Madeleine McCann: Four, Three Men, DNAboost And Risk
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann
DAILY STAR: “Cops slam pics of Maddie suspects – Innocent people are put at ‘risk’”
“Four” people who look like the drawings inspired by holidaymaker Gail Cooper have now been questioned by police
So says the Star. Although on closer inspection Jose Marques plus Joaquim Agostinho plus a Portuguese builder in Gibraltar makes three, not four
Celebrity criminologist Francisco Moita Flores says: “It is manipulation and propaganda.” No, not the Star’s reporting, rather the sketches
DAILY MAIL: “Fourth man questioned in Maddie e-fit probe”
When is an e-fit a drawing? Compare and contrast
The Mail sees the Portuguese builder questioned and then freed. “At least” three other men have been questioned
THE SUN: “SUPER DNA ‘WILL CLEAR McCANNS – They welcome new-style forensic tests”
A tiny sample is, reportedly, found in the McCanns’ Renault Scenic hire car. How did it get there? From her clothes, say the McCanns. “Another theory was that Maddie’s younger brother and sister may have similar DNA,” says the Sun
And there’s a new test. It’s called DNAboost. DNAboost “can separate or ‘clarify’ profiles and unravel tiny samples”
With DNAboost what you thought had gone comes back with a bang!
DAILY MIRROR (online): “McCann pics fury”
Always the “fury”
Police in Portugal “claim Kate and Gerry McCann are hindering the probe into missing Madeleine by releasing sketches of the possible kidnapper.
One detective says the drawings were too vague and could “identify dozens or hundreds of people”
“But McCann spokesman Clarence Mitchell hinted more sketches could be on the way ‘if we get any more information’”
THE INDEPENDENT: “Alastair Campbell: The Cudlipp Lecture”
“In an era of more pages, more space, more access, more talk, there is less said and done that is truly memorable. Even in Dacre’s apologia he could only draw on Stephen Lawrence – again - as the story where he felt the Mail made an impact and did some good. Similarly, in his Mactaggart Lecture Jeremy Paxman said the BBC constantly pointed to Planet Earth as evidence of good TV combining with good ratings, but did so precisely because it is a rarity. And with every front page screaming headline that doesn’t quite deliver the big story, every exclusive that isn’t, every whooshing breaking news that isn’t really breaking news at all, every new twist in the McCann case that isn’t a new twist at all, the public gets a little wiser every time”
We recognise the spin, says Mr Campbell – “Media spin to fill media space.” And we might even recognise the irony…
Madeleine McCann: A media feeding frenzy
Posted: 29th, January 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (930) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
January 29th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
532 Stevo
Thanks for the explanation. You know how it is. You have a normal life away from Anorak for a few hours and things have moved on a pace and it is easy to get left behind the latest earth-shattering, nail-biting (as you say, damp squib) developments.
Will be interested to see what happens tomorrow!
January 29th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
RedRooster
I saw that pic and thought of you and Sledgie. It is a nightmare!
508 Châtelaine Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Stevo
Are you still around?
Don’t want to sound like a broken record Sledge-type, but …
what about the elbow-less MM picture in the church in PdL?
On the same topic: haven’t seen Harry Hindsight back from his week in PdL this month …
_____________________________________
Sorry Châtelaine - just read your post.
I’ve done some major revamping on my site because I had a few technical glitches with the site navigation. In a few days (2-3) I’ll be updating and including some new pages on the elbow/Altar photo etc. The most recent study shows that most likely it is Gerry and/or Amelie that are the odd ones out. Madeleine is too detailed to be pasted in IMO. Yesterday I posted a list of about 8 or so conclusions from this aspect of the photo. I found the black/white thing behind Amelie - it looks like part of the pool depth sign but if it is then this emphasises that it was two pictures merged into 1.
Poster Saturn today said the McCanns had previously been to Ocean Club - or hinted that there was a strong possibility that they had been there before. I’d like to know one way or the other. If so, it would explain so many things in one fell swoop. It would explain the bugging thing about Madeleine looking different ages etc.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
528
Sledgehammer Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
anyway with all your commitments to the masons, police, social services, the mcs and all these fishing trips you wouldnt have time would you? Its shocking how you manage to spare so much time to spurt your nonsense on anorak 
Châtelaine, exchange of communication, you must be mistaken. I asked you a question, and you then went into To The Manor Born mode, frightfully upper class or striving to be, I would not like to be your butler.
***********************************
you’re not fit to be her butler sledgy
January 29th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Michael,
Bravo!
You expressed precisely what many people feel.
You are a professional journalist, aren’t you?
January 29th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
532
is that guy who from panorama there as well…the one that resigned…..now did he resign because he did not like the programme or was it he f**cked up and let Lou Reed sing Herion when they showed 5a ?
January 29th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
528
Sledgehammer Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Châtelaine, exchange of communication, you must be mistaken. I asked you a question, and you then went into To The Manor Born mode, frightfully upper class or striving to be, I would not like to be your butler.
*****
Pity. I desperately need one.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
SC46
I don’t post here any more, as a rule, though I do still look in sometimes. I saw Garth had posted a much earlier post of mine and you commented on it.
Maybe Mods and Admin will let me post this evening even though I’ve abandoned Anorak for another??!! No hard feelings if they don’t, though, especially as it will be quite long. But then, unless I see something of mine on the site, I certainly won’t post again. Haven’t done so for a long time.
I don’t “miss the point” SC46, I do realise that some people believe the McCanns’ world-wide campaign, which appears to be being pursued almost as relentlessly today as it was last May, is a diversion tactic. I just happen to think that is not very likely. The inherent difficulty in disposing of a body remains a difficulty to my mind. I still feel that guilty people would not continue to seek publicity, FBI advice, more UK police involvement, private investigators, etc. etc. when the alternative would have been to kick up a fuss at the beginning, yes, but then slink home after a few weeks, only too grateful to let the trail go cold.
I also feel that the abduction story, if a lie, was very amateurish. JT’s timing makes abduction LESS, not MORE likely. So why repeat it on Panorama? Why didn’t GM tell her not to mention it at all? He had plenty of time on the night to tell her that he’d bumped into Jes Wilkins who would no doubt say that he didn’t see the man with the child. If it had been a plot between them for JT to tell a supporting lie, I think GM would quickly have jettisoned it as soon as he met JW.
They spoke of the shutters and windows being open. It was so obvious that the police would see at once that they hadn’t been “jemmied” that, again, I think it’s a more amateurish story than these people would be likely to have told as a cover. Faked break-in?!
I also feel it’s unlikely that these people, with their very close family relationships would be unlikely to put their families through this huge lie, letting them orchestrate the campaign, knowing, as they must, that they are unlikely to get away with it if they did kill Madeleine, deliberately or accidentally.
I take into account the fact that the local Catholic priest and the Anglican vicar (they share the little local church), and the latter’s wife, befriended the McCanns and still support them today. (The vicar, Fr Hubbard, said so on Panorama, and in another interview for which I’ve lost the link, I’m afraid. Stevo had it. Fr Jose has denied the story of a breach which was published in the Express etc. and still holds a prayer service for Madeleine every Friday. I posted the link from The Resident. Anyone can find it.) These people got to know the McCanns well and are not stupid, I suspect. We don’t know the McCanns at all: whose judgement is likely to be more sound?
There was also a theory that they wanted to confess to Fr Paul Seddon, the priest who married them and baptised Madeleine. KM apparently asked her mother for his phone number when she spoke to her on the night. I think it unlikely she confessed by phone to killing her child. He went out to Portugal. I saw him on TV. He was praying for Madeleine’s safe return and was there to comfort and support K and G. This would have been a disgraceful charade if he knew Madeleine was dead. It has also been suggested that they confessed their “crime” to Fr Jose. Again, he continued to hold services for them and their friends and family and still does so today. Unlikely that he’d have offered them such open and warm support if he knew they’d killed Madeleine or covered up her death. I think they just turned to God in their despair, as people often do.
GM’s colleagues have expressed confidence in him. Whatever anyone says, they wanted him to work again and he is doing so.
Now, none of the above factors proves at all that they are innocent, apart from irresponsible childcare. I’m not stupid and I know the police are considering very seriously the theory that they killed Madeleine accidentally. (Why do they think it was accidental, I wonder?) My gut feeling could be completely wrong. But, on the whole, despite not liking some of the things I’ve seen recently, I THINK I still see no real evidence that they are likely to have killed their little girl, hidden her body at the time and then moved it to be buried elsewhere. To me, it doesn’t add up. They are now in discussions about setting up a task force to support police forces in searching for missing children. (Did you read the article in The People on Sunday? You will mock the views of the writer, who recently met with the McCanns, but again, his impressions are just as likely to be correct as those of people who have never even met them!)
Finally, I still believe in that principle printed on the back of those purple postcards TB is sending out, ie innocence until proven guilty. It’s one of the reasons people like TB are worried about the EU and why they’re asking for a referendum. He’s worried about the risk of losing that principle which is embedded in the British justice system. Like TB, I back it 100%.
I don’t view this as a competition as to whose opinion on the McCanns is right. If I’m wrong, that’s fine. In fact, I’d rather think there wasn’t some predator out there who’s getting away with it. If they are guilty, I hope the police will charge them soon and the evidence will be presented in court. Their punishment should be swift and harsh.
However, so far I see no evidence that they intend to give up their search. They don’t seem to give a damn about what anyone thinks of them as long as they can keep the search going. GM may be working but K isn’t. I’d guess she does little else but work with her supporters on the campaign to find out what happened to Madeleine. I’d bet my last fiver that she never, ever gives up.
Please don’t bother posting replies. I know now what you’ll say! Please don’t be abusive either. I’m not a supporter of child neglect. I’m not a member of Team McCann! I’ve never been paid to say anything……sadly!! I’m not a fool. I know they may be guilty. No insults will bother me now anyway. I have other things to worry about at the moment.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
522 Batman
It’s the Clarence Mitchell/Sun Newspaper/McCann free for all event in London at the New Theatre at 6:30pm. It’s open to anyone. I expect some disruption there and it’ll no doubt make the news. I hope it’s for the right reasons and that CM doesn’t get mileage out of some public disorder or similar reaction. Or…the so-called public event may turn out to be a damp squib. I’m sure we’ll be discussing it on Thursday. I know some people who are going to be there so we’ll find out.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
527
can’t say no Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Sledgehammer
says he/she is MAson ??
Never a Mason whould tell that !!
At least tell us ,better lies
******************
what do you expect hes had lessons off Gerry and Kate
January 29th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
526
cant speak at the moment Newcastle getting stuffed again
January 29th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
519
Batman Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
“415 Michael
Your post conveys, very eloquently, exactly what I have felt, feel and believe.
I trust my instincts in this and am heartened to know - once again - that I am not alone.
Like you, from Day 1, from Speech 1 - something jarred. Good post.”
****
You’re definitely not alone. Speaking for myself, have to admit only sometime from Day 5 onwards or so…
January 29th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Châtelaine, exchange of communication, you must be mistaken. I asked you a question, and you then went into To The Manor Born mode, frightfully upper class or striving to be, I would not like to be your butler.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Sledgehammer
says he/she is MAson ??
Never a Mason whould tell that !!
At least tell us ,better lies
January 29th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
505 Clouseau
One thing about having a website devoted to this case is that you get all kinds of emails from a big cross section of the public. I have had emails from solicitors, police (past and present) and I can honestly say that out of hundreds of messages of support that there’s only a handful (5 or 6) that are like the pro’s in here.
If Sledgehammer is former military I’d expect him to be a security guard or maybe he’s a Special Constable. Those jobs go are par for the course when you serve in the military for a long time and you’re stuck in that “uniform” and need a similar job.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Back
410
Totje Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
401
can’t say no Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Time to dinner
Bye
**********
Bye and why am I not surprised?
_____________
Pardon ?
Now i can’t have dinner ???’
Who do you thin you are???????
January 29th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
517
Stevo Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
*******************************
how did you know about the recurring dream i have every night??
January 29th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
521
Sledgehammer Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Perhaps you are to clever, which allows you to comment on something that you claim to have no knowledge of, must be all that jolly observation of Law Lords and their ilk. Definitely a TB camp follower.”
****
UC? No proper quote or reference and a smokescreen text.
Well.
Have a nice evening.
PS: it’s “too” with 2 “o’’s
Perhaps it takes a foreigner to try and write proper English
PPS: wouldn’t harm legibility neither to use an occasional “,” and “.” or maybe even”;”
January 29th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
514 Stevo
Hi there. Have not had time to catch up on day’s developments (!). What is due to happen tomorrow at 6.30? A press conference? Their arguido status terminating?
If you have time, please let me know in a sentence or two. Many thanks.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Perhaps you are to clever, which allows you to comment on something that you claim to have no knowledge of, must be all that jolly observation of Law Lords and their ilk. Definitely a TB camp follower.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
516 Scarlett Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Looks like triangulation and echelon have done the biz, and there was me thinking Soothsayer had turned into a NUTTER. Can’t say any more, and I won’t be posting again for a little while, but I’ll be back (as Arnie would say) when the balloon goes up.
_________________________
What happened to all those cryptic clues you posted back in September/October that came to nought?
January 29th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
415 Michael
Your post conveys, very eloquently, exactly what I have felt, feel and believe.
I trust my instincts in this and am heartened to know - once again - that I am not alone.
Like you, from Day 1, from Speech 1 - something jarred.
Good post.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
wonder if this Mccann thing has come as a godsend as a diversion from the Diana inquest and when thats over will the Mccanns be fed to the lions……just a thought……would be a good day to overshadow bad news would it not if any sould come out
January 29th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
510 Ciara-Louise
I had gone for a bit…phone.
But I had a chance to do a picture of Sledgehammer and RedRooster: http://tinyurl.com/3xdsvw
Notice the moustache on Sledgehammer. Well he did say he had one didn’t he?
January 29th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Looks like triangulation and echelon have done the biz, and there was me thinking Soothsayer had turned into a NUTTER. Can’t say any more, and I won’t be posting again for a little while, but I’ll be back (as Arnie would say) when the balloon goes up.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
513
Sledgehammer Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Châtelaine, post 376 if you are desperate for TB’s wisdom, and then you really will be confused.
***
Be kind enough, Sir, to explain what post 376 has to do with our recent exchange of communications, as well as to where you take evidence of us being “desperate” [no offense to TB].
Thank you.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
482 Batman
Evening! Hope you’re doing ok. I think we should get some fireworks tomorrow night at 6:30pm in London. I don’t think CM is going to get it easy.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Châtelaine, post 376 if you are desperate for TB’s wisdom, and then you really will be confused.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
511
Châtelaine Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
504 Sledgehammer
——-
Forget?
Deliberate confusion, wrong quotes & references, smokescreens & mirrors?
Kidding?
*****
And before being misunderstood:
I definitely meant YOUR quotes, references, smokescreens & mirrors.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
504
Sledgehammer Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Châtelaine, it’s OK forget it just some more of TB’s sensational utterings, Duncan R thought it deserved an explanation appears tonight’s Mod is giving it a wide berth, wonder why.
****
Forget?
Deliberate confusion, wrong quotes & references, smokescreens & mirrors?
Kidding?
January 29th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
#
490
Stevo Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Ciara-Louise
And…I forgot to add “good evening ;)”
——————————————————————
Evening Stevo, thought you had gone again.