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
Comments
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September 10th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Theresa why on earth would you make a statement like 699 on a gut feeling???
September 10th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Aunty Phil - for the record I would never say these things to your face as I am a coward but also would not wish to hurt your feelings. I only posted the things on here as I feel pretty safe in the knowledge that you have better things to do than read this and so will not be hurt by any of my comments.
Provided a few good laughs and so not all bad.
September 10th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Moderation 670- partial quote-obsession with the money. Did any of you contribute? Then none of your business.
No obsession just observations and comments. Other peoples financial transactions are none of your business. Just as some people on this site won’t have given money to the fund but still comment,I don’t think anyone on this site had a hand in the disapearance of Madeleine either but it doesn’t stop them discussing it. Whether any of us contributed or not is irrelevant
September 10th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Good Lord. A “gut feeling”? Hmmmm. Not particularly valuable. Okay, now to create some good feelings in my gut.
September 10th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
yeah, sure gerry is a working class consultant hiring michael caplan QC
September 10th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
truth can be starnger than fiction,
about 14 years ago i had a fight with some one called peter bryan, I beat the frikken daylights out of him, a week or so later i heard he had made a few threats to people so I went round his house and I done it again.
I never heard anything else about him until about 4 years ago as I was sitting on the train reading my news paper…. he had murdered 2 people and the dude was a cannibal… i have heard since that he has murdered someone else in jail.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4350393.stm
September 10th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Oh just a gut feeling!!
September 10th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
695
Give her a break - maybe she’s not good looking, but as we all know that means nothing; Gerry and Kate are, and does it make them good people? (BTW they seem to be perceived as good looking - they look boring to me, but let it be)
September 10th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Gee. Maybe I WILL wait. Why do you think they’ve recovered the body?
September 10th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
I THink They wil get charged as Police in Portugal may have recovered the body..Just wait..
September 10th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
I should, Theresa. But instead it will be a burrito.
Alright, I’ve waited much too long! I’m off. Glad I could see you before I want.
September 10th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Bulldump… they both come from traditional working class backgrounds and they both work. what class is that then?
If I was in bother and could afford the best I’d go for it as I’m sure you would too. Wouldn’t you? of course you would. And if something was going in your family I’m sure you’d support them and believe them because thats what family ties are and thats what families do. Its unconditional.
September 10th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Hey everybody..I’m back!!! what did I miss??
Christoph..YOu’re stil HERE??? having chilli today??? LOL
September 10th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Let’s list some of the more believable things the McCanns may or may not be guilty of
1) Simple unaggravated child neglect. Leaving three children under 4 alone and out of earshot for several periods of at least 30 minutes on several successive nights.
I think this is more or less established/admitted by the McCanns, (who seem to feel that it is only regrettable because of the unfortunate outcome). My personal response is that this is totally unacceptable, and deserving of investigation and punishment even on its own. I am convinced that with the majority of non-celebrity perpetrators, the UK Child Protection Services would have already acted. I understand Portuguese Law regards this alone as a serious offence.
Note that it seems highly likely that some others of the Tapas9 are equally guilty on this count, and that all could fear revocation of their Medical Licenses on this count alone.
2) As (1) but aggravated by administration of sedatives. Reportedly admitted by Gerry. Substantially more serious, with greater threat of child removal and loss of livelihood, possibly to all 9.
None of this is in any way dependent on the fact that M died, disappeared or otherwise. These are offenses on their own even if she was now happily laughing at home, and in my opinion serious ones, which could, and have, lead to serious consequences for less privileged people.
3) As above, but in addition causing M’s accidental death. Due either to vomit/choke from another cause, fatal because she couldn’t wake up, or to direct action of the sedative via allergy or overdose.
In this case, I think that loss of medical licence and removal of children would be very likely for any of the 9 involved in the sedation. A sufficient threat to provide motive for anyone involved to cooperate in (4):
4) Since the body is absent, (3) must almost certainly imply the additional crime of concealing the body.
This is now so serious that everyone involved would be locked into a pact of conspiratorial silence to avoid loss of everything, topped by a prison sentence. All would be aware of a potential need to hire very expensive defence lawyers, which could explain the huge appeal effort, and the refusal to make it a charity. Also valuable as a smokescreen.
Now I am uncertain about their guilt on (3) and (4), as we must all be, though we can have opinions as the evidence leaks and builds up.
But I think almost no-one would dispute (1), and the news of a confession on (2) seems persuasive.
For me, (1) alone is enogh for me to want everyone guilty investigated and punished. They have chose to be high-profile, thus providing the authorities with a great opportunity to sent a very serious message to neglectful parents everywhere. By making a very public example of them.
I want it done, regardless of the as yet uncertain outcome of (3) and (4). The authorities can, and often do, apply sanctions/supervision orders against parents without any sort of trial, for the protection of existing children.
If the authorities don’t investigate and act immediately, I think they may face charges later of dereliction of duty.
I say again, this guilt (simple neglect) is real, firmly established, easy to prove and demands immediate action independent of all the other uncertain stuff.
I may also add that it is responsible for my personal attitude to this couple. Hostility. Willingness to believe they may be capable of worse.
September 10th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
C’mon, Aunty Phil is gonna get over excited with all this talk of McDonalds and Asburgers.
September 10th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
in the defence of the working class claim though, they are related to aunt phili
September 10th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Christophe said…..
And we’ve already established you’re moronic morally relative liberal.
Hmmm. Deson’t make a lot of sense! maybe English lessons for you?
September 10th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
moderation, you said to me that the mccanns were normal working class people.
I put it to you that they were not. we agreed to disagree.
I now wish you to review your assesment of class, they are being advesed and may well be represented by Michael Caplan QC, one of London’s leading solicitors, once described as “the weapon of choice” for difficult legal battles.
I REST MY CASE MY UNLEARNED FRIEND
September 10th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Hello All - Christoph, Molly, bulldump, Martin et al
I am posting this again, as there is noone in the old thread anymore …
Few comments;
a) Madeleine as an autistic child: possible - she might have had Asperger’s syndrome, which is not high on the autism spectrum but very characteristic (my step-son has it);
b) no body - no crime: there was a crime in the States long time ago - forgive me lack of details - where someone has been convinced on the base on the blood found. Even if the body was never found the police acted on the assumption noone could survive with loss of 3 litres of blood;
c) bllod specks: they could come from litlle would or a scratch, you are saying. What about, of it has been proved to be the blood from the artery, let’s say carotid blood?
d) the blood could have been dropped in the boot on the May 3rd, just recovered after 25 days - that would explain why The McCanns hired the car straight after their friend
e) 338: I could never understand myself Kate - bright colours issue. Someone told me here that it might be a way of showing the hope your daughter is still alive. That’s a good point - however, I still see some incongruency in it
f) Blunger - excellent post re kids and their betrayed innocence. BTW, I felt disgusted when Gerry reported that they ‘informed the twins of Madeleine’s dissapearence’ with ‘carefully chosen words’ - not that much of a sensitivity when comes to kids in the cinemas, eh?
g) there were inconsistencies from the beginning, for example;
a) PJ saying McCanns destroyed forensics as everyone has been invited to the apartment - Gerry wrote how unfair and hurtful it was, as (I do not remember exact words) ‘when you are looking for the missing child you are checking the wardrobes, you look under the bed, noone is thinking about forensics’
and
the same Gerry stated ‘from the very beginning it was obvious to us she was abducted’ and something about ‘the state of the flat’ so abduction left no questions
but
what made lot of people blind for that (me too) was the fact that the whole thing did not appeal to out intelect and logic, but to emotions first (child! missing child! peados!)
I have to say, I was so shocked by the idea and started to imagine myself in the situation like that immediately - what would that be, if my niece had been ’snatched’? - the very image of that left me heartbroken, and that distorted my logic.
Every time I should have though of the whole case, my mind was being diverted into my niece and emotions were overwhelming.
But then - Kate jogging without cuddlecat (clinging to it obssesively on any other occasion though), Gerry’s bizzare blog etc. - I do not know if they are guilty, though (just to give them credit of trust everyone who is not convicted deserves)
Ah, Molly: the information about Madeleine’s scent in the friends’ apartment has been published in first few days after her dissapearance. Everyone focused on the supermarket trail than. But that means the evidence has been fresh.
September 10th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
If that’s true… and I’d like to see the evidence the British police and PJ have before deciding… then being such poor neglectful parents is what lead directly not only to Madeleine’s abduction, but also the McCann’s becoming suspects.
And their negligence almost certainly killed their daughter. And this is the best case scenario for the McCann’s.
They should go to prison either way — the question is for how long.
September 10th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
i’m sure i saw aunt phili on eastenders the other day, she was singing karaoke in a pub in brighton and some lads played a nasty trick on her. one of them took her trust, kissed her, then turned and declared “YEAH! I KISSED THE FAT PIG” it was quite an emotional moment. aunt phili cried for ages, it took me a while to wipe the tears from my eyes as well, although i think the emotions we were going through were wholly different
September 10th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
680
Gerry & Kate McCann are wonderful warm and loving cuddly-wuddly parents, resplendent in their coat of middle-class pomposity, who during an alcohol-fueled wife-swapping orgy on holiday, most regrettably murdered and ate their lovely daughter Maddy.
Truth is ALWAYS stranger than fiction.
(;-P)
September 10th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
While I’m not saying Justine McGuiness is bad, a person’s choice of whether to start or keep doing a job says a lot about them:
There’s a difference between a stripper and a nurse, a Nazi SS camp guard and a British sailor or a member of the Bundeswehr for that matter, a pornographic camera man and a chef. There’s a difference between a spokesperson for alleged criminals and the Cancer Society.
And we’ve already established you’re moronic morally relative liberal. And you support the McCann’s.
In this case, since they haven’t been proven guilty or even charged, I don’t have any problem with Justine McGuiness being a spokesperson. But, yes, a person can be a “guttersnipe” or worse even if doing the job they are paid to do.
Receiving money for something bad doesn’t make it good. Idgit.
September 10th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Moderation - if only the McCann’s babysitting skills were as good as your fence sitting skills.
September 10th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Re “Lard Man”:
“Lard Man” was referred to in the Portuguese Press as the “McCann Family spokesman” (Justine McEtc being their “Public Relations” expert).
September 10th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Man with Kate going into police station is David Hughes- another family spokesperson
September 10th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
674 Moriarty - might I also suggest “Scooby” to your list as the nick for the sniffer dog?
September 10th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
moderator, don’t be so condescending. aunt phil cannot escape the whip (not the instant variety), a decent post was put forward earlier by cj, it was a link to the sun, they were putting up the scenario that the mccanns were being framed and illustrated that story about the mother that got a beating and was forced to confess
aunti phil turned around and said that she didn’t give any credece to the story.
kate and gerry may well be thinking with friends like these, who needs the pj
September 10th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
What really happend to Madeleine? Well for me I think the British officer (can’t think of his name)who specialises in child abduction got it absolutely right from the start.
Madeleine walked out of that apartment herself. The sniffer dogs initially picked up the scent of Maddie from the apartment to the supermarket and then the scent disappeared.
She was picked up by someone and taken away by car.
The trouble with this whole situation is that the person/persons who took her away had plenty of time to do so and cross the border unnoticed.
This case will never be solved.
The PJ have done a complete circle and come up with nothing conclusive. They are now reliant on the DNA that they provided to the British forensics. As has been reported the specs of blood (not visible by the naked eye) do not prove to be Maddies. It can’t even conclude whether its a boy or a girls.
The media coverage the McCanns have brought to the area has painted a black picture of the country as far as the Portuguese are concerned. They (the PJ) are going nowhere on this case and know they have failed. If they are not seen to be making some sort of progress then they will have as many questions to answer about themselves as that of the disappearance of Madeleine.
And as for making the McCanns suspects. Well it’s the only way the PJ can put a slow end to this case and hope time will help them to let people forget. They exercise their right to use the 8 or even 12 months they if they want before they need to bring a charge against the McCanns. And will that ever happen? Will it hell! But they may just hope that after all that time the McCanns might think themselves lucky that they weren’t charged and they just might fade away into the night just like their daughter.
Madeleine I don’t think will ever be found alive or even dead.
Kate and Gerry will always be the chief suspects as far as the PJ are concerned but it will never be proven. And they will carry that for the rest of their lives. But that doesn’t even begin to compare to what they know is true…….and thats the loss of their daughter!
September 10th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
LOL of course!! Can’t keep me after 5
Have to go and feed the Savage Seven!!