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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December 4th, 2007 at 12:48 am
GOOGLE Translation El Mondo
The World, Wednesday December 3, 2007
‘Case Maddie’: the siege narrows
The wiretapping involving Gerry McCann and also Russell O’Brien, which would become suspect
LONDON - Seven months after the night he disappeared mysteriously Madeleine McCann his bed, police Portuguese seemed closer than ever to solving the case, which so much ink and money has caused. After a surprise visit to Elderby, Police Headquarters Leicestershire (UK), which depend Kate and Gerry McCann, the Portuguese authorities are preparing to return to question a group of nine British are at the heart of the mystery.
After cooperating with the British authorities, the Portuguese Judicial Police will be required to travel to England the next few weeks, with the aim of interrogating both Gerry and Kate McCann and seven of his friends with the parents of Maddie were having dinner the night of May 3.
The meeting Elderby between the Portuguese and British police in the presence of various specialists in forensics, served to reinforce the line of research equipment Paulo Rebelo continues since last July and which led to consider as arguidos ( suspects) marriage McCann.
The Portuguese Judicial Police still suspecting that Kate and Gerry McCann hid the body of her daughter, Madeleine, and simulated his abduction. A broad allegation that two other suspects, Robert and Russell Murat O’Brien. Contrary to what many thought so far, the Judicial Police has in its possession more evidence that simple DNA analysis.
According to various testimonies, available, for example, from the list of telephone calls made by the marriage McCann and his friends, and known also as the recipients of those calls and, in some cases, the exact content of the talks conducted by all members of the group.
The call that most intrigo the Portuguese police took place on June 10 between Russell O’Brien and Gerry McCann. The father of Maddie assure initially to the police that the call had been made from a location four kilometers from Ocean Club. However, listening to the calls and triangulating antennas enabled the Portuguese police, in collaboration with technicians British verify that such claims were false.
The place from where the call was made and the content of the signs are missing and the police want to explore in interrogations, which could lead to the rapid location of the body of Madeleine.
The triangulation of calls has enabled the police discovered an abandoned barn, where there was a towel stained with blood and debris from the trunk of Renault Scénic rented by McCann.
In addition, several videos and various photographs are part of the summary, particularly some showing that Murat already knew the group members. Aside from the strange coincidence that Murat had been in Exeter, where residents then Russell O’Brien and Jane Tanner, the police received from his British colleagues various elements that can prove that Gerry McCann and Robert Murat had already been seen and spoken on several occasions, even before the McCann travel to Praia da Luz.
A source close to the Attorney can confirm that there is sufficient evidence, regardless of the DNA test, to make formal accusations. But that decision was taken only after the interrogation, and near the end of the period after which the summary of the case ceases to be secret.
With the strengthening of the line of the investigation and the suspicions of the police on the Portuguese McCann, investigators have eight months to concluís content. From that moment, the process is made public, according to the new penal code Portuguese.
The situation of Robert Murat, Gerry and Kate could therefore worsen. Indeed, Murat was declared a suspect or arguido on May 14 and, therefore, his eight-month period ending in January. Marriage McCann was declared a suspect on September 7, which, in his case, the term expiring in May.
December 4th, 2007 at 12:47 am
Well you said it Jean - it is a public site - without anyone else you and mike and isla could form your fan club. This would not be healthy for your investigation into what happened to Madeleine - if you never read or heard anyone elses point of view, then you would bury yourselves in self belief and not be prepared to look further than the end of your noses. You are all three obviously absolutely sure in your minds that there was abduction and that the McCanns had absolutely, and know absolutely nothing about it. If everyone thought that way, the phrase “leave no stone unturned” - remember the McCanns themselves gave this as their reason to promote their fund - WELL - if only the senario of abduction was being investigated and only people who believed this was the case were allowed to make observations, then IF the McCanns were involved their stone would never be unturned, would it. In the case of any missing child - or adult - it crucial that every option is considered and just because you are frightened by the thought that any parent could be involved in their child being missing, and not being absolutely straightforward about it. It happens, it has happened in the past and will probably happen again. If I were in the McCanns position I would be more concerned if I had not been declared a suspect - as it would prove that the police are not considering every option, and like it or not in the majority of cases of missing children, the parents or someone close is involved
December 4th, 2007 at 12:43 am
Hi Paula - 5287 - you asked for the article on the barn. Well, here it is ….
The hunt for Madeleine McCann last night centred on a disused barn near Praia da Luz where police found a towel stained with what may turn out to be the little girl’s blood. Fibres found on the towel allegedly match fibres from the hire car rented by Maddie’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann.
Portuguese detectives discussed the breakthrough when they met British police and a Crown Prosecution Service official last week at a police station in Leicester. Today, for the first time the Sunday Express can shed light on the new avenue police are pursuing in the hope of a breakthrough in the baffling case.
Based on fresh information from mobile phone surveillance police began a search of an area in the south east of the resort. They came across a towel, with an Aztec design, near a disused barn in a remote area close to Praia da Luz. Portuguese sources say forensic scientists used a substance called Luminol to look for blood deposits and found three sites on the edges of the towel. They tested the blood deposits to see if there was a match with Madeleine’s DNA.
Although the samples were not good quality the scientists were able to do what is called low copy analysis, which showed there was ‘moderate’ support to suggest the blood deposits matched Madeleine’s blood. The results were not conclusive and are not regarded as being strong enough to be presented as evidence in any court case.
They also found a loaf and a carrier bag, which produced no significant information, but close analysis of the towel revealed fibres which were not made of the towel material. The fibre fragments were microscopically examined against fibres found in the boot of the Renault Scenic hired by the McCanns 25 days after Maddie vanished. Portuguese police sources say there was ’strong support’ that the fibres found on the towel matched fibres from the boot of the car. One possiblity being considred by the Portuguese detectives was that the towel had at some point been in the boot of the Renault Scenic, which would explain how fibres had got on it.
THE END
It seems that they are really grasping at straws. Why on earth they don’t use the satilite tracking device which was suggested a long long time ago by Sir whatshisname to pin point what happened on 3 May God only knows. By the time all of this money has been spent on the Portuguese police wages etc, etc. it could have paid for this facility to have been used.
December 4th, 2007 at 12:20 am
5308 and 5311 After reading these two posts again I would like to ask a question of Annie1 and Lauren. Why do you bother to come on this site and read all of the so called ‘drivel’?? I know it’s a public site and anyone can join in, but if the comments which are posted rile you so much why read them. It doesn’t make sense. Or are you both exceptionally contraversial people who love to argue with anyone about anything, and don’t like the thought of some people just plodding along believing nothing but good in these two people who are going through hell??
December 4th, 2007 at 12:20 am
Express 4 Dec. New DNA tests
http://www.express.co.uk/posts…..-Madeleine
NEW DNA TESTS COULD UNLOCK THE MYSTERY OF LOST MADELEINE
NEW EVIDENCE: Little Madeleine
Tuesday December 4,2007
By David Pilditch in Praia da Luz
SEVENTEEN human cells could provide a major breakthrough in the Madeleine McCann mystery, it was revealed yesterday.
The DNA samples are being examined by scientists in Britain and Portuguese detectives believe the evidence could unlock an investigation which is now in its eighth month.
Experts are trying to establish whether the cells match Madeleine’s DNA and so help investigators discover what happened to the youngster.
The samples are being analysed by the Forensic Science Service laboratory in Birmingham which has developed sophisticated techniques not available in Portugal.
The development comes only days after it was revealed that months of painstaking analysis on DNA uncovered in Portugal had so far failed to produce conclusive evidence.
But in a rare public pronouncement on the case, Guilhermino Encarnacao, head of the Policia Judiciaria in the Algarve, said: “We have asked the laboratory to carry out more tests and exhaust every possibility of obtaining conclusive results.”
Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry, face being interrogated for a second time by police in Britain within the next few days. It is expected British detectives will first question the couple’s friends, members of the Tapas Nine who were on holiday with the McCanns in Praia da Luz when Madeleine vanished on May 3.
They want to quiz the group on alleged inconsistencies in their statements over the events that took place the night Madeleine went missing.
Portuguese prosecutor Jose Cunha de Magalhaes e Menezes will this week send a letter to the Home Office requesting official permission for the interviews to take place.
Police in Portugal are still working on the theory that Madeleine died in an accident at the family’s Ocean Club holiday complex. They believe GP Kate and heart consultant Gerry, both 39, covered up the crime and later disposed of their daughter’s body.
The couple from Rothley, in Leicestershire, deny being involved in Madeleine’s disappearance. They became official suspects in September following the initial analysis of forensic evidence by the scientists in Birmingham.
DNA samples were found at the family’s apartment and in a Renault Scenic hire car the McCanns rented 25 days after Madeleine went missing. Tests are now being carried out on a blood-stained towel found near a disused barn on the outskirts of Praia da Luz. It is believed the evidence was uncovered after police launched a new search of the area which was said to have been pinpointed by technicians who examined mobile phone data.
Although the investigation appeared to have stalled, experts last night insisted the samples which are currently being tested are enough to bring about a potential breakthrough.
Forensic scientist Dr Ronald Denny said sophisticated new techniques had helped re-open a series of high-profile cases in Britain.
Dr Denny, who acts as an expert witness in legal cases, said: “It’s not a hopeless task. If they have 17 cells they can carry it off very effectively in Birmingham which is one of the leading laboratories in the world. It is a minute sample, something which even 10 years ago could not have been worked upon. But improving DNA techniques mean detectives can re-open old cases.
“A cell is negligible – you can just about see it under a microscope. It’s a sample someone would leave behind with the touch of a finger.
“But when placed with certain biochemicals a small amount of DNA grows to a size that can be analysed.”
The technique has helped catch some of the world’s most notorious killers, including the Trophy Rapist, Antoni Imiela, who carried out attacks around the M25.
Forensic Science Service tests on hand ties used to bind Joanne Lees in the Australian Outback also gave police the DNA profile of killer Bradley Murdoch.
December 4th, 2007 at 12:15 am
Oh Ok Mike so
“Some of the comments by Annie and other anti-McCann’s are disgraceful to say the least. In my opinion they are either written by people without children and no idea of how any parent could have done what the MacCann have done, or by plain vitriolic individals
Correction dear boy - I have children, grandchildren and NO I really do not have any idea how the McCanns could possiblly have done what they did - I would NEVER have left my children alone - and I would never ever have tried to wriggle out of my responsibilities for my children by suggesting that I was naive. They were not naive when they chose to go through the demanding IVF treatment (and before you start banging on about that - I do know what is involved in such treatment and I know that being naive does not come into the equasion when that treatment is considered suitable) Children are not commodities - they cannot be put in a box like a toy - and brought out when they are needed as accessories or whatever.
December 4th, 2007 at 12:10 am
Well, Lauren and Annie1, I hope you feel better for that outburst. I wondered why Brasil had left the forum, he showed no sign of being agitated with the regulars on here, in actual fact he seemed to enjoy the conversations!!! I wonder if you have been on any of the other forums. I have, and I have made comment on those too, only because they are so full of childish inuendos which have absolutely nothing to do with the plight of Madeleine. They are full of absolutely vicious comments, you should really read them if you think that the people who post on here are bullies. The regulars on these other sites actually fight for who is first to post each day when a new item is shown. The comments that are made are almost slanderous, and should never be allowed to be shown. When I have made comments against these people I have been reprimanded by the Mods and Admin, and have been told that after all these sites are ’satire’. So what do you two expect, this site is the most tame of all, we are all concerned with one thing, and one thing only, and that is to help get Madeleine back where she belongs - in the arms of her parents. The majority of us are happy with the way that Mike and Isla put lots of information, so that we can all be up to date with what the media is saying. We really don’t want to argue with anyone, but there comes a point when someone says something someone else disagrees with, and heated comments then start. No one is a bully, and you Lauren are out of order saying what you did. I think we are all getting exceptionally frustrated that this has been going on for so long, and there still seems to be no positive steps forward. I really do think it is time for the McCanns to speak out, damn the ’secrecy’ laws, and tell what really happened on that night. I am still sure that Murat has had something to do with Madeleine’s abduction, but of course that is only my opinion!!!
December 4th, 2007 at 12:02 am
Hi Lauen - I couldnt agree with you more - the sad thing is that these folk seem to dedicate their lives to this site - checking through the posts - sometimes all day, every day and most of the night they are here with their tunnel vision and pasted copies of anthing google can come up with which puts the McCanns in a good light. I for one would not like to be in the McCanns shoes. Tony Bennett - a very strong minded legal beaver who posts on Anorak sites was interviewed on the James Whale show - boy did he stand his ground and got such a lot of support from the public. He was unsuccessful in an attempt to bring the McCanns to justice for child neglect. There was, in my opinion, never any question that they neglected their children - and not just on the one occassion - the senario of the 3rd May could have apparently been similar for several nights previously and not just the Mccann kids, but others in the party, also left alone to fend for themselves. I have no doubt in my mind that the reason that the neglect charges were not allowed to proceed is because there are a lot more questions to be answered by everyone in connection with Madeleines disappearance and a pending case of neglect would hinder proceedings. I agree absolutely with you about the “dreamers” and have said so before. I think it is cruel to repeat what some jittering dream scribe is saying - and I have read on this site that some posters here actually correspond with this Brian Ladd bloke on a regular basis, hanging on his every doodle, none of which have meant a jot with regard to finding Madeleine - otherwise she would be home safe and sound.
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:45 pm
Isla = 5307 ‘money’s the name of the game crew’ = So at last you have realised what is going on with the McCann Clan -
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:04 pm
Isla, 5307 - you are different how? Because you believe that you are in the right? Dont both sides of opposing armies, believe that they are in the right? That their God will protect them?
And now you are saying that people who dont agree with Kate and Gerry McCanns actions are now either a nasty bunch or paedophiles, trying to cover their own evil deeds, by putting the McCanns down. No middle ground then as far as you are concerned.
You even accuse people of using the disappearance of Madeleine to offload their own personal baggage. Couldn’t ever accuse you of that could we? Im sure you have never offloaded your personal baggage on here.
If you are looking for cyber jackals, you need look no further than the end of your nose.
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:53 pm
What is it with you people on here constantly attacking Annie1? Yet you Mike talk about civilised society, and you along with other people on here, attack someone whose opinion differs from your own. You are nothing but a bunch of mindless bullies. You wouldnt know a debate if it hit you in the face. You have no idea what it is to have an unbiased opinion. One based on facts, on things that have been proven. Not so called facts that come to someone via a dream. Or because you highly analytical bunch on here just believe something to be so.
I was recommended this site initially by a good friend of mine who used to come on here, Brasil. But he later told me that he no longer wished to be associated with some of the comments and views held on here, as they were bordering on bullying at times. And after coming on this site and reading back on past posts, this is definitely true.
Youre poor excuse for your actions, because you care so much about Madeleine McCann. Maybe you do. But what a way to go about it. A bunch of adults behaving no differently to pack animals.
Just because someone doesnt hang off Kate and Gerry McCanns every word, or believe or agree with all of their actions. That does not mean because someone holds that point of view, they are uncaring about Madeleine’s plight. But on here, you would think it was a cardinal sin to even utter a word that may be seen as anti McCann.
Check out the headline of this forum. Does it even mention Kate or Gerry McCann - that would be a NO.
Mike, Isla and all you other narrow minded people, why dont you go start your own forum, dedicated to Kate and Gerry? Oh yes you cant can you, cos your heads are so far stuck up your own asses, thinking your points of view are the be all and end all. Kissing each others butts every chance you get and high fiving each other with your pathetic posts, attempting to put other people down.
Please feel free to respond, no doubt telling me that you wont ever read my posts again, or perhaps you will just ignore me, collectively sending me to Coventry - another form of bullying guys. Just so you know, yes i have children, yes i am a caring person, no i dont have an axe to grind against the McCanns, And yes i would love Madeleine to be found and returned to her family. Must be something else wrong with me huh to not be agreeing with you intellectual bunch, lol. I know what it is, im not a bully and i think that people thinking this through from all angles is the only way we will find out what has happened to Madeleine, and hopefully this will lead us to where she is.
A prayer as always for Madeleine and all children who are missing, being abused, hurt and are not living the life that all children should have - a life that is happy and without fear.
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Hi Mike
It would seem that no matter what we would like to believe things haven’t moved on from the days of the holocaust, Uganda, China and Bosnia to name but a few. Many, many
so-called ordinary people are still basically cruel, revengeful and gullible.
What is so frightening in this day and age, and the McCann case has highlighted it, is that these people can NOW form something akin to an Internet army and create absolute havoc. They choose to start with the premise that the McCanns are guilty and then ’search’ for ‘evidence’ to validate their theory. The search involves scrutinising the McCanns every word, facial expression, movement, action and so on with the subsequent ‘finding something sinister’. They post their absurd thoughts, others elaborate and so it goes on with them all feeding off each other. They reach a point where they are all in agreement that the individuals are DEFINITELY guilty and then the ‘punishment’ discussions begin. The pack of cyber jackals then go for ‘the kill’ by doing their utmost to totally destroy or rip their prey apart. They try to outdo each other with some ultimately putting ideas into action such as petitioning to have their other children taken from them or doing their best to have them ousted from their jobs. The more intelligent or manipulative, who quite often have their own agenda, such as covering up their paedophile activities or trying to discredit the Government, make full use of the situation. The bottom line is that most if not all of these people don’t give a damn for Madeleine or any other missing child for that matter. Madeleine’s case is just a front or a vehicle for them to download their personal baggage or achieve their horrendous aims. It’s frightening and extremely depressing. Furthermore, this case has now shown these nasty, sad little individuals that if they unite they have power (and many like minded ‘friends’) and can make a (hellish) difference. When the McCann case is resolved they will go on, united in their madness, swirling around cyber space making God knows how many other people’s life an utter misery, because they have had a taste of blood (power) and they love it. And as you say Mike, there are others who share the blame such as incompetent and or disinterested Police Forces and the ‘money’s the name of the game crew’ the Press. Thankfully there are also many decent, intelligent and compassionate people around that help us rise above this Bedlam and some are to be found on THIS forum.
Hi Kirsty
I agree with you re. the barn DNA. If the McCanns had anything to do with this and had VERY successfully hidden a body twice, I don’t think they would have been stupid enough to throw items on a roadside verge or dump a ‘DNA’ contaminated towel in a barn. If Madeleine had expired in the flat, she and all material related to her demise would have been contained in some way not strewn around the Algarve. As to showing these items to the public well Kirstie have you forgotten that that is against their Secrecy Law!! hence the egg head picture (ludicrous). Knowing now what I know about the PJ, I’m surprised they publicised a photograph of Madeleine. Then again did they or was that left for the parents to do? The Murat/McCann connection? Strange that NO-ONE has come out of the woodwork with evidence to that effect.
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:16 pm
As the great Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote -”mans inhumanity to man - makes countless thousands mourn” - true today as written then!
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Some of the comments by Annie and other anti-McCann’s are disgraceful to say the least. In my opinion they are either written by people without children and no idea of how any parent could have done what the MacCann have done, or by plain vitriolic individuals.
The world we live in is awesome and disgusting at the same time. Terrible things happen all the time at the hands of individuals who lack integrity and any sort of morality. The world hosts many beautiful human beings, but there are also many sad little bastards, sick monsters and a few other despicable creatures. Of all the horrible crimes committed by so-called ‘human beings’, the ones which see children suffering are of the worst kind, followed by the painful hatred spread by those who have nothing else better to do than judge innocent people while ignoring their own evil or twisted minds. SAD but TRUE.
December 3rd, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Annie is so obviously perfect in order to be able to judge the McCanns in this way. But how can Annie’s words help the situation? Whether Maddy is found or not, her parents lives will never be the same again. They will never recover from this. And of course, they need people like Annie to point out the error of their ways. They are both doctors, and I expect they have done more good in the world than Annie could ever dream of in that twisted, smug, self-important mind. The real truth here is that the police and intelligence services in various countries throughout the world could find Maddy and many other lost and snatched children if they used all the resources available - and if they had the will. Sadly, they do not have the will. They can infiltrate and smash drug rings and terrorist groups, so why not the groups of monsters who take children? If they do not use everything in their power to find Maddie and other children, they are as responsible as the vermin themselves.
December 3rd, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Hi Guys,
I have been giving this DNA found in the farmhouse some thought.
It just strikes me as odd that IF Madeleine was taken there then surely whoever had her and had gone to these lengths for 7 months (to the day) to keep her hidden without any trail to her…and then make a huge mistake by leaving a towel with her blood on it (albeit a tiny amount) lieing around….somehow i don’t think so. Maybe this was a way of throwing PP off the scent?? But why would they have searched the place anyway, where would their interest in the property have come from in the first place?? Maybe it is more c*ap being spewed out by the press???
IF it is true though, i would be inclined to want a towel the same as the one found, to be displayed on T.V as they would in something like Crimewatch along with the bag of things found near Faro airport- the jeans, the fleece, the shower curtain but even better the clothing and the pencil case. These items would surely ring bells with someone??!
I am very very wary about the Exeter connection and think that it is all too convienient for it to be coincedence. How can the PP or BP not know by now if there was any connection to RM and the McC’s or the friends? Are they even checking?? Have ALL of their pasts been delved into, records obtained- medical, phones, computer, school, Universities, friends, friends of friends???? i have no idea and maybe i am barking up the wrong tree here but i cannot shake this off about RM and the friends- i have been saying it for long enough and surely whoever, if any of the friends know RM or his family it will out in the end.
As for more witnesses saying they saw RM that night- well i am not shocked by it. What ia m shocked by is their first Arguido translating statements. That is a complete shocker especially if the same statments are still valid. If the McC’s are charged and put on trial surely this in itself would be enough to see the whole trial collapse. There is no way anyway that they could ever get a fair trial anywhere with all the leaks and smear campaigns. I hope this can be resolved soon for them but most of all for little Madeleine.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Hi everyone:
Annie 1:
#5293 - Sorry for latching out like that last night.. but I hope I sure hope that I misunderstood your post about China…… by the way.. how do you know she has an exhibit until the END of Feb?? - and why did the theory of the crates seem to bother you? I was just wondering……….
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:14 pm
I think that we are kidding ourselves if we think we live in a civilised society
We recoil at those stories of public stonings in Iran and label the Iranians as being stuck in the middle ages.
A trawl through the www tells me we are not much different.
It is only our legal system, with all its imperfections, which stands in the way of the lynch mob.
Whatever happened to innocent until proved guilty. A lot of good people gave their lives to uphold that principle.
The only view any right-thinking person should have is that the McGanns are innocent. That is what our law says. There is a good reason for this. Because if, at a subsequent trial they are found not guilty, then the rather judgmental comments made about them would mean that a grave injustice had been done to them in the kangaroo court of mob opinion.
And one for which there would be no remedy.
One of the most disturbing things for me is the way many anti-McCann’s in various forums spew out verbal diarrhoea, and make stupid and childish comments , about the McCanns: “I don’t like the look of them.”
Wasn’t the “I don’t like the look of them” one of the planks that the Nazis used to condemn all Jews. And we all know what that led to.
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:44 am
Hi all
Sorry about dumping so much of GM’s blog this morning but I didn’t have time to go through all of it. I still don’t have time to look through it, as I’m running out again.
This is the latest from the Daily Express. I don’t know if I believe it at all. See what you make of it!
MADELEINE: BRITISH DIPLOMAT IN PORTUGAL HAD DOUBTS ABOUT MCCANNS
MISSING: Madeleine McCann
Monday December 3,2007
By Nick Fagge
A BRITISH diplomat warned the Foreign Office of concerns regarding Madeleine McCann’s parents, it emerged last night.
Doubts about Kate and Gerry McCann were raised almost immediately by an official sent to Praia da Luz due to what he considered to be “inconsistencies” in the couple’s testimonies about the night the four-year-old vanished.
The warning was contained in a classified document sent from the Algarve to the Foreign Office days after Madeleine’s disappearance.
Details of the letter have been leaked through the British diplomatic mission in Brussels to the respected Belgian newspaper Derniere Heure.
The unnamed diplomat voices his concern about the “confused declarations” as to the whereabouts of Kate and Gerry McCann and their friends in the final hours before Madeleine’s disappearance.
He also mentions the couple’s “lack of co-operation” with the Portuguese police in the light of instructions from London suggesting consular staff “overstretch their authority and put pressure on the Portuguese authorities”.
Portuguese detectives believe it is possible Madeleine died as the result of an accident on May 3 in the family’s holiday apartment and that her parents hid and later disposed of her body with the help of their friends.
The document also asks for confirmation of orders sent by the Foreign Office in London the day before, commanding embassy staff to give “all possible assistance to the McCann couple”.
Diplomats on the Algarve were told the McCanns had to be “accompanied at all times during any contact with the Portuguese police” by a member of consular staff or by British police officers sent out from the UK.
The letter, sent just days after Madeleine disappeared, warns of the risks of siding with the McCanns so completely.
Excerpts published in a report by La Derniere Heure quote the diplomat as saying: “With the greatest respect, I would like to make you aware of the risks and implications to our relationship with the Portuguese authorities, if you consider the possible involvement of the couple.
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:46 am
New doubts over Madeleine evidence that made the McCanns suspects
Last updated at 10:21am on 3rd December 2007
Fresh doubts were cast today on the forensic evidence which led to Kate and Gerry McCann being made official suspects in their daughter’s disappearance.
Portuguese police announced over the weekend they had asked the Forensic Science Service laboratory to carry out more tests on samples recovered from the apartment where Madeleine went missing in Praia da Luz on 3 May and from a car her parents hired 25 days after she vanished.
But sources today told Portuguese newspaper 24 Horas that the task was “almost impossible” because of the size of the samples.
A source from Portugal’s National Institute of Legal Medicine told the newspaper: “The tests the Policia Judiciaria are waiting for are on traces of blood and hairs. The samples are so small that it is very unlikely a DNA link will be found.
“The tests being carried out are very complex. We’re talking about procedures that require special care, because there has to be a ‘consensus’. The truth is that hasn’t happened.”
The source also suggested the crime scene had suffered contamination due to the failure of the Portuguese police to seal the area effectively in the immediate aftermath of the four-year-old’s disappearance.
“The contamination of the evidence collected by investigators is too high to carry out proper DNA tests,” complained the source.
In a rare public pronouncement on the case, Guilhermino Encarnacao, head of the PJ in the Algarve, said: “There’s nothing new that enables us to move the case one way or another. The results provide no surprises.”
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:46 am
Hdi Isla
Thanks for the information. I hope all is well with you and your family.
Hi Swiss Miss
It is good to be back! I had to be hard on myself and stay away for a while, as I needed to catch up on my studies. However, I did keep up with the news on Madeleiene. I did hope that when I returned to here there would be some good news.
I did at point think the same, that whoever took Madeleine knew that she was going to be there, but now I doubt it. It seems that whoever did take Madeleine has tried on other occasions to steal a child from the complex, only difference is that unfortunately they succeeded this time. We should not rule out RM’s girlfriend involved just because she has a child of her own. As a mother (or father) we try and empathise with Madeleine’s parents, but not every one is like that. Time and time again we are left wondering how could they do that? I suppose that is why some people find it easy to suspect the parent’s, but to me their devotion to finding Madeleine is enough to convince me they are not involved. I think also that is something well planned, but waited for the right opportunity. I do think a lot of money was to be made and pound signs is all they cared about. However, when the reward money was offered they could not come forward as it would put them and others in prison. Because of this being so well planned, I have always believed she was taken for reason. Unfortunately we do not why or where she was taken, but for this reason, I also believe she was taken alive. The frustrating thing is, if the police had got there backsides into gear straight away, she could have been found sooner and could have been spending today in school with her friends.
December 3rd, 2007 at 7:03 am
Hi all
Forgot to mention that GM’s blog’s started on the 20th May.
December 3rd, 2007 at 7:01 am
Hi all
This is a copy of GM’s blogs from the day that he started to record events until some time in June.
Our day starts around 6.30am with us all waking up around the same time. We have breakfast with Sean and Amelie and our close family/friends who are here with us. Then its clean nappies and clothes for Sean and Amelie followed by showers etc for the rest of us.
Usually there’s some free time then for a few stories or games with the twins before heading out.
9.00-9.15 We take Sean and Amelie to Kids’ Club. They really enjoy it and run in. They know the staff well and the staff are all excellent. Both love the domestic corner and Amelie particularly likes to look after ‘babies’. We use the kids club a bit like nursery at home but we think Sean and Amelie still think they are on holiday!
9.30~12.15. We return to the apartments, usually for a series of meetings with our press officer, Mark Warner Reps, occasionally Consulate staff, lawyers and British Liaison officers. During this time we catch up with family and close friends, usually by telephone and discuss ideas how to keep Madeleine’s profile high especially throughout continental Europe.
12.30 Time to pick up Sean and Amelie from Kids’ club then head back to apartment for lunch, which has usually been prepared by one of our family/friends group who have been tremendously supportive.
13.30 –14.30 This is time to spend time playing with the twins either in the apartment or in the play area next to kids club.
14.30-15.00 Usually we take the twins back to Kids’ Club although Sean has had the odd afternoon in the apartment as it’s a bit cooler and he’s not much of a sun worshipper! They have been taking part in many different activities including painting, singing, stories, swimming, trips to the beach and they have lots of toys to play with.
15.00~17.00 We try to get some time together alone, going for a walk to talk things over or getting some exercise. This is often the time for quiet trips to the church for prayers.
17.00-17.30 Meet kids for high tea with other mums and dads. They love pasta and have been doing really well with their vegetables although a few chips have been squeezed in.
17.30-18.30. Games with kids at play area. Amelie loves trying to get in the baby pool!
18.30-19.30 Bath and story time with the twins.
20.00 We put the kids to bed.
20.30-23.00 We try to sit down for a family meal, again usually cooked by one of the small family group out here with us. Chat about the day’s events and plan the next day
23.30 bed and prayer for Madeleine that she will be returned to us safely ASAP.
In addition to above we try to attend various church services during the week, and make multiple phone calls to family and friends. We try to watch the main news early morning and late evening but have had almost no time to read the newspapers or even look at the pictures!
Kate is a keen runner and in the last few days has tried to include a run in the daily routine. Yesterday (Sat) at 7am we ran to the monument at the top of the steep cliff overlooking Praia de Luz. We reached it in 19 minutes.
21 May 07 18 No entry
22 May 07 19 No entry
23 May 07 20 See below, combined entry for 23/24 May 07
24 May 07 21 Today Kate and I went to the Shrine at Fatima to pray for Madeleine´s safe return. It was another early start leaving at 6.30am. MarkWarner, who have looked after us so well, laid on a car and driver. We managed to continue the campaign with telephone conversations and e-mails. The actual visit was very encouraging with the rector and thousands of pilgrims praying for Madeleine as well Kate and I. We lit candles for Madeleine and also 3 for Madeleine’s grandparents. The trip received a lot of publicity which should help maintain the profile of her abduction. We are planning a relatively quiet day tomoorow although the British Ambaasador is coming to visit and we need to start finalising our plans for interviews in areas of Europe where the coverage of Madeleine’s disappaerance has been limited.
25 May 07 22 See below, combined entry for 25/26 May 07
26 May 07 23 Yesterday was relatively quiet although we did meet the British ambassador and the senior British Police Officer who has been working here in Portugal on the case. This was a productive meeting. There was a flurry of activity amongst the media here stating the family was openly critical of the Portuguese policed which was not true. We did our best to dampen this down but a couple of papers carried stories with our ‘frustration’ with the investigation rather than what we said it was frustrating that 3 weeks down the line we still have not got Madeleine back. This would be the case which ever country we were in. Some of you may have noticed that Sean and Amelie did manage to squeeze in a hair cut!
Today was extremely busy and tiring. We met with our press officer Clarence Mitchell, to discuss strategy for the fortcoming interviews. Kate attended a luncheon in aid of International Missing Child day and John, my brother, attended a similar event in London. After this John and Brian Kennedy, Kate’s uncle, who are both directors of Madeleine’s fund appointed an interim fund manager. We are now actively looking for a campaign manager who will be needed once our government press officer disappears.
The interviews were our first for TV and we were happy how they went. We did 10 min interviews for Sky, BBC, ITV, Portuguese TV/radio and one for the press association. A shorter interview with GM TV will be shown on Monday morning along with stuff from our fabulous web team. The interviewers were very kind but did not shirk from asking us some extremely difficult questions. We answered them all and although painful will allow us to move on in our search for Madeleine. Importantly, shortly after our interviews finished the Portuguese Police held a press conference and gave details of man they would like to interview who was seen carrying a child on the night of Madeleine’s disappearance. We have not had a transcript of what was said but this is an encouraging development and hopefully will result in further calls to the police with information from people who were in Praia da Luz around the time of Madeleine’s abduction. We remain very optimistic that the criminal investigation will lead to Madeleine’s safe return but we need everyone to be alert and vigilant to any suspicious activity.
Tomorrow will be a family day. We are doing a photo-shoot with the twins for the Sunday newspapers in the morning but will involve stuff that we want to do with them anyway. We also need to recharge our batteries after what has been a very busy week.
27 May 07 24 Strange day after all the activity during the week. Kate and I started off with an early morning run to the the top of the nearby cliffs. Sean and Amelie were back in kids club and went swimming again. The rest of us attended mass which was very emotional as a priest from RAF Lossiemouth was visiting and further prayers were said for Madeleine. Father Zee-Manuel has also rigged up a powerpoint display projecting a large photograph of Madeleine on to the wall, which he is very proud of and reminds us of the beautiful little girl we are missing so terribly.
There have been some requests for more information ‘about Madeleine’ and this section will be updated very soon. We will also be releasing a very short video of Madeleine taken at the Airport on the day we left for Portugal, Saturday 28 April. Sean and Amelie went to the beach this afternoon with mummy, auntie Trisha and Anne but daddy stayed in the apartment catching up on campaign e-mails, making calls and liaising with Clarence our press officer. The resort is much busier again as it is half-term and there are definitely less journalists here. Many of them have been here since the beginning and are making this journey with us.
The couple of Sunday articles we read did not cover much of what we talked about and seemed to get some of the other stuff wrong! We stated that Sean and Amelie are sleeping in our room (in separate cots) because of other family staying with us and that we were trying to treat them as normal and not be overprotective. This came out that we were so protective we have to have them sleeping in our bed! These inaccuracies are not important in our search for Madeleine and the next phase is being planned currently.
It looks like our planned trips to other European cities will start off in Rome after we learned today that the Pope has been following Madeleine’s abduction closely. There is a reasonable chance we may get a chance to meet the Pontiff and that he will pray for Madeleine. Such a visit would generate huge publicity regarding the family campaign to find Madeleine and will also give Kate and I a great spiritual lift. It will also raise the awareness of missing and abused children generally. We continue to pray that someone will provide the key information that leads us to Madeleine.
28 May 07 25 Confirmation arrived this evening that we are to attend the Vatican and a service with The Pope. It is likely we will be seated in the front row and may have an opportunity to speak with the Holy Father and ask for prayers for Madeleine. This is a hugely important visit both personally, for Kate and I, but also for the wider campaign to publicise Madeleine’s disappearance. The trip has been facilitated through Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor and we will be receiving assistance from the British Embassy whilst in Rome. On this occasion because of the short notice and the relatively early time of the service we have accepted the kind offer of the use of Sir Philip Green’s personal jet, which will help get us home quickly after our Papal visit to see the twins before their bedtime. We will be accompanied by a small group of media who are still with us in Praia da Luz and, as usual all the material will be available to all the British press and broadcasters equally. For all trips we are assessing whether commercial flights can get us to our destination and back to Portugal quickly. This will NOT be a Tour- it is a series of very brief visits with the specific aim of raising awareness and we aim to get back here as quickly as possible.
We have decided that for the majority of trips it will not be practicable, or fair, to take Sean and Amelie with us. They have an established routine which we do not want to disrupt and will be looked after by very close family. Tonight for the first time they have gone to sleep in their own single beds, rather than cots, now that another two of our family have gone home. We were planning to turn their cots at home into beds after our 1 week holiday but obviously this has been delayed with Madeleine’s abduction. We have been in Praia da Luz for over 4 weeks and Sean and Amelie’s development from toddlers to little boy and girl continues. Madeleine will really notice the difference when she sees them!
Some of you may have seen on the news the huge inflatable billboard which has travelled all the way from the West of Scotland to Portugal which will be used near busy roads/motorways to keep Madeleine’s disappearance high profile. We had a brief chat with Chris and Les, who drove almost non-stop from Glasgow to get here. The extraordinary length ordinary people are going to help us is truly overwhelming. We thank everyone for their efforts, no matter how small, and we know this will make a difference in our search for Madeleine.
29 May 07 26 We have been preoccupied with preparation for our audience with the Pope tomoorow morning. This morning was spent acquiring some appropriate dress for the meeting since we had only holiday clothes with us in Portugal. Clarence has been inundated with calls regarding the visit to Rome and done most of the organisation behind the scenes.
It has been very difficult to leave Sean and Amelie but it is only for one nght and we will be back to see them before bedtime tomorrow. Trish and Sandy (Madeleine’s Godparents) who have been with us in Portugal since Day 2 are looking after them and we were surprised to hear they were tucked up in bed by 7.30pm- they must like their new beds!
The flight to Rome passed extremely quickly and some footage was taken for TV. We did a couple of short interviews for the British and Portuguesae press about our feelings regarding the trip. Under normal circumstances we would be extremely excited about meeting the Pope, but as we are here as a result of Madeleine’s abduction the circumstances are very different. We expect to receive a great spiritual lift, especially if we get to speak to the Pontiff personally. After the audience we will be holding a short press conference in the British Embassy to the Vatican to talk about our campaign to publicise Madeleine’s disappearance and of course, our audience with the Pope.
Frncis Campbell, the British ambassador to the Holy See, and his staff picked us at the airport and brought us directly to the Embassy residences near the city centre. We have been made to feel completely at ease and almost as if we are part of a small family here, which has helped ease our tangible nerves, not unsurprising given the importance of tomorrow’s meeting. We are now retiring and will be saying our usual prayers for Madeleine’s safe return
30 May 07 27 Today has gone as well as we could possibly imagine.
We woke around 7.15am and got ourselves ready. There was a lovely continental breakfast prepared but both Kate and I ate very little due to nerves. We left the Embassy just after 9.00am and stopped en route to the Vatican, at Piazza Pia for a photo opportunity with St Peters in the distance. I made a very short statement regarding our forthcoming visit and expressed my gratitude to Francis Campbell, the British Ambassador to the Vatican, and his staff for making us feel as if we were part of their family.
We arrived in plenty of time for the Papal audience and were delighted to find we were seated in the ‘Prima Fila’- the first row. Clarence, Francis and Monsingneur Charlie Burns, a colourful Glaswegian who teaches at the seminary and looks after the Ambassador’s spiritual well being were seated immediately behind us. It was extremely sunny and I have to admit that Kate and I were struggling somewhat with the heat in our dark suits but Francis rescued us with an umbrella and some water and following that some heavy cloud rolled in, cooling us down.
The atmosphere in St Peter’s square was almost carnival like with up to 35,000 people there to see the Pope. He did not disappoint, driving slowly around the crowd in his open jeep, waving cheerfully. We were sombre in contrast given that we were there to ask Benedict to pray for Madeleine, although I am sure others were also there to get blessings for their loved ones. After this the Pontiff took his seat in front of approximately 30 cardinals, bishops and priests. One of the priests, Father Daniel Gallagher from the US, came up to us before the service and said some very kind words; that he was praying and everyone was praying for Madeleine daily.
The service started with a series of addresses from priests representing the various French, German, Italian, English, Spanish and Polish speaking congregations present. Each parish represented was mentioned and various bands, mainly German, played short pieces and a few choirs sang a verse and the large Polish contingent priests seated behind us wearing large yellow scarves tied like ribbons around theirs necks sang 3 or 4! At the end of this preamble the priest stated that the Pope was happy to tell us he was praying for the congregation, our families, our children and those who were suffering. These words seemed so poignant in the light of Madeleine’s abduction and naturally both Kate and I were, naturally, very emotional. The Pope’s actual address seemed to pass in a blur and I am looking forward to reading the actual transcript as I can remember very little of the actual words.
Following the completion of the Papal address in the different languages, Benedict individually greeted the other clergy on the dias. During this period Father Gallagher presented us with a small gift to remind us that he would pray daily for Madeleine and a cardinal also expressed similar sentiments. The Pope took approximately 20 minutes to meet other people in the Prima Fila before reaching us. It felt as if time stood still for a moment when the Pope looked into our faces and there was almost instant recognition and a change in his expression. He said he would pray for us, our family and Madeleine. Kate passed him a photograph of Madeleine and he blessed this and would pray for her safe returning. The meeting was more personal than we could have imagined given the number of people there and will help us sustain our hope and determination to find Madeleine.
The press conference followed shortly afterwards and was very well attended. We will give more details tomorrow as we are very tired following our visit and hope to get an early night before planning our next trip.
31 May 07 28 Press conference in Rome went very well giving us an excellent forum to ask for help in the search for Madeleine. We told people about the website, how to download posters and ask people to print them and take on holiday wherever they are.
We arrived in Madrid late last night and have a series of meetings arranged with government and non government agencies concerned with child welfare. We will also be hosting a press conference again to raise general awareness of Madeleine´s disappearance and ask for the public´s help in our search for Madeleine. We may also do a few very short interviews for US news stations which are widely broadcast in Europe, N.Africa and Asia, particularly in English speaking hotels and other outlets. Will update after meetings.
June 2007
Date Day Blog
01 Jun 2007 29 With the help of the British Embassy we had a very busy day. First of all we had a short briefing from the ambassador and her staff. We then had a series of meetings with: multiple non-governmental agencies involved in child welfare, did a TV programme akin to Crimewatch focussing on Madeleine’s disappearance, a press conference which was well attended, a couple of short US news channel interviews with European coverage and finally met with the Spanish Minister for the Interior (Home Secretary equivalent). We left Madrid feeling as if the Spanish were treating Madeleine’s disappearance like one of their own.
Meanwhile in Portugal Phil arrived with thousands of posters in different languages. Most of these have been delivered to the Irish centre at Fatima and more at Lisbon airport. Planning a family day tomorrow. Will weigh up next phase of the search over the weekend.
02 Jun 07 30 Relatively quiet day. Did manage to repsond to some e-mails regarding campaign issues with some excellent ideas coming through. We did visit a local beach with Sean, Amelie and the rest of the family who are here and managed to get a bite to eat. Having a huge number of media reuests in but want these to be very focussed in areas that will have clear benefits in the search for Madeleine. We did do a German TV and newspaper interview which wiil be released tomorrow to incraese awareness ahead of our planned visit to Berlin later this week. Most of the Sunday newspapers will carry some of the interview as a British reporter sat in and asked a few more quetions related to the campaign strategy.
03 Jun 07 31 Was encouraged to learn of the large volume of information which has come through the Leicester incident room following the appeal. Hopefully the Portuguese police will have had a good reponse also and we hope to meet with them in the next couple of days for an update. Chris and Les, who travelled over with the huge inflatable banner which has been positioned near the Spanish border, are heading home today. They were very happy that the director of the Algarve tourist board allowed them to put it up in private property owned by them, with thousands of cars passing every hour and seeing Madeleine’s image and details of her disappearance and reward. Sunday papers have reported our interviews virtually verbatim but vey disappointed that the blog was lifted almost in entirety by one newspaper yesterday after expressly forbidding such an approach! The blog is to keep people visiting the website up to date
with our progress in the campaign to find Madeleine.
04 Jun 07 32 Busier day today with travel arrangements for Berlin and Amsterdam finalised. Leaving tomorrow night and coming back Thurs afternoon. It will be a very busy schedule similar to Madrid. On Thurs night there is a music festival in aid of Madeleine in nearby Lagos which we will be attending. Tonigh, we were interviewed for Crimeatch which will be shown on BBC1 tomorrow night. This was a very good opportunity to recap on all the information which is in the public domain and re-emphasise the appeal, especially since the description of a suspect seen carrying a child was released by the Portuguese police after the initial British appeal. As well as some reports from Crimewatch, you may see a picture of me in a green and yellow find Madeleine t-shirt in tomorrow’s paper. The t-shirts were brought over by Phil and later on I thought better about wearing it around the resort she was taken from. I am sure all the people who have chosen to continue their holliday here, rather than take an alternative location, know about Madeleine’s disappearance and don’t need a further reminder
December 3rd, 2007 at 6:55 am
Hi all
Couldn’t post the ‘diary’, but this is a copy of GM’s blogs from the 28th May to the 16th June.
Met with the Portuguese Police today. It is good to talk face to face especially with so much speculation in the media. Kates parents arrived today to see the kids and us. We managed to spend a couple of hours with them before heading off for Berlin. I had completely forgotten that it is my birthday today, it is anything but a happy one. However Sean and Amelie made me a birthday card on behalf of them and Madeleine and Trisha made a fruit flan. We sang happy birthday and blew the candles out together which Sean and Amelie really enjoyed. They were really happy to see Grandma and Grandad, whom they are used to seeing every few weeks in England. Kates parents have been a huge help to us, especially since the twins were born, often driving down to Leicestershire for the weekend to help with the kids. This has been really important when I have been on-call at weekends and Kate would have been left looking after the three of them on her own. Trisha would often fly down to help when she had a few days off or when her and Sandy were en route to Cambridge. It makes us feel better knowing that we are leaving Sean and Amelie with very close loved ones whilst we are away on this short trip to appeal for further information and raise awareness of Madeleine’s disappearance. Arrived in Berlin. Another busy programme tomorrow with TV, press, and politicians to see and then straight on to Amsterdam for more of the same. It all helps in the search for Madeleine.
06 Jun 07 34 Today seemed to go very well with huge interest in our search for Madeleine. There has also been a little bit of criticism in the German press about the amount of media coverage but this did not seem to diminish the level of interest. The German interviewers are a little more direct with their questions but I was still surprised by the question as to whether Kate and I may be involved in Madeleine’s abduction! Hopefully our answers removed any doubt on that score and that our sole focus in all of the family campaigning is to get Madeleine back. After the media we met with a couple of politicians in private. Firstly, we saw the deputy justice minister for Germany who gave us reassurances regarding the investigation. Following this we met the Mayor of Berlin who is a very powerful and charismatic politician. He asked us what he could do for us and following this meeting asked German tourists who were in the Algarve around the time of Madeleine’s abduction to come forward. He is very popular and such public backing should help our appeal. We had to delay our onward flight to Amsterdam because of some information received by the police, which we needed to be consulted on. We diverted to the embassy in Berlin but it turned out to be nothing of interest. We unfortunately had to miss 2 TV programmes as we arrived in Amsterdam 3 hours late, very tired and emotionally drained. We did manage to catch up with a few friends briefly who we know from the year we lived in Amsterdam. They have been actively campaigning here on our behalf with poster distribution, contacting media and liasing with companies to get advertising space for large posters of Madeleine.
07 Jun 07 35 The press conference, meetings and appeal on TV today in Amsterdam all seemed to go well. I doubt there are many people left in Europe who do not know of Madeleine’s disappearance and hopefully everyone who has information will have come forward to the police. Today was particularly difficult for Kate and I because of the year we spent in Amsterdam with Madeleine. We have many friend s still there and could never have imagined coming back without her in such dreadful circumstances. Afterwards we caught with a friend of mine who was attending a medical conference in Amsterdam and a friend who helps run a playgroup that we attended We arrived back in Portugal and managed to spend some time with Sean and Amelie. We then drove to the concert in Lagos in aid of Madeleine, which is the first large public event in Portugal that I know of supporting the campaign. It was interesting mix of jazz, blues, orchestra and rap! We were presented with a painting with green and yellow hands from a class of schoolkids- hands of hope. There was a short speech and Kate thanked tke local community for their support. The amount of media coverage Madeleine’s disappearance has received is phenomenal. After Morocco we will have to take stock and decide on our best strategy. I am not convinced going to other European countries and holding meetings similar to Berlin and Amsterdam will help.
08 Jun 07 36 Quieter day today. This was a good chance to catch up with campaign e-mails and phone calls after the trips to Berlin and Amsterdam. At lunchtime we went to the release of 1000 yellow balloons at the beach carrying cards with Madeleine’s picture on it and information in 5 different languages including arabic. There were similar launches in Manchester and Madrid. The event was organsied by the Sun who, like almost all of the media, have been incredibly supportive. I told Nick, the Sun journalist, that we are happy to support all strategies which increase the chances of finding Madeleine. Later in the afternoon we went down to the beach and had dinner in one of the restaurants which Sean and Amelie really enjoyed. Sean, in particular has acquired a taste for sea-bass! Kate and I did a short interview for BBC East Midlands to thank everyone for their support and it is likely that this will be shown around most of the regions, certainly Northwest and BBC Scotland. Kate and most of the family headed down to the church for the regular Friday night vigil but I was just too shattered. Tommorrow will largely be a family day although I am not sure what we will be doing yet.
09 Jun 07 37 Kate and I had a slightly busier day on the media front than expected. We did a short press interview for the Irish Sunday papers, mainly to thank the Irish for their fantastic level of support. We followed that with one for the British Sundays which is likely to be the last one we do for a while. We talked about our pain of not having having Madeleine for such a long time and for our need to grieve, which occurs mainly in private. We also talked about how after Morocco we will have to spend some time reflecting both emotionally, and also how best the campaign can be taken forward. What we want to ensure is that the campaign has a psoitive effect on finding Madeleine.
After this we headed down to Sagres which is the very most southwestern tip of Portugal. There is a very nice beach and we had lunch with the family.
After returning from the beach we did the Irish version of Crimewatch-‘Crimecall’. There are a lot of Irish tourists in and around Praia da Luz and although the awareness of Madeleine’s disappearance in Ireland is extremely high, we want to ensure that everyone is aware of the appeal and we want the Irish public to come forward with photographs of people who they do not know who were in and around Praia da Luz in the 2 weeks leading up to the 3rd May. The address to upload photographs is: to http://www.madeleine.ceopupload.com. We have also asked for people to contact their local police if they have seen a man matching the description of the suspect carrying a child seen around the time of Madeleine’s abduction. He is 30-40 years, 1.70-1.80m (5’7”-11”), caucasian and was wearing a dark jacket, beige or mustard coloured trousers with dark shoes. No major news on the investigation front- we still believe it is just a single phone call away.
10 Jun 07 38 We attended mass this morning and the Bishop had sent a very nice message that he and everyone else was praying for Madeleine. He also said that our attitude in this time of adversity was an example for others. Contrary to some of the headlines in the Sunday papers the campaign to find Madeleine will not ease up. Kate’s and my role will be different after Morocco compared to the last 3 weeks. As I said earlier we will reflect on the investigation, what the campaign has achieved and where we will be best directed. We will be less evident in the media, at least for a few days, unless there is a breakthrough in the investigation. First of all we have Morocco. We drove up to Lisbon late this afternoon to catch a flight to Casablanca where embassy officials will meet us. We were surprised to learn that a 20 seat propeller plane was sent instead of the larger aircraft. Luckily Kate, Clarence and I got squeezed on although we were certainly rather apprehensive about flying on such an aircraft- it reminded us of some of the internal flights we took in New Zealand in the mid 90’s. The meeting in Rabat will follow a similar itinerary as to the European visits. We will meet with the ambassador and his staff, two children’s charities, the interior minister and possibly the chief of police. We will do two interviews for the main TV stations and the press conference will be last. I am sure we will be asked about the Marrakech siting which has been extensively reported in the press. I should be able to get some more details of this from ITV, who interviewed the witness, and hopefully the justice minister to find out what enquiries were made by the local police.
11 Jun 07 39 “We were extremely disappointed in the publication of the anonymous letter in The Telegraaf claiming to know where Madeleine is buried.
“Although all information will be taken seriously, we were very upset that the credibility of this letter had not been examined and, more importantly, it was published before the Portuguese police had an opportunity to investigate the claim and search the area, if appropriate, without massive media attention.
“We feel strongly that this was an irresponsible piece of journalism and even if it were true it is insensitive and cruel. One can imagine how upsetting it is for Kate and I to hear of such claims through the media and if every piece of information was published like this there would be nothing else in the newspapers.”
12 Jun 07 40 We spent the day in Rabat meeting 3 child welfare groups, the minister for interior and the chief of police. We had little knowledge of Morocco before coming here and have learned what a family orientated and child loving society it is. Everyone has been incredibly sympathetic and said they will do everything to help us find Madeleine. As well as the meetings there was a very touching experience outside the National Observatory for Chidren’s Rights. As we pulled up in the car there were about 150 children waving posters of Madeleine with the words above and below a picture of her:
‘All Moroccan Children Are With You Madeleine- Madeleine: Back Home’. They were singing and cheering Madeleine’s name and shouting ‘coeur’, Heart. This whole experience was uplifting and enlightening at the same time in that we had no concept that so many children in Morocco would know of Madeleine and also be internet- friendly. It is just as likely that a child will spot Madeleine and alert a responsible adult. The whole world really has changed and is a lot smaller in this computer age. If Madeleine is in Morocco we have no doubt that she will be found.
We did a couple of interviews for ITV and Sky and followed up our Newspaper interviews focussing on a change in the phase of the campaign. We confirmed that there will be a period of reflection before we decide on what is the best role for Kate and I. The campaign and the search for Madeleine will continue and with everyone?s help we will find her. So please stay with us.
13 Jun 07 41 We finished off our trip to Morocco with a private visit to the minister for religious affairs this morning. He is an academic, senior cleric and adviser to the King of Morocco. We explained to him that although we are Roman Catholic we have received messages of support and prayers from all religious groups. Leicester, where we live, is extremely diverse culturally with a large proportion of Muslims and there were prayers for Madeline throughout Leicester on Sunday. We asked the minister if prayers could be said for Madeleine and other missing children in Morocco. He told us that people were praying for her and again emphasised that if Madeleine is in Morocco they would find her. En route to the airport a lorry had overturned blocking the exit from the motorway. The Moroccan people dealt with this in a very calm and relaxed manner, which we have found is a very engaging aspect of their character. Arriving back in Praia da Luz it was great to see Sean and Amelie. I think they were happy to see us although have been very well looked after as usual. We have no more trips planned for the immediate future and will spend the next few days taking stock. Tonight we have also gone to the church for prayers, as it is now 40 days and nights since Madeleine was abducted. No child or parent should have to endure his experience and we prayed that she would be found safe and well.
14 Jun 07 42 Six weeks since Madeleine disappeared. We believe Madeleine is alive and I am glad to say that following yesterday’s letter in the Telegraaf (Netherlands) there has been no evidence that Madeliene is in the area indicated although there will be further searches tomorrow.
Kate and I picked up a friend from Faro airport who has been instrumental in helping with the campaign. He has been fantastic, producing the DVD of Madeleine to ‘Don’t you forget about me’ which has been shown at many sporting events and concerts as well as producing the look for maddie logo and various posters. We spent most of the day updating each other and discussing future campaign ideas. We are getting closer to appointing a campaign manager who will handle media liaison and coordinating events to keep Madeleine’s disappearance highly visible.
15 Jun 07 43 The good news today is that the search in response to the letter in the Telegraaf did not find evidence of Madeleine. We still belive that Madeleine is alive. We have made some real progress deciding on campaign strategy. There is a huge amount of goodwill from people who want to help us find Madeleine and we have some concrete offers of support and are trying to finalise details before releasing them. Tomorrow will be a family day.
16 Jun 07 44 Kate and I dropped Jon at the airport this morning and picked up some more friends/family who have come out to see us, but particularly the twins. They were certainly happy to see our visitors! After lunch we headed off to the local zoo. Relatively quiet on the campaign front today as it is a family day. Tomorrow we will announce one or two planned events to keep Madeleines disappearnace high profile.
December 3rd, 2007 at 6:49 am
Hi all
Checked out a few papers, B.L’s and MJ. Nothing much at all this morning.
Hi Paula
The ‘barn DNA’ story was in the Sunday Express and did relate to evidence picked up some while ago. It looked as though they were trying to fit that together with a phone call between O’Brian and GM on the 10th June. No doubt the PJ have any number of clues and evidence that we are not aware of and are trying to piece it all together hence trying to connect Murat / McCann. However, I don’t think they have anything on the McCanns at all. Amaral was no doubt trying to pull a Cipriana stunt and blame the mother. It also seems that Murat and Amaral are cronies (if the newspaper articles are correct).
Hi Swissmiss
I don’t know if O’Brian did go back but I remember that when the McCanns were touring between 28th May and 13th June (?) Trish McCann was in PDL watching the twins and some others did go over to help out.
I came across a record that someone has been keeping of JM’s blogs so will try and post it. However this person is anti-McCann so I think other ‘data’ is stored there. Will try anyway.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:26 am
Hi Annie1:
I’m in total shock after reading your very sarcastic # 5291 post towards Mike of all people! And # 5292. I’m sure they will find no evidence towards the Mcs… but…. possibly RM??
I really don’t have any words to say, Annie1… Why do you have such hatred towards people?
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:29 am
Isla - the reason the results of the dna have not been released is because it has been give to the PJ and they keep all of their information with regard to investigations secret - simple really, they have evidence which they are not at liberty to reveal until they either do or dont press charges. If no charge is brought against the McCanns, then the dna results will probably be buried. If a charge is brought then the dna results will be used as part of the evidence, and as the PJ - by thier law - do not reveal to the press or anyone else for that matter, any evidence with regard to a criminal case, then that is why the media or the public have not been party to the results of the dna evidence
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:12 am
Hey Mike - Sam Murat is exhibitioning in China until Feburary - Maybe Madeleine is going to China with her in one of her container boxes? Oh no - sorry China limited childen to one per family some years ago, without financial penalty - didnt they? and they really do prefer the first born to be a boy…or so I remember. But then, I suppose with no stone being left unturned a few China stones wouldnt go amiss
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:09 am
Hi everyone again..:
Hey Paula:
Nice to see you on here again…!- Yep.. isn’t strange??? Also…….if Michaela did snatch Maddie…. how could she do that since she has a child of her own?? Or is she her own..?? Unless it is another kidnapped child? We’ve never seen a picture of her child have we??
Hey Isla:
Yep - you’re right about that one.. they should quiz RM again.. like who he went to the UK with… Didn’t O’brien go there about the samed time as RM? Did they go together??? and to do what?? Since O’brien was on vac.. why would he go back???? - I just think that this case is unlike any other kidnapped childrens cases…… there is a reason why Maddie went missing….. - in Portugal and not the UK….. it was ALL PLANNED! - RM probably knew when they were coming.. someone had to tell him…… - we really have to find out who RM knew back in the UK of the Tapas 9. Do we know for sure that he knows O’brien or any others ?? There must have been any number of other children by themselves also on that night….. but WHY MADDIE?? - Good that no other child has been kidnapped ..but it still makes me wonder!!!?
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:06 am
RE Isla 5260
This is an extract from the Gerry blog 10.June - they were in P d L until late afternnon
We drove up to Lisbon late this afternoon to catch a flight to Casablanca where embassy officials will meet us. We were surprised to learn that a 20 seat propeller plane was sent instead of the larger aircraft. Luckily Kate, Clarence and I got squeezed on although we were certainly rather apprehensive about flying on such an aircraft- it reminded us of some of the internal flights we took in New Zealand in the mid 90’s.
Well how inconvenient - a little aeroplane and not the one poor Gerry expected - Surprised?? why??- just get on the bloody thing and do what you have to do - your comfort dear Gerry comes way down in the pecking order compared to finding your daughter