Madeleine McCann: Missing Hours, Found Again And A PR Disaster
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann.
THE SUN front page: “MADDIE DAD AGONY. Fiend hid from Gerry. He was already in room he tells cops.”
A source close to the family says: “When Gerry went to check on Madeleine at 9.05pm he realised the bedroom door was open. Gerry is firmly of the view the abductor was already in the apartment.”
It’s another theory.
“When he went in he saw Madeleine was asleep but the bedroom door was slightly open. He thought, ‘That’s odd’ because he had left it firmly closed. But all the children were asleep. So he just went in and closed the door again and came out about 9.10pm.”
Good to hear Gerry McCann joining in the mood of speculation?
“Gerry is convinced the man must have been hiding, and once Gerry went through the patio doors the only way out was through the window. The front door was locked so the kidnapper took Madeleine and climbed out the window.”
DAILY MIRROR front page: “HOW SHE WAS TAKEN. The McCanns’ story.”
“Stolen to order after being spied on for days
Abductor hid in flat as Gerry looked in on kids
He got in through patio doors and out by window”
Gerry is a “heart specialist”.
Says a source: “When Gerry leaves, the man realises he has only a few minutes. He thinks the only way to get out without being seen is through the window.”
And: “Initially he thought Madeleine might have got up and gone to the toilet, or to get a drink or something.”
So what has changed? Why a new theory now, with a new spokesman on hand and the McCanns named as suspects?
DAILY STAR front page: “SEVEN HOURS TO KLILL MADDIE. Police probe her ‘lost’ final afternoon”
DAILY EXPRESS front page: “MADELEINE: THE MISSING SEVEN HOURS.”
Police sources reveal that “despite exhaustive inquiries they cannot confirm the whereabouts of part-time GP Kate, 39, and her daughter after 1.29pm on May 3”. A source said Kate’s movements were “unaccounted for until she sat down to have dinner with friends at a tapas restaurant within their holiday complex at around 8.40pm”.
The last photograph of Madeleine was said to have been taken by Kate at 2.29pm on May 3.
DAILY MAIL: “McCanns: What we really did in the missing six hours.”
“Madeleine had high tea at 5.30pm with staff at the Kids Club. She was picked up shortly before 6pm by Kate and Gerry.”
The friend insisted: “Kate was never alone with Madeleine that afternoon. There were always other witnesses present. These details were all given to detectives during police interviews, so they know what Kate and Gerry said happened that day.”
So no missing hours, then?
THE TIMES front page: “MADELEINE McCANN: Matthew Parris laments a PR disaster.
“The fatal flaw of David Cameron and Kate and Gerry McCann” - Our correspondent looks at the baleful influence of the marketing men.
“Look what they’ve done to Kate and Gerry McCann. Here were two people deserving of the most intense public sympathy. On a superficial level they got it – by the media bucketload. Yet did you not sense from an early stage an undertone of irritation at the couple? I’ve sensed it everywhere I go: not a sign of doubt about their innocence, which most of us take for granted, but a feeling, nevertheless, that they in some way invited trouble – though we banish the thought as brutal and wrong.
“Which it is. So why the ungenerosity? I believe it is because Kate and Gerry McCann have allowed an impression to arise that they and their advisers are marketing their own tragedy. Where we would have expected to see parents distracted and disorganised by grief, we have seen a professionally run campaign to find out what the media want, and give it to them.
“This has been done for a most defensible reason: to enlist the entire European public as amateur detectives in the search for Madeleine. But now her parents have ended up looking like film stars in a Hollywood weepy.”
“Put up or shut up, Madeleine McCann police told” - Friend of McCanns counters claims of ‘lost’ six hours before girl vanished
DAILY TELEGRPAH: “Madeleine McCann: Gerry certain he was in bedroom with kidnapper”
THE GUARDIAN: “From prime suspects to hounded victims - how parents turned the media tide”
Posted: 22nd, September 2007 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (1,536) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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September 23rd, 2007 at 6:59 pm
1256 well the swingers shared it all about abit I imagine. You have to see the rota for that night to find out. Probably been changed by now…
Payne in the Arse more like..
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Any news on the Morocco sighting storyline? All gone quiet?
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:55 pm
The Morocco “sightings”
Just been reading about Morocco. The first sighting was 9 May followed shortly by a second sighting. katiepoo has said 4.5 months later that she knew all along it was definitely Morocco. i got told off on here for saying why didn’t they go then and reminded that they did go…
Yep they went a month later
http://helpfindmaddie.blogspot.com/2007/06/parents-of-missing-madeleine-visit.html
Bloody fast work I say. How long did it take to phone Sky news? How long did the McMoneygrab web site take to set up? How many countries did they swan around in between 9 May and 11 June. How many times did tapas 9 swingers club have a bash (pun not intended)?
Yep, definitely the actions of people who wanted to leave no stoned (no typo) unturned.
They make me puke and so does the “person” on here who reckoned they did go to Morocco, while leaving out the bit about waiting 4 weeks.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:55 pm
1252 the information doesn’t help me to snip it.
1254
Mrs Mccann and Mr Payne??
Whas it Payne in the bathroom?
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:48 pm
1233 Stig et al.
It’s not that the risk of abduction was remote, or that the resort was thought to be safe. It’s common sense not to leave two eighteen month old’s and a three year old alone while you spend time off the property.
The “garden” analogy doesn’t wash because if you are in the garden you know that if they climb out of the cot - my 18month old’s did - or decide to get up and raid the fridge- ditto my three year old - the front door is closed, the safety latches are on the cupboards and drawers. all the dodgy breakables have been put away since they learn’t to walk, the back door is open onto the garden, they and you can hear eachother’s voices so they can search you out. And so on and so forth.
There is absolutely no way any sensible parent would leave children of that age alone. It’s not the worry of abduction safety but the very real prospect that they could harm themselves by accident.
Unless you sedate them of course…if you want the confidence of knowing they will be knocked out for long periods - 7-10pm - then Calpol is not the drug of choice.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Bishop Brennan
(1225)
This from Auntie Phil today (in between cakes and whoppers):
“But surgeon Gerry’s sister Philomena - who has regularly spoken on the couple’s behalf - welcomed the news about Mr Murat. She said: “The poor man - the police have seen the error of their ways. If there’s no evidence, they are doing the decent thing in clearing him. And if they think he’s innocent, that’s fine. It’s good to see the man’s name can be cleared.”
——————————————————————————
“Which translated means: “The jammy bastard - he’s obviously well in with the police ‘cos he’s one of those wops himself. Course they’ve got a ton of evidence against him but they’re crooked bastards and they’ll never use it on one of their own (even though he’s only half one of their own). Think he’s innocent! Pull the other one! Och, the leg’s too heavy to lift! And the bastards are clearing him while my brilliant, heart surgeon, potential Labour candidate, handsome, celebrity, lady’s man, brilliant …oh, no I’ve said that…um..anyway…my brother (and his wife, but forget her) has the indignity of being SUSPECTED of something, anything. Doesn’t matter what it is. HE’S INNOCENT, and anyway he’s a celebrity (and I’m the sister of a celebrity) so he couldn’t possibly and didna do nothing. (I love the double negative!)
For the sake of auld lang syne. ”
It’s all in quotes, so you can’t accuse me of having said this.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:37 pm
THE MISSING 8 HOURS 31 MINUTES, SIMON
1015 Simon says (September 23rd, 2007 at 12:36 pm)
“1006 - Lets be clear Tony Bennett. Maddie was last seen just before 6pm, when she left the creche and possibly as late as 6.30 on CCTV, which could easily be confirmed by the police should they choose to. This information is a reliable as just about anything from May 3rd, which the police have blocked any conversation about”.
REPLY:
Simon, the ONLY statements that Madeleine had been seen by anyone other than her parents between 1.29pm (or maybe 2.29pm) and say 8.30pm, when she started, allegedly, being ‘checked’, that I can find are these two:
1) alleged records of her being at the creche and apparently witnesses to her being at the creche, and
2) an initial unsubstantiated report of her being seen on CCTV about 6.30pm in the company of Madeleine but not the twins.
I expect that you, like me, now discount the ‘dancing on the esplanade with Gerry McCann and then eating an ice-cream etc.’, since the restaurant owner who came forward (rather late in the day it seems) with his CCTV admits the footage is ‘grainy’ and he can’t be sure it was Madeleine and Gerry.
MADELEINE AT THE CRECHE IN THE AFTERNOON?
Dealing with (1) above, I am by no means convinced that there is any record of Madeleine being at the kid’s club/creche that afternoon. I am inclined to the view that the Portuguese police are NOT satisified that she was in the creche as claimed by the McCanns, from 2.30pm to nearly 6pm. I suspect that the reference to ’the missing 6 hours’ by the PJ is a genuine leak from the investigation. It prompted David Payne to show his hand, anyway.
If proof is provided, then I and everyone else will of course accept it. A further reason for doubt about Madeleine being in the creche is the strange revelation of David Payne, 144 days after Madeleine ‘disappeared’, that he was in the McCanns’ apartment and saw Madeleine around 7pm.
Most important, why does he say this now? Did he tell the police that 143 days ago? What was he doing there after engaging with the other ‘Tapas 9’ men in the ’social tennis event’? Was he in his tennis shorts? Tennis racket in hand? How long was he there? Were any others of the Tapas 9 there? Perhaps he could tell us through one of the many ‘sources close to the McCanns’, who have been so busy talking to the press in the past few days.
WAS MADELEINE SEEN ON CCTV AROUND 6.30PM IN A CAFE?
So far as (2) above is concerned, I spotted this on another forum:
QUOTE: “There is an UNSUBSTANTIATED report that Madeleine was seen on CCTV eating with her parents (but, not the twins) at 6.30 pm on 3rd. May, but the CCTV tape has not been seen publically. Other than that, presumably the people at the Kids Club would have seen her at around 5.30pm”. UNQUOTE
REPLY: I conclude that this 6.30 sighting is highly unlikely to be genuine. If it was, I’m sure that Team McCann would have told us a lot more about it
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:37 pm
1250 - absolutely right. Pity each one of those kids’ families do not get even a tiny percentage of the backing/support and media exposure given to the McConns. But their plight probably won’t boost newspaper sales or TV ratings.
Wonder what Sky’s ‘McConn story - the latest’ or whatever it is called is going head to head with this evening?
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:36 pm
1245 milisoreja
In its rucksack thingie
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Every Stone Unturned Says:
“So many people in and out and hanging about that apartment, its a wonder they
did’nt wake up the kids. Or bump into each other in the dark.”
The kids wouldn’t wake up if they’d been sedated - which would also make it easier to abduct one of them without her waking up and screaming.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:29 pm
A sober reminder of the real issues currently sidelined by Monty McCann’s Flying Circus:
http://www.missingkids.co.uk/missingkids/servlet/PublicHomeServlet
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:27 pm
1214 bc
So many people in and out and hanging about that apartment, its a wonder they
did’nt wake up the kids. Or bump into each other in the dark.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:26 pm
[1244]
MAY 5th. Thats a good starting point. The truth is out there.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:21 pm
1243 - Spin on visit by Social Services.
A close source to the McConns window cleaner said that the couple ‘were very encouraged’ that Social Services had visited them so promptly. McConns had requested this meeting themselves as soon as they returned from Portugal.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Madeleine has been resurrected from the dead and resumed her world tour of petrol stations-Morocco again.
How come people are suddenly remembering after months of this story?
The heat seems to be off the Mccanns at the moment-this could run and run.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:16 pm
1243 Every stone
yep she looked like she was a nice little kid.
Deserved better in life - deserved decent parents
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:14 pm
1238
where do you keep it?
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:14 pm
1242
sorry sat may 5th
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:12 pm
1220 Ade
Neglecting those kids to indulge in drunken ’social tennis’ is bad enough, its the thought of what that little girl went through that makes my flesh crawl.
Sure hope your right about Social Services.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:12 pm
On the sat morning i remember an interveiw with BK and the interveiwer said
have you any message for m parents?
and he said
“the truth will out somewhere someone knows something and i appeal to them come forward before it goes too far and its too late!”
I thought it was a bit odd
anyone got a link
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:10 pm
1240 banff
I’d rather go to Banff (Alberta) - can you change the venue please? We’re so used to seeing changes to stories every day that a simple venue change should be child’s play…
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Greetings!
A quick drop in to say hello and to see what’s up with the Anorak bloggers. Seems you are busy at play with the arm chair sleuthing. Nice work! Keep up the good efforts in the search for the whereabouts of Madeleine McCann!!
A bit of info for any of you planning to travel to the U.S November 8 - 9th when Blog World Expo will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center. It’s going to be the end all of bloggers, vloggers and podcasters etc.
http://www.blogworldexpo.com
Hope to see you there!!!
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Uncle Brian Kennedy spokesman for the McCanns and a director of the FindMadeleine Fund.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:02 pm
1231 milisoraja
I can get 4 hours easily on my brand new MacBook Pro 15 inch screen
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:02 pm
This whole thing reminds me of someone else who kept saying ‘I did not have sex with that woman’. ‘I did not have sex with that woman’. ‘I did not have sex with that woman’. Anyone believe him either?’
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:00 pm
1232 Ooooh errr Bish…
Well not according to
http://www.fisheaters.com/addressingclergy.html
I did bother to look it up
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:59 pm
1216 Ola
Kate McCanns uncle in Rothley is called Brian Kennedy (Susan Healys’ brother?)
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:57 pm
1225 Bish
Interesting that Philly was only interested in clearing a “man’s name”. Don’t have to clear a woman’s name then…
May I now make a prediction that they are setting up katiepoo for the slaughter and trying to get gerrykins off the hook (45 min chat with gordo - I hope he was using the hands-free). And further, I think they will pleas insanity or diminished responsibility. Social services (visiting today I think) will take (O’Brien’s) twins off gerrykin’s hands and the divorce will follow next year…
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:56 pm
1145 andy
“And why haven’t any people staying at the MW resort at the same time come forward to say that they felt so safe that they too left their children unattended?”
Because you and the majority of the public would round on them with moral indignation screaming ‘how could you?, you’re as bad as them!’ They will all keep quit thanking providence that they weren’t the ones to loose the lottery.
“”And why did one couple in the McCann use a baby-listening device but not the others? ”
They chose to and the others didn’t. Different people do different things - its aclled free will.
“And why did the Tapas 9 not leave all the children in one apartment with the listening device?”
1) not enough beds in any one apartment. 2) they would never have got to sleep, there would have been a riot - clearly heard on the monitoring device. 3) IF one of the kids had been sick that day I wouldn’t put my kids in there, thanks very much - been there, done that.
“Why would a father leave a child that had been “vomiting” alone in an apartment?”
Maybe he had medical training and knowledge that lead him to believe it was a passing thing and was over. Ever heard of a child throwing up and drowning in it’s own vomit? I haven’t. It mostly only happens to drunk adults.
“You can ask why until the cows come home but you won’t get any answers from the McCanns or their spin machine. Even those who defend everything the McCanns say and do have trouble with why they left their children.”
I don’t. I would not do what they did, personally, but I do not criticise them for doing it because there was very little real risk. I have given my reasons before why i think this so I won’t repeat them.
You might be interested in this - but probably not:
“And I know that many parents leave their children in their hotel rooms and rented apartments while on holiday in southern Europe. It is a common practice. In that regard it must also be deemed relatively safe or we would hear of more cases like the McCanns’, and we do not.”
http://tinyurl.com/yrz7bu
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:56 pm
1229 - That’s “your eminence” to you my friend.