Madeleine McCann: Torture, A Witness, Robert Murat’s Innocence And Richard Branson Investigates
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann.
SUNDAY MAIL front page: “MADDIE POLICE TORTURE TRIAL.”
As reported by Anorak on June 11 (see Madeleine McCann And Amaral Policing): “Chief Inspector Goncalo Amaral has been accused of concealing evidence that the mother of eight-year-old Joana Cipriano, who disappeared in the Algarve three years ago, was tortured by police into confessing she had killed her daughter, whose body was never found.”
Is this the British Press discrediting the Portuguese police? Should they leave our Kate and Gerry alone? (Do the Portuguese police have a PR?)
“Lies, beatings, secret trials: the dark side of police handling Madeleine case” – If the Portuguese police do have a PR, they should get a new one.
“Madeleine: Hair in McCann Renault: ‘It could be anyone’s’” - British forensic experts have concluded the fragments said to be Madeleine’s could belong to any number of people who had come into contact with the silver Renault Scenic.
THE OBSERVER: “Maddy police: we blundered.” Remember Robert Murat?
Says a source said to be from within the Portuguese police force: “British police and crime experts also suggested that Murat fitted the profile to have been behind a kidnapping. But the Lisbon investigators were from the start unsettled about the lack of any motive. Months later, there is nothing to suggest he was involved.”
But, er, Robert Murat remains a suspect.
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: “Hope for McCanns as law on secrecy is eased.”
Plans are afoot to change the rules in Portugal. The “new law means that all suspects and third parties, including the media, will have access to police documents in any investigation - unless the public prosecutor decides that secrecy will benefit the inquiry or protect the rights of the accused.”
And the police can make their views known to the public, too.
And: the McCanns have announced an £80,000 advertising campaign to help find Madeleine.
SUNDAY EXPRESS: “MADELEINE MYSTERY - POLICE TO ACT OUT MADDIE TRAGEDY”.
No longer a criminal case. It is now a tragedy. The Encyclopaedia Britannica says a tragedy is a “branch of drama that treats in a serious and dignified style the sorrowful or terrible events encountered or caused by a heroic individual.”
Yes, dignified. Who knew?
DAILY STAR ON SUNDAY front page: “MADDIE. The missing journey.”
Where did she go?
SUNDAY TIMES front page: “Branson gives cash to defend McCanns.”
Sir Richard Branson is giving £100,000 to create a “fighting fund” to help the parents of Madeleine McCann to clear their names.
A source close to Branson says: “Sir Richard wants to ensure the McCanns get access to the best legal advice. He has a good instinct on these things.”
The Virgin Sniffer will crack the case. Or will his PR and marketing departments get there first.
But is Branson right? Let’s take a look at the survey…
“According to a YouGov poll for The Sunday Times, only 20% of respondents believe that the McCanns are completely innocent. Nearly half (48%) believe that they could have been responsible for their daughter’s death, even if it was an accident; 32% were unsure. A total of 40% said that the McCanns’ high-profile campaign had made them suspicious, but 50% said that it had not.”
Tasteful stuff. But we need another poll to find out what happened to Madeleine McCann.
Times Columnist India Knight is a McCann junkie. “I want to stop reading, listening, watching, Googling, amateur sleuthing; I nauseate myself with my own prurience. My appetite for commentary – which is all that’s left, in the absence of hard facts – has been sated many times over. But I can’t stop.”
She craves information. But there isn’t any. Unless you listen to sources”…
“Police leaks, gossip and a clash of cultures close in on McCanns” - Yesterday the police spokesman Olegario de Sousa quit “in dismay” at the daily leaks to the press.
Those Portuguese police leaks only add to the speculation and the pain. Thanks goodness for the clarity and sensitivity provided by the Times.
As the Times notes: “Maria do Sameiro Oliveira, a psychologist who does criminal profiling for the police, said she found it strange ‘how they function so much as a unit, always holding hands rigidly’ and pointed out that normally in cases of child disappearances, ‘the mother and father start to diverge, one wants to continue the search, the other not’. She added: “They show little evidence of suffering. They are very formal.”
You should not be influence by Ms Oliveria’s words. When responding to the Times’ survey, make your judgement. Make up your own survey.
THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: “The McCanns: Unbelievable truth or unimaginable nightmare?”
The human interest angle and a time to look back over week of speculation.
NEWS OF THE WORLD: “MADDIE: THE SECRET WITNESS – TV boss holds vital clue to mystery.”
Jeremy Wilkins is the man whose “bombshell testimony could clear the McCanns”.
And: “Jeremy Wilkins’ evidence blows holes in the police theory that Gerry and Kate killed four-year-old Madeleine.”
Wilkins is said to be the man who spoke to Gerry McCann for up to 15 minutes outside the holiday apartments — “moments after checking on his children for the last time.”
A pal says: “He is entirely convinced of Kate and Gerry’s innocence. He believes they are a decent family caught up in an unimaginable nightmare.”
With Wilkin’s certainly and Richard Branson’s sense of smell, the McCanns may be placed once more above suspicion.
All the Madeleine McCann Faction Here…
Posted: 16th, September 2007 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (655) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
- June on The Chilcot Inquiry Into The Iraq War, In Pictures
- Katie Norman on X Factor: Jedward Go GAY, Win I’m A Celebrity And Hate Susan Boyle
- THENTHEREWERE4 on Madeleine McCann: Kevin Halligen Becomes The ‘Maddie Faudster’
- Anorak on Wikileaks Publishes 500,000 9/11 FBI And NYPD Pager Messages, Conspiracy Theorists Read On
- James Mcdiffett on Wikileaks Publishes 500,000 9/11 FBI And NYPD Pager Messages, Conspiracy Theorists Read On
September 16th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Their accents? One broad Scottish (Glaswegian at that) the other Liverpool ?
Nothing MORE working class than those accents!
and this might also clear another misconception!
http://gazetadigitalarquivo.blogspot.com/2007/09/late-father-of-gerald-gerry-was-labour.html
September 16th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
219 - Colette
I can’t see anyone crouching behind the playpen. Where are you looking? There’s a man standing wearing sunglasses but no other feet or legs showing under it.
September 16th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
209 - Rosemary
Like my posts yesterday, I asked why this bloke was a so-called mystery man? Look carefully and you can see a child on the climbing frame with a lilac top. Chances are it’s his own child and he was there first. There’s nothing particularly mysterious about him at all. Seems more like the McCanns clutching at straws trying to deflect from their own shortcomings.
September 16th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Who is the mystery man crouching behind the playpen?!
September 16th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
211, Maicen,
The poor man, I’ve seen his photo so many times, with the question, who is he? A pity it was not reported weeks ago.
September 16th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Maicen (211) They’re not middle class. They are upper working class. Listen to their accents.
September 16th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
In her piece in the News Review, India Knight writes a 2 word sentence:
“Facts matter.”
To correct her typo:
“Fact smatter.”
September 16th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Garth..is that your contribution to…er..”savvy” … if so perhaps you should heed your shout to me.
Show me your own savvy then…….
September 16th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Nice to see all the usual faces in here again today….
I have always been a frequent flyer on Virgin Airlines but after Branson’s announcement of donating 100,000 to the McCann’s legal defence, I will be avoiding anything to do with Virgin from now on. It is disgusting that he can donate money to potential child killers.
There are many people out there in dire need of a good legal defence for many issues that aren’t so controversial. I always had a good amount of respect for Branson but not any more. What makes the McCann’s so special to attract such a generous donation?
I haven’t read all the posts today but I wondered if others felt the same.
September 16th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
Maicen wrote
‘I bet if you go there in an hour you will NOT see this comment printed.!!!!! Does not suit Mail agenda of unwavering support.’
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
——————-
Mods and Admin
garth, I am deleteing your posts as there is nothing but stupidity in them.
We would like to see some points in favour of the McCanns, but just sneering is pointless
September 16th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
Judith… just a point about your post… Esther McVey is a Conservative. She stood for a Conservative seat at the last election.
Des Browne (Defence) is no relation to Gordon Brown. (PM)
September 16th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
It is a holiday resort and so that photo ,or one near Murat ,means nothing unless there is a proven link between this chap and Murat AND Madeline’s disappearance.
P.J have already interviewed him and he has NOT been made a suspect.
Next wild theory…….I reckon press are clutching at any straw to deflect form middle class doctors./parents nobody wants to believe may have been up to no legal good.
Bear in mind news.com.aus and all it affiliates in Aus is owned by Murdoch / Sky/ Foxtel.. = McCann allies.
Pass the salt.
September 16th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Maicen (206 - and the rest of the crap)
BLAH BLAH BLOODY BLAH!
I’ve been on this site 10 mins and am sick to death of the mono toned crap you keep coming out with.
Why don’t you bugger off and let someone with a bit more savvy have a say?
September 16th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
“Mystery man” in the photos of Gerry McCann with his children and
also spotted with Robert Murat in photos, has been identified and interviewed:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22426211-2,00.html
September 16th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
Gerry McCann is not related - at least not directly as far as I can tell to Jack McCann MP (died 1972)
September 16th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
My input does not seem to be appearing.
September 16th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Can I ask why my posts (those that contain links to other sites) don’t appear? Thanks
—————————–
Mods and Admin
Hello Pixie, probably too many links, try one per post
September 16th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
193, Tony Bennett
She would have been acting on her lawyer’s advice, no doubt. What would you do?
September 16th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Gerry McCann is not the son/grandson of Jack McCann MP (died in 1970s)
September 16th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
193 Tony Bennett…I have read that Sunday Mail update…and made a comment that she should have no problems answering a few questions since she is so adamant she has nothing to hide, and that this story has reached saturation point in media, with way too much PR , and way too little real searching for their child by McCann’s.
I bet if you go there in an hour you will NOT see this comment printed.!!!!! Does not suit Mail agenda of unwavering support.
ITV1 is reporting upon their “New Media Campaign”……. is that how McCann’s view their missing child, and suspect plight.???????
September 16th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
All the Summer I was wondering why Madeleine’s parents trusted she was in good hands, WHY? Maybe she was put through a hell all the time and every day meanwhile the investigation and search seemed pretty lame and effortless. Maybe a realistic approach to what torture she could be facing was too unbearable to think, I gathered and thus the illusion of the parents.
I hope the truth will out as everybody is saying now. The parents will regain their faces if proven not guilty. But if guilty and having orchestrated the world’s media in an effort to make the whole world including their own precious family and friends and the Pope believe they are innocent and having deceived all this money from people, how COULD they possibly admit or confess otherwise? It’s most logical to stick to the established story. But is it waterproof?
September 16th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
mods and admin
Thank you for that.
September 16th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
mods and admin
yes please
————
ok ,done
September 16th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
‘No Stone Unturned In Hunt For Madeleine’
Updated: 20:01, Saturday September 15, 2007
The family of Madeleine McCann are to launch a fresh advertising campaign to help find the missing four-year-old.
Kate and Gerry remain suspectsUp to £80,000 from the McCann’s fighting fund will be spent on a new appeal through billboards and other media.
Gerry and Kate McCann are keen to return public focus on finding their daughter.
It is now more than a week since they were made formal suspects in Madeleine’s disappearance.
In a statement issued through a spokeswoman for the family, Mr McCann’s brother and fund director, John McCann, said: “The main objective of the Madeleine fund is to leave no stone unturned in the search for Madeleine.
“The fund will finance a broad range of initiatives in advertising to remind everyone that Madeleine is still missing.”
The campaign, set to launch in a fortnight, will centre on Portugal and Spain, but also continue to raise awareness in other parts of Europe.
Mr McCann said the new appeal would “complement previous efforts by the fund and many motivated individuals - family, friends and people touched by our cause”.
The statement was made on the day it was revealed the McCanns receive daily between 500 and 1,000 letters, cards and flowers offering messages of support.
A spokeswoman for the couple confirmed the well-wishing had risen since the family’s return from Portugal, and increasingly addressed directly to Gerry and Kate.
The announcement comes after the family said earlier this week that no proceeds from the fund would finance Kate and Gerry McCann’s legal costs.
September 16th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Judith 191….. yes you are right about all the political connections hence all the assistance they are getting.
Which could have a worse backlash than a few votes for Labour if they are found guilty beyond reasonable doubt in future.!!!
As for online petition …..Jon 188…….Madeline search should, and is continuing…dead or alive……though after so long with no clear indication of life, the Police there have little alternative but to search for a body as priority… it is not up to GBP to urge for search..it is up to the McCann’s to utilize the £1.3 million they got from us to do just that.Posters and billboards and the Pope or wristbands will not find her, and so far McCann’s seem not to have done much searching for their child ..despite their tour of world religious centers and heads of state and TV and news paper interviews etc ad nauseum.
So whilst I do feel this poor child has been sidelined, she has ended up thus by the very actions of her parents and their PR Team ,and I will not sign. They have the funds to search so do it instead of wasting it on billboards and wristbands and yellow ribbons etc al.
September 16th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Sorry about that folks i went off and left this page open and my son and his pals thought it would be great fun to write using my name
September 16th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
199 - What did you post all that for? It’s at the top. Erse.
September 16th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann.
SUNDAY MAIL front page: “MADDIE POLICE TORTURE TRIAL.”
As reported by Anorak on June 11 (see Madeleine McCann And Amaral Policing): “Chief Inspector Goncalo Amaral has been accused of concealing evidence that the mother of eight-year-old Joana Cipriano, who disappeared in the Algarve three years ago, was tortured by police into confessing she had killed her daughter, whose body was never found.”
Is this the British Press discrediting the Portuguese police? Should they leave our Kate and Gerry alone? (Do the Portuguese police have a PR?)
“Lies, beatings, secret trials: the dark side of police handling Madeleine case” – If the Portuguese police do have a PR, they should get a new one.
“Madeleine: Hair in McCann Renault: ‘It could be anyone’s’” - British forensic experts have concluded the fragments said to be Madeleine’s could belong to any number of people who had come into contact with the silver Renault Scenic.
THE OBSERVER: “Maddy police: we blundered.” Remember Robert Murat?
Says a source said to be from within the Portuguese police force: “British police and crime experts also suggested that Murat fitted the profile to have been behind a kidnapping. But the Lisbon investigators were from the start unsettled about the lack of any motive. Months later, there is nothing to suggest he was involved.”
But, er, Robert Murat remains a suspect.
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: “Hope for McCanns as law on secrecy is eased.”
Plans are afoot to change the rules in Portugal. The “new law means that all suspects and third parties, including the media, will have access to police documents in any investigation - unless the public prosecutor decides that secrecy will benefit the inquiry or protect the rights of the accused.”
And the police can make their views known to the public, too.
And: the McCanns have announced an £80,000 advertising campaign to help find Madeleine.
SUNDAY EXPRESS: “MADELEINE MYSTERY - POLICE TO ACT OUT MADDIE TRAGEDY”.
No longer a criminal case. It is now a tragedy. The Encyclopaedia Britannica says a tragedy is a “branch of drama that treats in a serious and dignified style the sorrowful or terrible events encountered or caused by a heroic individual.”
Yes, dignified. Who knew?
DAILY STAR ON SUNDAY front page: “MADDIE. The missing journey.”
Where did she go?
SUNDAY TIMES front page: “Branson gives cash to defend McCanns.”
Sir Richard Branson is giving £100,000 to create a “fighting fund” to help the parents of Madeleine McCann to clear their names.
A source close to Branson says: “Sir Richard wants to ensure the McCanns get access to the best legal advice. He has a good instinct on these things.”
The Virgin Sniffer will crack the case. Or will his PR and marketing departments get there first.
But is Branson right? Let’s take a look at the survey…
“According to a YouGov poll for The Sunday Times, only 20% of respondents believe that the McCanns are completely innocent. Nearly half (48%) believe that they could have been responsible for their daughter’s death, even if it was an accident; 32% were unsure. A total of 40% said that the McCanns’ high-profile campaign had made them suspicious, but 50% said that it had not.”
Tasteful stuff. But we need another poll to find out what happened to Madeleine McCann.
Times Columnist India Knight is a McCann junkie. “I want to stop reading, listening, watching, Googling, amateur sleuthing; I nauseate myself with my own prurience. My appetite for commentary – which is all that’s left, in the absence of hard facts – has been sated many times over. But I can’t stop.”
She craves information. But there isn’t any. Unless you listen to sources”…
“Police leaks, gossip and a clash of cultures close in on McCanns” - Yesterday the police spokesman Olegario de Sousa quit “in dismay” at the daily leaks to the press.
Those Portuguese police leaks only add to the speculation and the pain. Thanks goodness for the clarity and sensitivity provided by the Times.
As the Times notes: “Maria do Sameiro Oliveira, a psychologist who does criminal profiling for the police, said she found it strange ‘how they function so much as a unit, always holding hands rigidly’ and pointed out that normally in cases of child disappearances, ‘the mother and father start to diverge, one wants to continue the search, the other not’. She added: “They show little evidence of suffering. They are very formal.”
You should not be influence by Ms Oliveria’s words. When responding to the Times’ survey, make your judgement. Make up your own survey.
THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: “The McCanns: Unbelievable truth or unimaginable nightmare?”
The human interest angle and a time to look back over week of speculation.
NEWS OF THE WORLD: “MADDIE: THE SECRET WITNESS – TV boss holds vital clue to mystery.”
Jeremy Wilkins is the man whose “bombshell testimony could clear the McCanns”.
And: “Jeremy Wilkins’ evidence blows holes in the police theory that Gerry and Kate killed four-year-old Madeleine.”
Wilkins is said to be the man who spoke to Gerry McCann for up to 15 minutes outside the holiday apartments — “moments after checking on his children for the last time.”
A pal says: “He is entirely convinced of Kate and Gerry’s innocence. He believes they are a decent family caught up in an unimaginable nightmare.”
With Wilkin’s certainly and Richard Branson’s sense of smell, the McCanns may be placed once more above suspicion.
September 16th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
19 Chloe
“Looks like the Portuguese police are being set up now.”
Bravo Chloé! you point out clearly that the McCanns were being set up before - spot on.
September 16th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
17 Judge Dread
Max Clifford putts the boot in because they didn’t hire him - spite or what?
Max would never engage in generating spin that diverged from reality - Oh no, not Max!