone, including witnesses in this case. They are constantly pursuing my client and his girlfriend and they no longer have a private life,” said the lawyer.
“This is simply unacceptable in a democratic country. The Metodo 3 investigators are mercenaries. It’s a disgrace.
“I’m just sorry that there are people out there ready to feed a couple who abandoned their three children and strutted round the streets daily.
“In the meantime my client, his mum and his girlfriend, who have nothing to do with this case, are seeing their name dragged through the mud on a daily basis.”
Mr Pagarete also accused the McCanns of hypocrisy for labelling Portuguese police the best in the world before they were made official suspects over their daughter’s disappearance and the worst in the world afterwards.
“Before they were made official suspects, the Policia Judiciaria were the best in the world and after they became the worst,” he said.
Spanish detectives from Metodo 3 claim a lorry driver identified German Walczuch as the woman seen handing over a baby in a blanket in the Algarve town of Silves two days after Madeleine went missing on May 3.
And the firm’s founder Marita Fernandez, 58, told a Spanish newspaper at the weekend she thought Murat, 34, knew more than he was letting on.
November 28th, 2007 at 12:23 am
jean - the death penalty should be re-introduced in this country - especially for crimes against children. There are cases where definate proof is not absolute, which would obviously be a problem, but where there is conclusive evidence without doubt then I think that it may well deter would be child abusers. On the other hand there would always be ones who would consider themselves to be beyond the law. I know that the law in some US states is a bit brutal, but I will say one thing in their favour - there is no discrimination with regard to who you are, who you know or your status - if you done the crime you do the time. Oh and bye the way - Yes I was Alice - never tried to hide it, but someone else took on the handle while I was away so my middle name came into play. While I was in the US I heard countless numbers of folk speculating on the McCann case. I will not go into it as I know that it would make your blood curdle if I repeated what some folk were saying.
November 27th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Hi Swissmiss
I’ve just read the details about ‘Baby Grace’. What a horrific couple to do that to a tiny girl. I hope there is the death penalty where they live, because they don’t deserve to stay on this earth.
I do so hope that Madeleine will be found soon.
November 27th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
Hi All,
I just read this too, that Portugese detectives are arriving in Britain tomorrow, wonder what this will bring.
Lauren, i am truly sorry you have such a horrendous time. I said a while back that it has shocked me to the very core how many people here have suffered at the hands of an abuser. It upsets me greatly. What you say about loving and adoring that person rings bells with me. My ex was an alcoholic and a violent bully, our lives were a living hell- walking on egg shells the whole time.Do you say something about the drinking or let him do it? knowing that if he didn’t the house would be smashed to bits, and me. Eventually me and my two children got out-for the last time several years ago. Despite the hellish existance my son adored his Dad, had him on a pedestal. It flumoxed me for a long long time- knowing how afraid he was of his rage. (he never harmed them though, physiaclly anyway) but in time it stopped, my son saw, and still does, see him for what he is. But he loves him, both my elder two do. I have kept my mouth shut and waited for the day they could see it for themselves. It worked.
I am not looking for any kind of sympathy because i don’t deserve any. Me, the adult had a choice to get out, and i didn’t for long enough. Now, life is good, fantastic and i have the very best husband icould ever have wished for. Lauren, ihope you have found peace, i honestly mean that.
I think with this forum people don’t so much as think they own it, but are so very passionate in their own beliefs and right or wrong no-one should be condemned for that. All any of us want is that darling girl to be safe. We all want for her to be returned home to her Mummy and Daddy. So to slag her parents off and call them this that and the other is somewhat contradictory when in the next breathe it is said the only thing everyone wants is for her to be back home where she belongs…..
Anthony- do NOT go to PDL armed with strange cigarettes- I think Annie1 was exercising her right to the lowest form of wit!! Pliers??… well now you’re talking!!
November 27th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Seems things might be moving towards a conclusion of evidence - I just saw this on another site
There are new developments in the case Madeleine McCann. The Judiciary Police party tomorrow to England. Investigators will meet with police and British experts in the forensic laboratory in Birmingham, responsible for analysis of samples collected during the investigation.
The team of PJ deployed to England are part two technicians of the forensic science laboratory and a criminal investigator. The accompanying them will also be an element of the National Institute of Legal Medicine.
The four elements should be three days in British soil. The TVI know that the meeting with the laboratory in Birmingham is scheduled for the next day 29.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Lauren 5178
The reason the abuse stopped for me, is because my parent died. I was young. Didn’t talk about it for years, and very rarely do now. As with lots of things in life, you find a way to live with it, or not.
I don’t know if you’re living with this or not. If your not then I hope it’s not too late to get some kind of help – no child/adult should have to deal with this sort of thing on their own. If you have learned to live with what happened to you then it’s a good step forward to you no longer being a victim, I hope this is the case.
November 27th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Right Anthony - you treck off armed with your strange cigarette - Im sure the whole world would take notice of your findings - kick a few sofas - or leave your footprint on the boot of a car while you are out there
November 27th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
this has nothing thankfully to do with Maddie now.. but here is what they have to say about Baby Grace ! :(- so saaaaaaaaad!
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/27/riley.sketch/index.html
November 27th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Hi Lauren :
# 5176-
Good… !!! - :)- not sure who you would be referring to… I never got that feeling though.. -
I just hope the intruder didn’t harm Maddie… I sure hope she is alive somewhere…. still keeping fingers and toes crossed!!!!!!!!!!!!-
November 27th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
HOW POLICE LET MADDY’S KIDNAPPER GET AWAY
The agony goes on for Kate and Gerry McCann
Tuesday November 27,2007
By Virginia Blackburn Have your say(3)
It is one of the biggest mysteries of all time. Ever since Madeleine McCann vanished from a Portuguese resort just before her fourth birthday, Britain and the rest of the world has been gripped by the question: what has happened to her?
The search for her has ranged across continents. Haunting images of her have appeared in newspapers and on TV screens and posters across the globe. The investigation into her disappearance has provoked unprecedented controversy.
Today, in the second part of our exclusive book serialisation exploring the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, we reveal how the Portuguese police left Gerry and Kate distraught as they missed vital clues, enjoyed long lunches instead of stepping up the hunt and even called in psychics when they had run out of ideas.
It was nearly three weeks since Madeleine had disappeared from Praia da Luz but her family were determined not to give up. The appeal had spread to Westminster: as a fund was launched to help the hunt, some of Madeleine’s relatives met the then Chancellor Gordon Brown, alongside then Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. It was a day of good cheer.
Despite charges Goncalo remained on the case
“Instead of a tidal wave of despair my brother Gerry is facing a tidal wave of hope,” said Philomena McCann, speaking outside Westminster. “Initially he was completely floored by what had happened and found it very difficult to cope. That was turned around by the support of the nation of Portugal, the support of Glasgow, the whole of Scotland and England.”
Madeleine’s parents felt they were going to start playing a more active role. The Find Madeleine Fund had been officially launched and Gerry started on what was to be the first of many trips around the globe in the search for his daughter when he flew back to Britain to consult advisers on how best to proceed. They would leave “no stone unturned” in the attempt to find their daughter, they said; nor did they want to leave Portugal without her. Support in Portugal and across the world was strong and on May 21 the nation observed a minute’s silence to focus on attempts to recover the child.
The McCanns were comforted by the enormous wave of public support, the Church and a forthcoming visit to meet the Pope. Kate was constantly seen with Madeleine’s Cuddle Cat, which had become something of a security blanket.
When asked if they thought Madeleine was still alive, Kate replied: “Absolutely.” She then motioned to Madeleine’s favourite toy and revealed: “It’s something Madeleine has with her every night. If she’s upset or not well she has Cuddle Cat. It’s provided me with a little bit of comfort, something of Madeleine close to me…”
Back in Britain there was growing criticism of the Portuguese police. John Stalker, the former Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, scathingly compared the handling of the case to the TV programme Life On Mars, in which a modern police officer finds himself in the altogether less professional world of the Seventies.
“British police are not perfect but they can never be accused of complacency when a three-year-old is reported missing,” he wrote. “In these cases they hit the ground running – which never happened in Portugal. From the moment Madeleine went missing Portuguese police moved too slowly. The feeling seems to have been that child abductions simply do not happen on the Algarve. Local police dealt with the inquiry during those precious first few hours when fast-moving investigations such as these are won or lost.”
Doubts were growing about the competence of the Portuguese police, who now came under attack for not searching empty apartments close to Madeleine’s. Many had metal shutters to keep the sun out which would have made it impossible to see if anyone was inside.
Michael Askew, 60, a British businessman who owns a two-bedroom apartment close to the complex, was astonished by what he saw as police ineptitude. “I’m amazed the police haven’t searched my place,” said Mr Askew, who owns a building company in Derbyshire. “Soon after Madeleine was abducted I saw a TV interview with a Portuguese policeman who said they had master keys to all the nearby properties. He said they were going to be searched but mine certainly wasn’t. My son Robert went out there this week for the first time since Madeleine went missing and it’s obvious no one’s been into the apartment. Neighbours say none of theirs have been searched, either. The complex managers say they haven’t handed the master keys to anyone. I’m also surprised no one seems to have been asked whether they were staying in the apartments or who may have been renting them at the time. It makes you sceptical about how they have run their investigation.”
Further evidence of ineptitude emerged when it became clear that a description of a man seen carrying a child on the night Madeleine disappeared was wrong – a mistake in the conversion from centimetres to inches put him three inches taller than the witness had described. It then emerged officers were turning to psychics and clairvoyants for help. While several said Madeleine had been taken over the border into Spain, the information rather suggested that police didn’t have a great deal more to go on. “If there are indications there is enough to follow we will go,” said Chief Insp Olegario Sousa when asked about the danger of hoaxers. “If there aren’t we cannot do anything.”
It was not long before eyebrows were raised again by police behaviour, though this time the problem was a culture clash as much as anything else. The problem appeared to be lunchtime drinking. At the same time as the McCanns were facing that brutal press conference in Berlin, Sousa and detective Goncalo Amaral were pictured enjoying a two-hour lunch with drinks.
Sousa was defensive: “It is very, very sad but a person’s free time is for lunch. That is a normal thing to do.”
Worse still, the men were heard discussing the case in front of other diners. “If it were detectives from Scotland Yard there would be an uproar,” said Philomena McCann. “But we have to let them get on with their work because that’s all we have to rely on.
“We have to accept their approach because the British Government will not intervene. It is a different culture where they have lunches and siestas but we hope the work is made up at other times.”
Shortly afterwards Philomena and a cousin went to Lisbon airport to put up “missing” posters (incredibly, none had been hung there, allegedly because of the Portuguese government’s fear of damaging the tourist trade), and were expelled from the airport by gun-toting police. “They just don’t want to admit a child was snatched in their country,” she said.
Amaral, one of the most senior detectives in the hunt, was revealed to be one of five officers formally accused of torturing a confession from Leonor Cipriano. She was alleged to have been attacked in September, 2004, after her nine-year-old daughter Joana had gone missing from the village of Figueira, just seven miles from Praia da Luz.
The parallels with Madeleine’s case were eerie. The police had failed to seal off the house, allowed hundreds of police and friends of the family to trample over the crime scene and ended up accusing Joana’s mother of the crime.
The body was never found but Leonor and her brother Joao were convicted of killing her. She later claimed police had beaten a confession out of her. Pictures showed her face and body covered in bruises, which police said occurred when she fell downstairs. She lodged a complaint which was taken up by the public prosecutor’s office. Five policemen were said to be involved: three accused of torture, a fourth for failing to stop the attack and a fifth for falsifying paperwork.
Amaral was one of the five yet he remained on the Madeleine case. The McCanns said nothing publicly but they must have foreseen that the Portuguese police would try to implicate them. The investigation was a mess. Sousa decided to blame the family for allowing so many people into their apartment in the immediate aftermath of Madeleine’s disappearance, as if the family wasn’t desperate to enlist as much help as possible. “The presence of so many people in the room where the little girl slept with her brother and sister could have complicated the work of the forensic team,” he said. “At worst, they would have destroyed all the evidence. This could prove fatal for the investigation.” It looked very much as if he was trying to shift the blame for incompetence away from the police force.
While the McCanns remained silent, sources close to the family voiced their dismay. “It’s insensitive,” said one.
“Of course the family are going to search the apartment. If your child goes missing, you search under beds, everywhere.”
Increasingly it seemed as if the McCanns were having to do the job of police. Attending a church service in Praia da Luz – Kate was still clutching Cuddle Cat – Gerry recalled that it was Father’s Day back home. He had already had to undergo both his and Madeleine’s birthday without her and thoughts of this occasion the previous year were too painful. “I can’t think about how we spent it,” he said. “I can’t think about anything except how to get Madeleine back.”
The police investigation seemed to have stalled. There was widespread criticism when officers again searched the apartment from which Madeleine had gone missing – seven weeks after her disappearance. Why, observers asked, was there any doubt the crime scene had not already been properly searched?
One critic declared: “It is astonishing that they are still at the stage of scouring the crime scene for clues. You would think that everything that could have yielded information had already been gathered up. It’s a pretty damning sign that the investigation is going nowhere.”
Towards the end of June arrests finally were made in connection with the case but they were not the arrests everyone was hoping for. Rather, Italian Danilo Chemello and his Portuguese girlfriend Aurora Pereira Vaz were taken in by the police after a dawn raid on the Costa del Sol town of Sotogrande, on suspicion of trying to extort reward money from the McCanns.
It was thought that they had claimed to know where Madeleine was being held and wanted £2.5million to relay the information. It hadn’t worked.
November 27th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
jean-5166
Thanks for your support. Being a person who most of my adult life has supported the NSPCC and other smaller children’s charities and have always had children’s best interest at heart, to be called a bully was very upsetting. All I/we want if for Madeleine to be found and for me to promote the seriousness and huge growing problem of paedophilia.
I just wish all this nastiness would stop, but I guess replying to these ppl is just feeding the argument-no more biting for me
November 27th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Maggie just to clarify, in no way was i implying Kate and Gerry McCann have abused or did abuse Madeleine McCann in any way, shape or form.
The reason the abuse stopped for me, is because my parent died. I was young. Didnt talk about it for years, and very rarely do now. As with lots of things in life, you find a way to live with it, or not.
November 27th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Lauren-5158
Yourself and Maggie behave disgracefully and why the mods on here have not intervened to stop the pair of you from bullying and name calling is beyond me. And you do all this in Madeleine’s name – shameful?
I have never bullied nor name called on this forum until I was recently attacked personally myself. People come on here, insult and get quite nasty with the regular posters then when all else fails they bring Madeleine into it just to support their own argument. As for accusing us of behaving disgraceful – sounds like you have it in for Isla and me without any proof at all just your interpretation of our posts. I don’t know what eating you but your last few posts have been good ones and I for one have agreed with them and told you so, yet you’re still attacking!!
I really am not going to reply to you or the other one ,who, if they dont like my post feel thats its okay to attack in such a manner, thats NOT why i come on this forum!
On a more serious note, I am genuinely sorry that you suffered at the hands of an abusive parent! It is quite common for an abused child to love the parent that is abusing them, especially if that is what the child has ever known in its life. I do hope that you got out of that life sooner rather then later and are getting the help you deserve.
I am not undermining what has happened to you in any shape or form, but the McCann’s situation is very different from yours. Madeleine was stolen by a criminal and because of her parents actions it was made easier for that criminal to take her, Madeleine is not a long term neglected child, I personally think Kate and Gerry acted irresponsible due to the fact that they were under a false sense of security because they were on holiday and most ppl were doing the same thing. I’m not making excuses for them just trying to point out the difference between your abuser (not the abused) and Madeleine’s abuser.
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Mods and Admin
believe me ladies and Anthony , down here is blissful compared to the utter garbage going on elsewhere, my ‘delete ‘button is working madly. I think even Lauren and Annie enjoy it more down here, but i won’t tell anyone,don’t worry
November 27th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
My comment about ownership of the board was not directed at you swissmiss. There is the feeling from certain posts on here, some people feel they have the right to tell people what they are allowed and not allowed to talk about. I was merely pointing out this forum, is open, to anyone.
Regards the Mcs and how they are with the twins regards the media etc - i dont know. I did find it odd however after Madeleine went missing, they still continued to send the twins to the creche. Me, i wouldnt have let them out of my sight and i certainly wouldnt have trusted them with strangers or people who are paid to look after them. So who knows what their line of thinking is, regards childcare.
November 27th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Hi again Lauren:
#5173- I don’t think anyone feels that they have ownership of the forum.. Anorak is the ownership and I assume the Mods and Admin. are too… - I certainly don’t feel that I am !!- - I’m just praying that Maddie will come back home b4 the holidays!!!!!!!! - -
On another note…I”m also surprised of something though… about the twins……. - they have been in almost every paper …. you would think that the Mc’s would be afraid of letting them see their faces after what they went thru to Maddie……. - now that everyone knows where they live……- ??
November 27th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
5173 made a mistake, my sentance should have read that you dont have to lack compassion - hope that makes sense
November 27th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Jeannie, i dont think that dealing with the facts of something means that you have to lack compassion or understanding. Like i have said before i think it is completely childish that there seems to be 2 camps, pro or anti McCann, what on earth does that have to do with finding Madeleine McCann? I dont know the McCanns, but as fellow human beings i have compassion for their situation and at the same time as feeling bad for the situation they find themselves in, but more so the situation poor Maddie may be in. I can also see the huge error of judgement they made on that night and previous nights. If i was the parent of either Kate or Gerry i would feel exactly the same thing. Would i go on about it day in day out, no i wouldnt. Would i try to do my best to help them to get Maddie back, or course i would.
I think because some people have posted on here for a while, they somehow think they have ownership of this forum, when they dont. I am not here to argue with anyone, or cause bad feelings. I live by what i think i think is right and i am true to that. So there is nothing on this earth that will ever make me think they were just being naive leaving the children, or that they never thought what the consequences of their actions may be. Sadly for them to truly learn why you dont leave children alone, Madeleine has had to pay the ultimate price.
November 27th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Hi All,
I agree with Jean and Swissmiss,
This is what we are all here for and why we post because we truly care about what happened to Madeleine. I find Isla and Mike’s and any one else’s posts who paste newspaper reports very useful, because otherwise i’d have missed them. Is it so wrong to want to know what happened and to ty in our own ways to dig a little and see what we might find- (many interesting things as it happens!) If Isla or anyone else feels they are able to share information that is personal to them then all i can say is i feel glad that people are able to do so, they quite obviously feel safe in the knowledge that we do care- because we really do! We have become friends i would say, and have empathy for each other. Just as we do for the McC’s and most of all Madeleine. We all know what they did on holiday was wrong but i cannot for the life of me see what good it does to labour the point- it doesn’t bring her back or change things.
The fact the mods weren’t even moderating here says it all- so by all means post, fresh ideas and theories always bring new perspectives, but please, stop with the aggression.
Oh and Anthony, keep off those strange cigarettes. They are so bad for you!!!! naughty boy. Lol!
One other thing; the Police are saying they think Kate has Bi-polar disorder. I don’t know too much about it but from what i do know i am unsure she’d be allowed to practice as a G.P!!!!! Can’t see it myself, it can be a crippleing condition.And wouldn’t she be on some sort of long term medication??? Must check this out actaully. Will post when i know more.
November 27th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Hi Lauren:
I understand why you would think that… and YES I do excuse you.. and yes, at first I had that feeling….. but I’m reading things on line etc… So, I’have had a little change of heart… but it comes down to that know one knows as of yet what really happened that night, and yes, it is all from theories… which are not always the best things to come by. We all have had our shares of name calling on here… and hopefully that won’t happen again…. because NO ONE is better then another on here. - And sometimes, as for myself it’s not always easy to write down on paper what one really is trying to say versus talking to someone in person thus can be mis-interpreted at times… I myself still have a slight chance of hope that Maddie is still alive somewhere……..-
November 27th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
I think it is all about the way we see the “evidence’ so to speak. Most of us here believe the parents had nothing to do with Madeleine’s disappearance. Yes we all have been down that long road of being called “proMcs” plus a few not so nice names. Call us what you want but we are all here for one reason only…in the hope that Madeleine is found safe and well. We defend the Mcs for their fight for the return of their lovely little daughter, not for their naive action during that week, which was followed by so many others there. Yes we are all angry that these innocent children were left alone which ended in tragic consequences. But I truly believe that they are paying for this one thousand fold now, 7 months later and no Madeleine.
To those of you who cast a heavy stone at the McCanns, I ask..If this were your daughter/son who made this tragic decision…would you be so harsh and unforgiving or would you try to help? I personally do not know the McCanns but yes I do have sympathy for them as I believe they did not do this with malice and forethought. The only thing I see is a missing 4 year old who needs to be found and beating down the parents will not accomplish anything. The point I guess I am trying to make is that if we all sit here in judgement of their mistake, will this resolve anything or make people not care and move on. Madeleine is the innocent here and needs to be returned to her parents. No matter what.
I don’t see people all jumping on the parents who deliberately hurt/murder their children. For some reason the McCanns are so disliked, which seems crazy to me being that no one here even knows them. Just the other day “Baby Grace” was identified as a little girl named Riley.
She was brutalized, killed and stuffed in a plastic box and stored for four months, before disposing of her body in the sea by her mother and her new online husband. These are vile people and where is the out pouring of rage towards them for their horrible crime against a sweet little girl? These two stories don’t balance out. What a crazy world in which we live.
PRAYING FOR MADELEINE AND HER SAFE RETURN!
November 27th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Swissmiss, i have read a lot of your past posts, reading between the lines of a lot of things you say, you dont believe the parents are innocent and in quite a few of your past posts you almost come right out and say that you think they have done something to Madeleine. So please excuse me if i dont take what you are saying on here, to be 100% what you truly believe.
I dont think i have ever said i dont have compassion for the situation the McCanns are in now - who wouldnt? The whole family, extended included must be devastated by Madeleine’s disappearance. But in my mind, Kate and Gerry McCann leaving the children on their own, has to be viewed separately to Madeleine going missing. As everyone is viewing the whole thing from purely an emotional standpoint, after Madeliene went missing. We are all responsible for our actions and accoutable for them too.
Obviously a missing child, in any family is heart breaking. So i am the same as anyone else on here, hoping that Madeleine is returned home to her family soon, along with all the missing children who have been taken away from their loved ones.