Madeleine McCann: 4650 Articles, Christian Ridout Was Here And Lawless Morocco
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann.
DAILY EXPRESS front page: Poster blitz in Morocco”
“More than 11,000 letters and posters have been distributed in remote parts of the North African country to jog the memory of someone who may have seen the little girl”
A spokesman says: “E-mail is great within larger towns and cities, but there are still a lot of people who do not have Madeleine’s picture or the phone contact details to report sightings or information”
Do you have Madeleine’s picture? Do you know the phone number?
DAILY MAIL: “Letter blitz on remote Moroccan mountain villages that Madeleine McCann campaign cannot reach”
“Agents [of Metodo 3] have distributed photographs of the little girl with an appeal in French and Arabic to call with information about her whereabouts. But it has proved difficult to reach all of the isolated communities where a child could have been taken, many of which are in lawless, mountainous regions”
Those lawless Moroccans…
“Madeleine: Private detectives hunt for British barman known as DJ Shifty, accused of grooming an under-age girl for sex”
“Part-time barman and disc jockey Christian Ridout, 32, allegedly sent the British girl obscene text messages when he worked in an expats’ pub 200 yards from where Madeleine disappeared. When the 12-year-old’s mother discovered the explicit messages, Ridout - also known as DJ Shifty - left Portugal in a hurry”
A suspect?
Says the paper: “By coincidence, the Ridout family were next-door neighbours of the family of Robert Murat, the chief suspect in the Madeleine hunt, when the Murats lived in the nearby village of Almadena. The night after Madeleine went missing, a British expat walked into the Plough and Harrow pub in Praia da Luz, still owned by his parents Tony, 57, and Jill, 58, and asked: ‘Where’s Christian then?’ Locals have disparagingly nicknamed the pub ‘The Plough and Paedophile‘ and the missing man is widely disliked in the tight-knit community”
So where is Christian? Well, he left Praia da Luz a few years ago. His mother says she has not seen him for two years. Says the girl’s mother: “I went in to see them just before Madeleine disappeared and they confirmed they’re still looking for him. ‘No one knows where he is, but he could have been back to this area”
Or not…
THE SUN front page: “Publicity blitz for Maddie in Africa”
“Many still don’t recognise her”
Help make Madeleine McCann the world’s most recognisable face
“Despite a massive campaign highlighting the seven-month search for their daughter, experts believe many in the north African country still lack the crucial information they need to help trace her”
Many?
“Now a silent army of volunteers from the Helping To Find Madeleine campaign have given their time over the festive period to flood businesses across the nation with 11,500 letters and posters”
Not so silent
“The initiative comes after the McCanns’ Spanish detective agency pin-pointed Morocco as the most likely place little Maddie may have been taken”
Can you pinpoint a “likely place” to an entire nation? Is this detective work or guesswork?
Kate and Gerry McCann are “doctors”. Fact
Kate pins on badge of hope: “ANGUISHED Kate McCann returned to church yesterday – with a badge of hope bearing a picture of missing Madeleine pinned close to her heart”
A new merchandise push?
One “worshipper” at Kate’s church says: “Every mother wants to cuddle her children at Christmas – it’s heartbreaking that Kate has been denied that. The badge is a symbol of hope that could help focus new eyes on the hunt for Madeleine”
“347 new Maddie calls combed” - The McCanns’ spokesman Clarence Mitchell says: “We are pleased with the calls and they are continuing to come in. Every single call is much appreciated and we are going through them with a fine-tooth comb. Any that need to be acted upon swiftly are being acted upon swiftly. We don’t go into detail because if there is any significant information”
DAILY STAR: “TECS: MADDIE BEING HELD IN MOROCCO”
“More than 11,500 posters appealing for information about the youngster have been sent out to the furthest reaches of the north African country”
Francisco Marco, the PI hired by the McCanns, says: “Morocco is the perfect place to hide a kidnapped girl”. He has said this before. Is Morocco the perfect place? Why not Algeria? Or Malta?
DAILY RECORD: “Maddie Poster Blitz In Morocco”
“Schools, supermarkets and medical centres are being blitzed with thousands of photos of the missing four-year-old. And letters written in French and Arabic are being sent to towns and villages in the most remote parts of the country”
Madeleine in Morocco. Or not. Again… Isabel Gonzalez saw her. Mari Pollard saw her
Clarence Mitchell says: “Anyone who puts effort into assisting us in any way, we are incredibly grateful for, and it sounds like they have done a fantastic job. I have no doubt that it is this kind of effort and initiatives that will lead us to finding Madeleine”
Gerry and Kate McCann are “doctors”
THE GUARDIAN: “From Mr Bean to Shambo the bull, the media obsessions of 2007”
A review: “Almost nine months after she vanished, we know a lot about Madeleine McCann and her family. We know the legal implications of being named an official suspect in a Portuguese criminal investigation. What we do not know is who took her, if she is alive and whether any trace of her will ever be found again. A total of 4,650 articles have appeared in British newspapers since she disappeared on May 3”
THE SCOTSMAN: “Madness, badness, hate and heroism - Robert McNeil continues his unique take on the events of 2007 with a look back at the second three months of the year…”
“Hell also visited the parents of three-year-old Madeleine McCann on 3 May when the toddler disappeared from their holiday apartment in the Algarve. In the ensuing months, Kate and Gerry McCann used the media to keep the case in the public eye. The Portuguese police did the same, but their efforts were directed more at casting doubts on the McCanns and their friends. Supposed sightings of Madeleine were reported periodically, but each time hopes were dashed”
THE TIMES: “Hundreds ring hotline after Madeleine plea”
Yesterday in the latest entry on his internet diary, Mr McCann wrote: “Madeleine should not be spending Christmas away from her loving family. The person who took her has it in their power to end our suffering and will be able to appease their conscience that they have done the right thing – especially at this time of year. Kate and I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to write to us and let us know Madeleine and our family are still in their thoughts and prayers. We still have at least one hundred cards to open! As always, every single one will be read and the support expressed helps renew our determination to find Madeleine”
The story, speculation and sensation…
Posted: 27th, December 2007 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (1,081) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
December 28th, 2007 at 1:14 am
950
Hideki Says:
December 28th, 2007 at 1:07 am
946
Jane Says:
“Blimey, Hideki, seems I really hit a nerve there. You too, eh? ”
Nah, I’m just kidding around.
“Well, never mind, dear, I’m sure there’s room for you on the therapist’s couch too.”
People who tell others to get therapy are usually beyond help, so I don’t recommend you see a doctor, Jane. Oh, I forgot. You are already seeing a doctor.
………………………….
No, dear, I avoid the doctor like the plague because, please keep this to yourself and tell no one else………….I’m a smoker………
December 28th, 2007 at 1:14 am
Ian
I think the psychological reasons for believing in a Deity are to feel you have protection, for guidance and to have some kind of ecstatic experience that lifts you above the mundane and makes you feel special.
Belief in a God also has the advantage of creating large social groups where the God takes the place of the Alpha Male or Female (without a Deity, it’s unlikly that co-operation would have evolved beyond smallish family tribes, which might be a good thing unless you find yourself an outcast with no welfare state to turn to).
December 28th, 2007 at 1:11 am
947
Hideki
Lol - and there’s me thinking the kid gets a star for good behaviour and a pressie after a week of good behaviour - I really must be out of touch
December 28th, 2007 at 1:11 am
928 Tony Bennett Says:
“Taking the McCanns’ secret to his grave ”
“No wonder his conscience appears to be troubling him.”
***********************
Want to make a bet the priest never said that? And a bet his conscience doesn’t trouble him?
Rumours, tabloids, unnamed sources, so-called unnamed friends, why on earth are you so eager to believe this b*llsh*t?
And as you were pushing Maria to answer a question you shouldn’t even ask, because you know or could have known the effect on the mob, I repeat my question, which you still haven’t answered [no offence meant, really interested to know]:
How’s your fund doing TB? Already got the 1,000 GBP? With so many supporters that can’t be too difficult isn’t it?
December 28th, 2007 at 1:10 am
953 Attacking someone who is fighting the neglect and abuse precedent being set by these awful parents. Im assuming you have a reason for that position? You too neglect your kids? Why protect them?
December 28th, 2007 at 1:10 am
Woops, sorry Ian, I’m posting far too late - I meant my ‘agenda’, not angenda
December 28th, 2007 at 1:09 am
#
878
K.Keesha Says:
December 28th, 2007 at 12:14 am
Meejician
All this talk of ADHD and so on, I’m unsure of its significance except if ..
-Kate as an only child herself …. a perfectionist..perhaps…. Now a mum coping with 3 young children, even with physical help (nanny and granny) if she is a perfectionist, might find the spirited behaviour of a 3 year old very annoying. I know a lot of expectations a put on first borns by their parents, seen it for myself.
Is this why adhd is being mentioned?
**********
It’s being mentioned, accidentally, because it’s an inherited condition, but few posters are aware of what they may be implying. AD/HD is often misdiagnosed in adults as bipolar disorder.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:09 am
942. If a child awakes and is scared, you do NOT reward them for sitting in their room and suffering.
Address the root cause, why are they awaking? Go sit with them.
Whats wrong with them letting you know they have woken? I’d hate to have thought a child of mine couldnt come to me when scared.
Looks like you need parenting lessons too.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:09 am
938
Ian Says:
934 Jane
Whats your agenda Jane? Attacking someone who does not approve of child abuse?
Dont see that as a good thing then, not a Mother?
Interesting.
……………………………
I am a mother, Ian and my heart goes out to poor little Madeleine.
Can you explain what you mean by ‘my angenda’ please?
December 28th, 2007 at 1:08 am
945
Meejician
A coincidence? Discussing christianity, aethist etc, you bring up the Vale of Belvoir. I think it was in the 17/18th centuary 3 women believed to be witches were tried and executed as such, they cursed the Earl of Belvoir. Each Earl had dies untimely and at a young age since - a witches curse? some believe so.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:07 am
901 Jane
REPLY: Well, that was a long rant. I did find your claim that I was ‘intimidating’ and ‘threatening’ Maria quite comical; after all, there’s nothing remotely of that ilk in my post. What there is - and what you object to - was my query over Maria’s false claim.
Well, here’s one article, in the Daily Express on 16 October, about Father Pacheco’s vow of secrey. One of many, incidentally, which said the same thing. When you or Maria can produce proof that Father Pacheco has said that he will, after all, not take his McCann secrets to the grave (or that he never said that), then do please let me know.
Maria was wrong to claim that the ‘Resident’ article said this. And you know it as well as Maria does:
======================================================
DAILY EXPRESS: October 18,2007 By David Pilditch in Praia da Luz
THE priest who provided comfort for Kate and Gerry McCann after their daughter vanished spoke for the first time yesterday of his relationship with the couple and said: “I was deceived.”
Father Jose Manuel Pacheco broke his silence and told how he had made a mistake forming a close bond with the couple who were later made suspects over Madeleine’s disappearance. Father Jose Pacheco, 46, said he did not regret offering all the help he could to two “lost souls.”
But he ended up coming under police scrutiny after giving the couple the keys to his church so they could pray round the clock for their daughter’s safe return. The move backfired when devout Catholics Kate and Gerry, both 39, were named official suspects by police.
He was given a dressing down by his boss - Algarve Bishop manuel Quintas. The couple stopped seeing Father Pacheco and left Portugal without saying goodbye - leaving the church keys with another clergyman.
Detectives questioned the priest after becoming convinced Kate had made a confession to him. He has vowed to stand by his vow to take secrets of the confessional to the grave. Last week police - led by new investigation chief Paulo Rebelo - spent an hour examining an old cemetery outside Father Pacheco’s tiny hillside church in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz. They are considering digging for Madeleine’s body.
Last night the priest admitted he had got too close to the couple. But he insisted he was only driven to help them by their “inconsolable grief” in their days after Madeleine vanished. He said: “I was deceived. I was just doing my job supporting lost souls.
“I would do that again with any family who were in their situation. I didn’t do anything wrong.” Father Pacheco - who runs two churches and teaches at three local schools - was not seen for several days after the McCanns were made suspects.
He denied he’d gone into hiding, insisting he was carrying out his pastoral duties and caring for his sick elderly mother. Father Pacheco refused to even discuss his vow of confessional silence. But one of his colleagues insisted he was duty bound to take secrets to his grave. The fellow priest said: “He will never reveal what was said.
“We have a friend in China and the police put pressure on him to give evidence in a case against a Chinese diplomat. “They threw him in a dungeon and he still would not talk. In the end he cut his own tongue out to show them.”
============================================================
December 28th, 2007 at 1:07 am
946
Jane Says:
“Blimey, Hideki, seems I really hit a nerve there. You too, eh? ”
Nah, I’m just kidding around.
“Well, never mind, dear, I’m sure there’s room for you on the therapist’s couch too.”
People who tell others to get therapy are usually beyond help, so I don’t recommend you see a doctor, Jane. Oh, I forgot. You are already seeing a doctor.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:05 am
937 Believe what you want, but dont tell me I have to stop thinking that you are deluded.
Why do you need a fairy story to live a good life? I dont.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:05 am
Hideki said: Please say hello to Russell for us.
…………………….
Who is Russell, Hideki?
December 28th, 2007 at 1:03 am
942
annie123 Says:
December 28th, 2007 at 1:01 am
927
Ian
“What’s so wrong with ’star charts’? What’s the alternative to teaching your child to do as their told - knock it into them? Shout and scream at them?, smack them around?”
That is what the Kate McCann allegedly did. She could not be left alone with the children. When she hit them hard enough, they would see stars. Hence the star chart.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:02 am
#
870
Stevo Says:
December 28th, 2007 at 12:11 am
863 Meejician
Living where you are, you’d find it amusing when an American asked me about a town in the UK called “looger-barruga.” I’m spelling it like that but that’s exactly how he pronounced it. I said I had no clue and after he showed me his map I realised he meant Loughborough.
*************
But we are totally confusing for Yanks/others. We have Belvoir Street and the Vale of Belvoir. Try telling them that’s Beaver. Try telling them that Groby is Grooby, try telling them that Rothley is Row thley. Try telling them that this county isn’t Lie sester sheyer. It’s hopeless.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:02 am
939
Hideki Says:
December 28th, 2007 at 12:58 am
934
Jane Says:
“You’re not just fantasising again, TB, you’re fragmenting - and it’s a hugely sad sight to see. You were an excellent man once. Please get some treatment and pull yourself together.”
Stuff your withered prune back under your pants, Jane. It is a huge, sad sight to see. Please say hello to Russell for us.
………………………………….
Blimey, Hideki, seems I really hit a nerve there. You too, eh? Well, never mind, dear, I’m sure there’s room for you on the therapist’s couch too.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:01 am
940
chenier Says:
December 28th, 2007 at 12:59 am
“And I must be off to bed; goodnight, and good sleuthing…”
Who will be with you in the morning, Chenier?
December 28th, 2007 at 1:01 am
Tony
All the Priest could say to the Police is that the McCanns said they did it. That isn’t proof that they did it. The stress could have made them hysterical.
In Scotland a confession isn’t enough to get a conviction, and I think that’s right.
The bad thing is when a Priest knows a crime has been committed and the police have no idea, but that isn’t the case with the McCanns.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:01 am
927
Ian
What’s so wrong with ’star charts’? What’s the alternative to teaching your child to do as their told - knock it into them? Shout and scream at them?, smack them around?
What exactly is your remedy to keeping a child in it’s bedroom at bedtime and not having it coming down stairs every 5 mins?
December 28th, 2007 at 1:00 am
Annie123 said: Where do you think morality came from? This was a world where there was no morality. Christianity gave us that. Those of us who teach our kids right from wrong are basing our beliefs on Christian beliefs. You can be an aethist and still have moral standards but don’t go putting a person’s beliefs down because you do not believe in God, you are living by their teachings whether you like it or not.
Well, said Annie, I totally agree with y0u. What a bleak, empty world this would be without God and our faith.
Happy New Year to you
December 28th, 2007 at 12:59 am
And I must be off to bed; goodnight, and good sleuthing…
December 28th, 2007 at 12:58 am
934
Jane Says:
“You’re not just fantasising again, TB, you’re fragmenting - and it’s a hugely sad sight to see. You were an excellent man once. Please get some treatment and pull yourself together.”
Stuff your withered prune back under your pants, Jane. It is a huge, sad sight to see. Please say hello to Russell for us.
December 28th, 2007 at 12:58 am
934 Jane
Whats your agenda Jane? Attacking someone who does not approve of child abuse?
Dont see that as a good thing then, not a Mother?
Interesting.
December 28th, 2007 at 12:57 am
922
Ian
Some people need to believe in something, lets face it, there’s not a lot in this world we can truly believe in. There’s corruption everywhere, the church included.
Before Christianity there was paganism and other such followings. The Roman belief was the mother’s right was to take her sons virginity, orgy’s were common place.
Where do you think morality came from? This was a world where there was no morality. Christianity gave us that. Those of us who teach our kids right from wrong are basing our beliefs on Christian beliefs. You can be an aethist and still have moral standards but don’t go putting a person’s beliefs down because you do not believe in God, you are living by their teachings whether you like it or not.
December 28th, 2007 at 12:57 am
931
Ian Says:
December 28th, 2007 at 12:54 am
925 Personally, I think Sadam had to go - but they should have had him assasinated so the rest of the country could have been kept intact.
Mind you, its a pity its not possbile to eradicate religion with a faith bomb! Imagine that, drop a bomb in Rome and the Catholic Church is no more, though the people survive! Or a bomb on Iran, imagine world with no Islam!
————————————————————————-
Well, if you look around then world there are a lot of places wiith despots much nastier than Saddam; if you were doing it on ethical grounds they should have gone first.
Of course, they weren’t sitting on vast reserves of oil…
December 28th, 2007 at 12:56 am
929 Jane
Come on Jane, why would anyone protect Garth? Clearly you are as stupid and nasty as he, so I guess I answered my own question.
December 28th, 2007 at 12:56 am
928
Tony Bennett Says:
REPLY: Taking the McCanns’ secret to his grave when he could help solve what happened to Madeleine. No wonder his conscience appears to be troubling him. He puts the institution of the Roman Catholic Church above his obvious duty to God and man to assist the police in solving a crime. I have little sympathy with his self-imposed ‘plight’
………………………..
You’re not just fantasising again, TB, you’re fragmenting - and it’s a hugely sad sight to see. You were an excellent man once. Please get some treatment and pull yourself together.
December 28th, 2007 at 12:55 am
928 Spot on.
December 28th, 2007 at 12:54 am
Ian
Well, obviously they’re lying. But it’s a nice fantasy - like fairies and the Easter Bunny. And most Priests are so childlike I think they do actually believe it, like actors that have played Hamlet too often.
The point about religion is to keep it away from politics, and actually if you directly attack religion they panic and that makes them more not less interested in the system. Keep them happy and hopefully they’ll mind their own business.