Madeleine McCann: Suspects Kate And Gerry And The Flight Of Fancy
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann.
THE SUN front page: “EXCLUSIVE – ‘We’re being set up. I’ve had enough. Let’s go home.’” This is the “ANGER OF MADDIE DAD.”
Gerry and Kate McCann, “the doctors”, are back in their home town of Rothley, Leicestershire.
Pages 4, 5, 6 & 7: A statement from Gerry McCann in which he thanks one and all for the support and adds: “But we would like to ask for our privacy to be respected now that we have returned home.”
But their private grief is public spectacle. Can they be left alone with their daughter still missing and their campaign to find her in progress?
“YOU’LL LOSE THE TWINS.” Portuguese police are said to have told Kate McCann she should confess or face losing her two children.
“FACT OR FIT-UP?” The Sun considers the claims and gives each an “EXPLANATION.”
THE SUN SAYS: “McCanns’ hell”. The McCann’s “torment gets more horrendous by the day.” Where is the “kidnapper who might still have the four-year-old child in his clutches?”
THE TIMES front page: “McCanns fly home to fights their case.”
Mr McCann says the police’s focus on them is “deeply disturbing”.
Portuguese newspapers claim the McCanns failed to answer 40 questions put to them during interviews last week. “They apparently feared that they could wrongly implicate themselves if he [sic] did so.”
Pages 6 & 7: “Puzzles and mysteries at the very heart of the investigation.”
The paper tries to answer some of these questions. It tells us: “Although a small child could be killed quickly it would take time to hide the body so that it was not discovered in the biggest search in Portuguese history.”
The paper’s David Brown does not reveal how he researched this. He just knows.
The window to the McCanns apartment might have been opened from the inside. Brown of the Wapping Yard concludes: “Or was the window opened to make it appear as if an intruder had used it to enter the bedroom?”
Hmmm. What say you Mr Brown?
DAILY MAIL front page: “Police are determined to charge McCanns with killing Madeleine. HOME…FOR HOW LONG?”
Mr McCann is said to have told a friends: “We are being completely stitched up by the Portuguese police. We are completely f*****. We should have seen this coming weeks ago and gone back to Britain.”
Pages 2 and 3: “Madeleine’s parents consult Pinochet’s lawyer.” The McCanns have consulted with Michael Caplan QC, the British lawyer who represented Chilean dictator General Pinochet, who stood accused to torture and human rights abuses. Interesting?
Pages 4 & 5: “Questions the police must answer.”
The paper wonders if Robert Murat was named as a suspect in the hope his presence might “lead the couple into committing an incriminating indiscretion?” Or not.
In attempting to answer the key questions, the Mail produces more questions.
And the evidence..? The paper’s Michael Hanson wonders just how “foolproof” forensic tests are. You can’t argue with the science. Or can you?
DAILY MIRROR front page: “Kate weeps in Maddy’s room.”
The paper’s “EXCLUSIVE” is that Kate McCann sat alone in Madeleine’s “pink-painted room” and “sobbed in despair”.
How does it know this?
A friend says: “They are not running and will clear their names.”
Pages 4 & 5: Four pictures of the McCanns: arriving at Faro airport; boarding a flight,;on the plane getting ready for take off; and walking to their family home in Rothley.
Pages 6 & 7: “40 questions they both ‘refused’ to answer’.” And: “Officers say her replies left a lot to be desired, ‘it was claimed.’”
“McCANNS FACE KILLING CHARGE.”
“WHY COPS THINK SHE WAS NOT ABDUCTED.”
Page 9: Brian Reade has a daughter the same age as Madeleine McCann. Brian, who writes for the Mirror, has found it “impossible to imagine the depth of pain and guilt”. Without a body, says Brian, “They may never be able to prove their total and complete innocence.”
DAILY EXPRESS front page: “MADELEINE ‘WE CAN PROVE PARENTS DID IT.’ Portuguese police make dramatic new claim over evidence.”
Pages 2, 3 4, 5: The paper’s Martin Evans is on flight EZY 6552. He sees the McCanns travel home. He experiences “first hand…Kate’s pain and anguish on that most difficult of journeys”.
The seatbelts sign goes off. A note is passed to Kate. It is from another passenger. Kate reads the “simple message” of support. “A female passenger kneels by Kate and gives her a “tight hug.”
Kate sobs, “tears dripping slowly down her cheeks”.
Page 6: “Questions for the McCanns.” The Express has a go at solving the mystery. It says “Case could hang over us for ever say parents”.
DAILY STAR front page: “Maddie’s parents surprise flight.” Flight?
Pages 6 & 7: “We’re not running away.”
Page 7: More from Martin Evans, who sees the McCanns’ “pained expressions”.
Pages 8 & 9: “Furious donors want cash back as pressure mounts on friends to reveal all. DAD: I’LL USE £1M MADDIE FUND TO CLEAR OUR NAMES.”
DAILY TELEGRAPH front page: “Year-long wait for McCanns to clear name.”
Says Kate McCann: “Portuguese law prohibits us from commenting on the police investigation. Despite their being so much we wish to say we are unable to do so except to say this: we have played no part in the disappearance of our lovely daughter Madeleine.”
Page 4: “Couple facing a ‘life sentence of grief’.”
THE GUARDIAN front page: “Exhausted and under suspicion, Madeleine’s family come home.”
Pages 2, 4 & 5: “Rothley villagers relieved to see family return.”
“Thank goodness. They’re back where they belong and it’s the best place they could possibly be,” says one young mother.
The Rev Mark Chandler adds: “My every sense tells me that Rothley is just pleased and relieved to have them back.”
THE INDEPENDENT front page: “130 days since they left for a family holiday, the McCanns return to Britain without Madeleine. This is “THE HOMECOMING”.
Pages 2 & 3: “A shattered family returns to Britain without Madeleine”. “Portugal’s media clamour for conviction”.
Says one mother holidaying in Praia da Luz: “You don’t want to believe the worst but when you read headlines like these [in Portuguese media], obviously one conclusion seems more likely than another.”
Says the Diario de Noticia: “PJ wait for final examinations to arrest Madeleine’s parents.”
Madeleine McCann: private grief as public spectacle
Posted: 10th, September 2007 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (1,280) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
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September 10th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
I see that the CEOP website still has a Maddy page.
How silly are they going to look along with Leicestershire Police and ACPO
Another example of not looking before you leap….
September 10th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
I don’t know all the ins and outs of law as it relates to a charity vs. a business in England.
It is sad though that there is no legal barrier I’m aware of to prevent the fund from being used to defend them if they’re accused of wrongdoing in her death.
U.K. legal aficionados — is there?
—————
Mods and Admin
Under English law you cannot gain assets by your own wrong doing, they would be seized by the courts if a guilty verdict is returned.
September 10th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
552 - Now that’s funny…giggling my knickers off…LOL!!!
September 10th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Does anybody know what date the fund was set up - seem to remember thinking at the time that it was unseemly fast - almost like all the details were in place and waiting to go.
September 10th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Moriarty Says:
September 10th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
(542) Molly
But Paypal are still processing the payments so they must know regardless of whose bank account it ends up in
Well yes Moriarty - but the Paypal account in question belongs to a private individual, so is protected by data protection principles in a way that a business account is not … clever huh?
September 10th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Maybe the fund wasn’t the parents idea in the first place.
More likely one of their interfering on-the-make cronies suggested it.
September 10th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
You’re such an American elitist, Johnusa. You’re worse than the British (allegedly) are.
September 10th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
I really don’t know Toni - but I have to say that, when the fund was first started by Uncle John I had every expectation that they intended to use the money for lawyers in order to fund a defence against child neglect charges, and I was not the only one who came to that conclusion, mainly because it seemed to appear at about the same time as they started flying QC’s over to Portugal.
September 10th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Of course I’m not ignoring you my sweet. What would you like me to say?
September 10th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Hello again folks. I’ve caught on my work now (ish) so decided to look in again.
Dare I ask, have I missed much? Last I was on, everyone was debating which, if any, charges might be brought.
September 10th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Who gives a flying fuck what the family think about any of this? Why is this continually reported as news? As if they are going to say something along the lines of ‘let’s wait until all the facts are in.’
September 10th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
I hear the Police and Social Services in the UK are ‘considering’ (no urgency, then) their response to the McCann case.
They are suspects in the murder/disappearance of their child. Let’s not spare the blushes, eh? They weren’t spared for Mr Murat, after all. I’m expecting, in the name of fair-play and equality of justice for all, the police to begin searching the McCanns house, garden and places of work, just as Mr Murat’s were. Repeatedly, in full-view of the world’s media. Get out the white tents, call in CEOP, the sniffer dogs and the chemical suits. Let’s have a good show for the cameras, boys. You know, like the one(s) you staged back in Portugal when it was ‘creepy’ Murat’s gaff you were investigating…
Will Gerry’s laptop get confiscated, too, just like Mr Murat’s?
See, all of us are equal. But some of us are more equal than others…
September 10th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Maybe the money raising came as an afterthought when they realised this was going to run and run and it’s always best to make hay while the sun’s shining. (Or something like that).
September 10th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
(542) Molly
But Paypal are still processing the payments so they must know regardless of whose bank account it ends up in
September 10th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
More likely I was wrong and they just updated. Still, I’m sure they’ve received some donations.
Some people sincerely believe the McCanns are innocent. I don’t begrudge them for donating. Some people may even realize the McCanns can use this fund for their lifestyle and defence (most don’t realize this, sadly). It’s possible they intended a donation to be used how the McCanns wish.
I don’t begrudge them that right. They can support McCanns’ defence if they want. However, I still find it unfortunate this fund was set up not as a charity, but as a private business with one of its goals being to support McCann’s with no limits being placed on this.
Some support while they “look” for their daughter is appropriate. A million pounds sitting in a fund that can now be diverted to defending people who may be the child’s killers is not.
September 10th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
does anyone really think that they comitted this alleged crime and then knew they had to raise enough money in a business fund to be able to pay for the top lawyers when they eventually get caught. Teddy you igoring me ??
September 10th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Oh Paypal won’t be able to enlighten us … the money donated through Paypal does not go directly into the ‘No Stone Unturned Ltd’ account -
It goes instead into the Paypal account of Calumn wotzisname - Philomena McCann’s ex pupil who owns the website domain, and from there it is transferred into the business account.
September 10th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
524 - Herself. She said he’s a she!
September 10th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
534 - but the reading will never be as juicy or prolific as the stuff you read on here! Whoa baby!!
September 10th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
“I think the PJ has only sparse circumstantial eveidence at best and they now simply want to wrap it up so the Prahia da luz can get back to raking it in from the tourists! It’s quite ironic that if it wasn’t for the UK police and labs, this case would be back to square one.”
Uh-Huh … you do realise that each of your sentences contradicts the other don’t you?
September 10th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
(531) Christoph
“And the fund has brought in over 30,000 pounds from people since Saturday”
WELL how BIZARRE is that???
For weeks and weeks the fund total was stuck on £1,000,005… and now it has jumped to £1,036,104. Why?????
Clearly they didnt want to reveal how much money they had, but now they are using the updated totaliser to show that they have support from the public.
I think it is bollox… The money, plus much more, was there before. They have just lied again
Perhaps Paypal can enlighten us… or perhaps the PJ
They suck big time. I am now getting angry with them manipulating the public because they are cornered rats. The Whining Midget is a devious devious man
Christoph… Welcome back by the way… been having a burger?
September 10th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
“It’s quite ironic that if it wasn’t for the UK police and labs, this case would be back to square one.”
The McCann’s might be wishing for that now!!! It’s reminiscent of Scooby Doo, those pesky kids!!!
September 10th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Sounds like all you McCann bashers have them convicted already. Why don’t we see what comes out in the wash? I think the PJ has only sparse circumstantial eveidence at best and they now simply want to wrap it up so the Prahia da luz can get back to raking it in from the tourists! It’s quite ironic that if it wasn’t for the UK police and labs, this case would be back to square one.
September 10th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Teddy Boy
They have a grain of credibility left? No way! How come no one informed me of this sooner? I fear this whole thing is turning into some weird real life episode of South Park. I mean it was Kyle who masterminded 9/11 after all.
September 10th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
525 Yes there will be plenty of books about this very soon.
September 10th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
(530) Teddy Boy
Love it
September 10th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
A person suspected of causing a childs death would have their other children taken into care, wouldn’t they?
September 10th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
So, yes, the McCann’s can use the fund for whatever they want whether that be a vacation or their own legal defence.
And the fund has brought in over 30,000 pounds from people since Saturday.
September 10th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Veres
The thing is they have so succesfully manipulated our dozy media that they can never turn on them without losing what grain of credibility they have left.
If Madeleines head was found in Kate’s handbag the press hear would put it down to a plant - except the Express of course which would point out that “Princess Diana had a similar handbag - only better, because she was a Princess, who was cruelly hounded in life by the press - unlike us who just cruelly hound her in death - so much easier to get ‘facts’ that way you see”
September 10th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
On BBC Site
“Police and representatives from Leicestershire social services are meeting on Monday afternoon to discuss Madeleine’s disappearance and the naming of her parents as suspects”