Madeleine McCann: Kate And Gerry’s Blood, Threat And Tears
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann.
THE SUN front page: “KATE’S AGONY – CONFESS & YOU’RE OUT IN A YEAR.”
“Deal of blood, threat and tears.” Kate McCann is being interviewed by police. This is a “highly-charged confrontation, Portuguese officers citing forensic evidence told the GP she would receive a jail sentence of between two and three years if she signed a confession.”
Kate McCann is “horrified”. Says she: “How dare you?”
A source tells the paper: “The police were trying to get Kate to say she had amnesia or was in shock or had a breakdown. They said if she signed the confession she’d serve a year and that her husband would not be charged and could go home. It was effectively emotional blackmail.”
“SHOCKED” Gerry McCann has been named as a formal suspect.
THE SUN SAYS: “But the allegations made yesterday against Madeleine’s distraught mother Kate are astonishing and, in places, farcical. A suspicious page of the Bible left open? A call to a priest on the day of Maddie’s disappearance? Not exactly a smoking gun.”
Do all crimes involve a smoking gun?
The Sun concludes: “The Sun desperately wants justice for Maddie. But the greatest pity is that she is the one person who seems to have been forgotten in this mess of incompetence.”
And the Press continue to watch the parents.
DAILY EXPRESS front page: “MADELEINE: DEATH ON MUM’S BIBLE.”
THE WORLD’S GREATEST NEWSPAPER writes of “THE DAY THE JEERING STARTED”.
“Just two days ago Kate McCann, 39, was regarded almost universally as a victim who had suffered unimaginable agony. Families everywhere shared her heartbreak at losing her beautiful daughter. But it was clear yesterday, as the GP arrived to be formally named as a suspect in her daughter’s disappearance, that much of that sympathy has now gone.”
The crowd outside the police station – 400-strong – goes into a “frenzy” when Kate McCann arrives. “There were whistles, then jeers and boos before some in the crowd began to shout insults. ‘Whore… daughter of a whore,’ some yelled in Portuguese.”
The Express translates.
A local man says: “They will find this more and more because in Portugal harming a child is the worst thing…The Portuguese people took them to their hearts and now we feel cheated. It will not be nice in Portugal for them now.”
Kate is “cool and collected”.
DAILY MAIL front page: “THE ACCUSED. Portuguese police’s staggering grilling of Madeleine mother.
• Why was her blood in your car?
• Did you drug her that night?
• Confess and get just two years.”
DAILY STAR front page: “YOU KILLED MADDIE.”
DAILY MIRROR front page: “MADELEINE SENSATION. We have found her blood in the boot of your hire car.. DID YOU KILL HER BY ACCIDENT?” This is “what police asked Kate McCann during 16-hour grilling”.
THE GUARDIAN front page: “Mother, victim…suspect: police target Kate McCann.”
THE TELEGRAPH: “Kate and Gerry McCann named as suspects,” says the headline.
“Mr McCann stared straight ahead as his suspect status was announced and refused to answer questions from awaiting journalists. A crowd which had been attending a concert in the town square earlier listened to the announcement and several people gasped audibly.”
In “Villagers back Madeleine McCann’s parents”, the paper journeys to Rothey, Leicestershire, the McCanns’ home town. Michelle Canilleri, who lives in Rothley, shares with the world: “I can’t believe it. This is such a shock. They have got the wrong people. No way in the world would either Kate or Gerry harm any of their children.”
THE INDEPENDENT front page: “FROM ANGUISHED PARENT, TO GRIEVING MOTHER, TO SUSPECT.”
“Shortly before 11am, Mrs McCann’s spokeswoman, Justine McGuinness, revealed that the 39-year-old GP was being made an arguida – official suspect – in the case. And then she uttered the six short words which will be inconceivable to some who have followed this case and a confirmation of long-held suspicions to others. ‘Kate fears she will be charged,’ Ms McGuinness said.”
THE TIMES front page: A picture of the McCanns meeting the Pope.
Madeleine McCann The Public Spectacle
Posted: 8th, September 2007 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (1,454) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
September 9th, 2007 at 10:42 am
811 - The British navy blockaded African ports in the mid 1800’s to stop slave ships from operating. However the American government refused to abide by the international treaty to stop slavery and allowed their ships to go on slaving. Get your fact right mate.
September 9th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Wilberforce was first too. They were both great men when measured in terms of their accomplishments.
September 9th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Lincoln freed more slaves than any one else in the world. Let’s leave it at that!!
Besides, Americans didn’t invent slavery. The Brits did. We disbanded it.
September 9th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Julie, you shouldn’t jump without going back thru all the posts. Some of his stuff is really quite scary……
September 9th, 2007 at 10:38 am
803
“It was Abraham Lincoln who led the world to the abolition of slavery.”
He led the fight for the abolition of slavery in the USA. Wilberforce led the fight for the abolition of slavery world wide. Bit of difference methinks.
September 9th, 2007 at 10:37 am
A brick house … I AM being civilized!
September 9th, 2007 at 10:37 am
Ok so they doped the kids, madeleine had a reaction and died.
So the next move is.. lets dispose of her body and set up a fund and carry out this hideous pretence for 4 months.
I cannot buy into that.
However there pretence sorry grieving actions have been something outrageous.
So maybe they did.
But how do you decide in around 2 hours (say give dope at 6.30-7 pm and reaction happens) before eating at the tapas bar at 8.30pm.
Unless of course Russell and Gerry are lovers and russell did maddie in for gerry,as a sign of his love.Knowing that 85% of marriages end in divorce after a major episode like this, and they wanted the fund for some money after the divorce.
Just a thought
September 9th, 2007 at 10:36 am
Oh no!! She is BACKKKKKK………The abuse already begins - Watch out Moderation and everyone else…she’s VERY MEAN!!! (808) And is already sharpening her fangs!
She’s going after you Moderation - it’s the Pot calling the kettle black if ever I saw it. Didn’t she promise to be civilized just YESTERDAY AM???!! What happened to that???!!
September 9th, 2007 at 10:35 am
Angry… just because its against the law doesn’t mean it gets dealt with does it?
In an ideal world yes but there just aren’t enough S’Ws and police and court time to act so they prioritise.
We dealt with parents who went out all night and left yougn children locked in their bedroom but all they got was parenting classes!
You’re right, its very wrong but I can’t see how to turn the tide now its gone so far.
I thought Brit law was confusing in leaving children alone… there is a recommended age but not a legal age….
September 9th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Doesn’t matter when the act was passed - no action was taken until 1865 when Lincoln led the world in the Abolition of Slavery. The Southerners/Crackers whom he fought in the Civil War were primarily English decendants. They wanted to KEEP slaves on their plantation. It was us Yanks, Northerners who fought to abolish it. And we won if you recall!!!
September 9th, 2007 at 10:31 am
Miguel, it’s okay. You can’t help but offend people sometimes anyway. Often it has more to do with “their” issues than with yours.
Anyway, I am *not* saying the PJs didn’t make some mistakes, because I’m sure they did. We’re all human.
And even though I think the McCann’s know more than they are saying, they may be innocent of everything except selfish bad parenting.
Which, while tragic, is not as bad as murder or hiding their child’s body and lying after an accident.
In any event, I really do need to service my girlfriend. Because I’m such a sexist and she hates me because of it.
Ta!
September 9th, 2007 at 10:30 am
Christoph says:
“I can’t since you’re a long way away. I’m going to have a conversation with the ball and chain anyway”
LOLLLLL - now THAT is Classic!!! I love it - the ball and chain. HAAA!! I had a few other choice words but yours seems to fit the bill best. You are Too funny!!!
September 9th, 2007 at 10:29 am
Good morning Christoph, I am so glad to see you’re still around!
Moderation (789), and you had the NERVE the other evening to bash me over the knuckles for vile language! Heck lady practice what you preach! Don’t you think that language like that is just a tad unladylike???
September 9th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Thanks Christophe, don´t want at all offend any one
September 9th, 2007 at 10:27 am
A brick House 803
Abolition of Slavery Act was passed in Britain in 1807.
Abe Lincoln was born in 1809.
September 9th, 2007 at 10:25 am
Angry Says:
September 9th, 2007 at 10:20 am
It is a crime to leave a child home alone under the age of 14 in the UK, yet its not a crime to allow 2 and 3 year olds to play outdoors unsupervised. Why.
WOW - it is not a crime here to do that in the U.S. If it were - my parents and most other over here - would be in jail for a very long time. I was left home alone to babysit from the age of 8. At 12 yrs old I was babysitting for every kid in the ‘hood. The times they are a changin’ - that’s for damn sure!!
September 9th, 2007 at 10:22 am
1)This process is not finished yet at all, so if they go to UK, and are claimed back here, british police should get them back, shouldn´t they? should they be judged by English law in UK?
2)The McCanns did not by themselves but with the help of MANY other mediatic, (brit press, TV, etc)
3)You don´t need to understand anythig, I don´t understand yours as well, but have trust in law.
4)Who told you that police gave up? The Sun? Sky news? please…
May be we, as one of the poorest coutries in Europe, we don´t count with the resources Scotland yard has. But that means nothing
I don´t want compare both countries, UK is UK, Portugal is Portugal, and to be honest I like England, as I spent two years there, but love my Country as well, we are also proud people
What infuriates me is the nationalism around the McCanns, by ur media, and most of the british people, as we could verify in any foro, newspaper, or brit public opinion sources.
Well, they are still innocent by our law, not by our hearts, maybe that´s the difference between you and me
And I can´t see the comparition between Greece and Portugal. You only want to tell me how british families are as well run as portuguese, well I know your country and I see how many kids are violently killed every month, can´t understand it,
but god bless them
September 9th, 2007 at 10:21 am
pete Says:
September 9th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Although the British were a bit enthusiatic with slavery, they did lead the world in its abolition
Uhhh…..I would beg to differ this point with you Pete. It was Abraham Lincoln who led the world to the abolition of slavery. An American, not a Brit. The Brits created Slavery. We led by example, Yanks specifically, to abolish slavery in the U.S.
Please - give credit where credit is due. I was asleep at the wheel and that one slipped on by at first glance.
September 9th, 2007 at 10:21 am
Look, you asshole. You have no basis for calling me a racist — none at all — so screw you.
If you said that in person, I’d clock you. For real.
I can’t since you’re a long way away. I’m going to have a conversation with the ball and chain anyway. (See, I’m a sexist and this is why she loves me. Pfffft.)
But up yours.
September 9th, 2007 at 10:20 am
It is a crime to leave a child home alone under the age of 14 in the UK, yet its not a crime to allow 2 and 3 year olds to play outdoors unsupervised. Why.
I live on an estate, where over the past 5 years, there has been an influs of asylum seekers. Yesterday a 2 or 3 year old black boy was playing on a bicycle with stabalisers. A bigger boy aged about 7 or 8 took the bike and broke a stabliser. I fixed for him but only through my window where any onlooker could see nothing untoward was going on.
The points to gleem from this are:-
Why is it a crime to leave children under the age of 14 home alone but acceptable to allow children as young as 2 or 3 to play out unsupervised?
Surely the authorities can see a child is at greater risk outdoors.
Why do we live in a society where a good samaritan is afriad to offer help unless he can be seen by others.
September 9th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Christoph, I could go through it all again (sexist racist etc etc) but I won’t because everyone knows that anyway!! . I’m just not going to read your boring old mails!!
Angry…. as you know CP used to be my job and the issues just get worse. Children are left, sometimes all night. Children go out and roam the streets at all hours from as young as 5. But everyone’s hands are tied because of the sue-me mentality. A policeman can’t even forcibly put a 5 year old in the car if it decides to run off. ‘He touched me……..’
it is now almost acceptable behaviour. Can’t see the clock going back because the courts couldn’t cope.
September 9th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Who says I’m not on my laptop in the hammock outside?
September 9th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Angry:
> How can anyone be tolerent of a parent leaving 3 children alone in an unlocked
> apartment. Its beyond me. They did wrong and thats all there is to it.
Yes - I agree with you, but murder and cover up etc are several orders
of magnitudes worse.
> You walk through any shopping centre or down the steet, and you will see small
> children walking way behind their parents. Those parents can’t see their children
> therefore they are neglecting them.
It is impossible for a parent to see a child at all times, although one
should always try one’s best of course (which didn’t happen here I think).
September 9th, 2007 at 10:17 am
I remember a couple of months ago people were saying they were scared to return to the UK because of the charges they would face when they returned.
I wonder if their neglect will be seen as they prime reason for Madeleine’s disappearance?
If you left a child alone in a room with a live electrical wire and they got electrocuted, would that be be the fault of the electricity supplier?
September 9th, 2007 at 10:16 am
Woah! Christoph, you’re still here? Do you have a cot next to your computer?
September 9th, 2007 at 10:14 am
790 - You keep “borrowing” my metaphors!! I’m going to have to start charging you for this and send you the bill. You’re draining my natural resources. “Tail between your legs”. “Bleeding heart liberal”.
Please, I know you’ve been at this gig for an unprecedented length of time, but I implore you to get some original ideas Christoph! Or start to ante up here!!
September 9th, 2007 at 10:11 am
While that’s unfortunate and can lead to tragedy… there’s a big difference between a child wandering off and the child’s parent wandering off.
September 9th, 2007 at 10:09 am
Well, angry, the children were seven years old. And what parent wouldn’t leave a seven year old alone in an unlocked apartment?
What, you mean they weren’t seven? Well, added together the children’s age was seven.
So no, they shouldn’t go to jail.
/sarcasm off
Yes. They should go to actual prison. For that alone.
September 9th, 2007 at 10:09 am
783 - Pete. In America, we have a phrase for what you’re describing. Typically, the older version lived in trailer parks and munched on bon-bons and feasted on Soap Operas all day…..their offspring are now the future lawyers, bankers and M.D’s of our land of opportunity. But the name has not changed and it’s still called White Trash.
You can take the boy out of the trailer park, but you can’t take the trailer park out of the boy.
September 9th, 2007 at 10:06 am
Julio Its easy to accuse the McCanns and their friends because they neglected their children, and placed their lives in danger.
How can anyone be tolerent of a parent leaving 3 children alone in an unlocked apartment. Its beyond me. They did wrong and thats all there is to it.
When you look at all child abductions and murders the children were all left vulnerable even if only for seconds.
You walk through any shopping centre or down the steet, and you will see small children walking way behind their parents. Those parents can’t see their children therefore they are neglecting them.
Its time that parents were brought to book for leaving children in a situation where they are at risk, and until someone is prosecuted for doing so, abductions and murders with continue.