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 10:22 am
their audience with bin laden is looking a bit shakey too
September 10th, 2007 at 10:20 am
(77) bulldump
.. but you know that Moderation is correct. He always is
September 10th, 2007 at 10:19 am
moderation, both the times and the mirror have declared this to be the fact
September 10th, 2007 at 10:17 am
(74)
A very, very good point
September 10th, 2007 at 10:17 am
moderation, kates was 22 and gerry refused to answer no less than 40 questions.
I don’t wanna speak out of turn, but if you gonna play the devils advocate or pretend to remain impartial, then you gotta check your fact
September 10th, 2007 at 10:14 am
Er just one valid point, folks. The parents left those interviews under no illusions that police believed their daughter was dead. Why then if you’re innocent would you STILL voice to the media the intent to continue the search for your ‘live’ daughter. Any innocent person would assume the likelihood of death even before the interviews. But now???
I’m afraid in light of their reaction to the interviews, the parents continued emphasis on looking for their ‘live’ daughter is a sure sign of self preservation and sadly a guaranteed sign of some knowledge that they are hiding. This cannot be argued.
September 10th, 2007 at 10:13 am
(71) Moderation
Where is your information on the amount of questions asked?
September 10th, 2007 at 10:12 am
If the McCanns are found guilty, what will the twins think when they grow up?
Those poor little angels will have their lives marked forever, whatever the outcome of the investigation. Children sense and understand much more than we believe.
September 10th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Bulldump…. I don’t see that he can have refused to answer 40 questions as there were only 42 in the first place. These were the questions that couldn’t be asked under witness status, only Arguido and the same 42 that were put to Kate.
September 10th, 2007 at 10:11 am
The BBC (Radio 5 Live) have just cut short a phone-in on the subject “Do you support the McCanns?”
There was a tidal wave of SMSs and Emails demanding the subject was dropped.
Comments included “gutter journalism”, “don’t care”, “sick of it” e.t.c.
After an “SMS vote” the subject was duly kicked into touch.
All very amusing….
September 10th, 2007 at 10:10 am
(67) Paola
Not Auntie Phil methinks…. her money is earmarked for Cream Cakes, Doner Kebabs and flame grilled Whoppers
September 10th, 2007 at 10:09 am
Am just reading in that King of the Tabloids - The Sun - the statement that GM read out yesterday at the airport, and I think that half the problem is that NOTHING these 2 say is from the heart. It’s all preprepared, like a good M&S meal, and just reheated for the waiting presshounds. Where is the emotion? Where is the leaving the police station and telling to “Fcuk off, I am innocent and will prove it”??
September 10th, 2007 at 10:08 am
17, CANNIE,
to clear their name they do not need the £1M MADDIE FUND. I think their family will help them: John, Philomena, etc.
September 10th, 2007 at 10:08 am
we dont want people thinking things without saying them do we?
September 10th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Sorry - for myself, I thought that went without saying anyway!
September 10th, 2007 at 10:04 am
because i left a bit off the end that i intended to put in!!!!!
September 10th, 2007 at 10:03 am
Bulldump at 57 and 62 - why are you repeating yourself??
September 10th, 2007 at 10:01 am
it has also been revealed that gerry refused to answer no less than 40 questions
when gerry refused to answer the questions the pj should have got up out of his chair and taken gerry outside to the awaiting journalist and told them that gerry’s refusal to answer questions was both “hurtful and unhelpful to the investigation” the tide of the publics opinion would have truely changed at that point!!!!!
I hope they swing (oh they already do!!!!)
September 10th, 2007 at 10:00 am
(58) spidermantra
Leave it…. he is a midget (a whining one at that). The twins are taller
September 10th, 2007 at 10:00 am
4′6 in kate’s shoes, which is what he has a penchant to wearing when he’s being rogered
September 10th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Gerry’s Blog…
It hasn’t been updated for several days. Perhaps apart from the fact that he cannot reveal anything due to his “arguido” status, the real reason is that it perhaps a little chilly in Leicestershire to go jogging. Does anyone have a weather report for Leicestershire?
Perhaps Auntie Phil could update the blog instead. Then we would know how many cream cakes she eats between interviews/protestations of innocence/legal fee fund raising
September 10th, 2007 at 9:58 am
how tall is gerry?
September 10th, 2007 at 9:57 am
it has also been revealed that gerry refused to answer no less than 40 questions
when gerry refused to answer the questions the pj should have got up out of his chair and taken gerry outside to the awaiting journalist and told them that gerry’s refusal to answer questions was both “hurtful and unhelpful to the investigation”
I hope they swing (oh they already do!!!!)
September 10th, 2007 at 9:51 am
(53) Anonymous
If they use the “fund” money for their legal fees that was supposed to be utilsed to “find Madeleine” as per the “findmadeleine” website, then they can no longer expect ANY support from the British public or press. Do you think they realise this? Or do you think they simply do not care? It is obvious what the “fund” should be used for, but looks like the whining midget wants to save his own skin instead of his own daughters. Why do think that is? Over to you Gerry
September 10th, 2007 at 9:49 am
I think Max Hastings is heading in the right direction, but I would expand it more and ask why?
September 10th, 2007 at 9:47 am
I have been suspicious of the parents since the first time I saw them on T.V. Their body language has always seemed to contradict what they say. But there is something else that I have noticed about them, especially Gerry, which I find really damning.
Ever since the first mention of culpability was put to Kate and Gerry, their responses have always been to question the evidence rather than to attack the question. This is a classic lie response.
If you were to ask someone “Did you kil you child?” and they didn’t, you might expect a response like “No way. That’s insane! I did not kill my child.” or something similar. The response will always be spontaneous and emotionally charged.
However, if you were to ask the same question of someone who did kill their child then it is very likely they would respond by asking about evidence for the question - something like “Where did you hear that?”, “Prove it.” or “There is no evidence to suggest I did it. Show me the evidence”.
From what I’ve seen so far, most the pleas of innocence from the McCanns, especially Gerry have fallen into the second, guilty/hiding something, category. This is not conclusive in itself but certainly worth taking into consideration.
I also think it’s a bit funny how the media have not paid any attention to the fact that on Saturday the McCanns were going to stay in Portugal and help the police for as long as it takes to clear there names then on Sunday they jumped on a ‘plane and legged it.
I won’t be surpised if they make a run for it before long.
September 10th, 2007 at 9:46 am
Allie (47)
I’m sure we all do but the probability is minimal.
On that note the probability the parents are involved (accident for e.g.) is far greater than a random abduction in the middle of a holiday resort.
The Caplam QC item in the Mail is very interesting (if true)….there goes the Madeline fund.
September 10th, 2007 at 9:45 am
SSS: Or spiritual communication with big loud drums. You never know someone might hear them. I live in hope…
September 10th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Interesting point of view by Max Hastings. Mainly about the press handling of such cases. Worth a read
http://media.guardian.co.uk/presspublishing/comment/0,,2165748,00.html
September 10th, 2007 at 9:43 am
As I said last week, I would like to think of her as alive, but IF its true and she was snatched by a gang of paedophiles, as her parents want us to believe, then I think that death would be preferable to any “life” she may be living.
It doesn’t bear thinking about.