Madeleine McCann: Four Newspapers To Pay McCanns Damages
NEWS is that the Daily and Sunday Express and sister papers the Daily Star and Daily Star Sunday will pay a “substantial” sum and print front-page apologies to Kate and Gerry McCann, parents to Madeleine McCann.
This story was broken by Anorak.
Kate and Gerry McCann’s lawyers says that some of the newspapers’ articles were “grossly defamatory”.
All damages will be donated to the Find Madeleine fund.
The Daily Express is to carry a full front-page apology in Wednesday’s paper, while the Star’s apology will take over half its front-page. The papers are expected to apologise for suggesting Kate and Gerry McCann were involved in their daughter’s disappearance. The action relates to more than a hundred stories across the four titles, including 42 printed in the Daily Express.
Says Roy Greenslade:
“I think this is an amazing stand-down, u-turn, by the Express newspapers. I think when people realise that more than 100 stories have been complained about as being grossly defamatory, it will annihilate the Express’ readers sense of trust and credibility in their newspaper.”
THE GUARDIAN: “Express and Star apologies to McCanns bring all journalism into disrepute”
Five days ago, when it emerged that the group had removed all its McCann stories from its websites, I gave some examples of the tendentious, and often mendacious, material the Daily Express had been running. Over the weeks and months since May last year, when Madeleine vanished in Portugal, they added up to a substantial libel on the McCanns.
Five days… Sureley longer than that, Mr Greenslade. February 22nd.
This was no journalistic accident, but a sustained campaign of vitriol against a grief-stricken family. The stories were not merely speculative, but laced with innuendo which continually made accusations against the McCanns on the basis of anonymous sources and without any hard evidence.
Indeed.
Wild claims, often made by unattributed sources to Portuguese newspapers, were then spun even more negatively by the Express and Star titles. Of course, they were not the only papers to carry prejudicial material, but they were by far the worst.
I am delighted that the papers, owned by the pornographer Richard Desmond, have been forced to humble themselves. I only wish the McCanns had acted even faster, but no blame should attach to them. Their major concern has, quite naturally, centred on their missing daughter.
A single fact: Madeleine McCann is missing. And speculation, sensation and innuendo. Anorak has followed the case from the outset - a voracious media feeding frenzy.
But, taking into account that other papers have also carried inaccurate and inappropriate stories about the story, it is also a day in which many British journalists have cause to hang their heads in shame.
Did the Express titles go to such lengths, eschewing all ethical standards, purely to win sales? If they did, it didn’t show up in their circulation figures because all four titles have lost sales over the past nine months. Or was it, as I suspect, less calculating, a case of casual cruelty rather than premeditated sales-building? It’s hard to know which is worse.
The disappearance of Madeleine McCann
Posted: 18th, March 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann, Tabloids Comments (79) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
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May 12th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Can a day be set aside for a world wide search for missing children like Madeleine McCann ? Like for instance Earth hour?
March 19th, 2008 at 7:21 am
I still cant find a spokesmans quote yet on these apologies.
March 19th, 2008 at 7:20 am
Maddy relative’s pub ransacked
By Anita Guidera
Wednesday March 19 2008
THE pub owned by the grandmother of Madeleine McCann was broken into and ransacked just after she visited the area at the weekend.
In the early hours of St Patrick’s Day morning, thieves rammed the back door of the McCann pub in the village of St Johnston, Co Donegal, with a car before tearing it apart inside and making away with almost its entire stock of alcohol.
On Saturday, Eileen McCann and her daughters visited the village of St Johnston for the third anniversary Mass of her late husband, Johnny.
But her son Gerry, father of missing toddler Madeleine, did not make it to the family event.
McCann’s bar, leased by local man Joe Peoples, played host to the McCanns almost a year ago.
“She (Madeleine) was a wee dote. It’s hard to believe what has happened since then,” Mr Peoples said.
- Anita Guidera
March 19th, 2008 at 7:00 am
suzi Says:
March 18th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Gerry has even given up his blog by the looks of things.
………………………………………………………….
Well Amen to that !!
March 19th, 2008 at 5:10 am
75 i-dont-believe-them
It says a lot about the legals. One rule for the rich, one rule for the poor, one rule for the ones that have something to hide, and have friends in high places! There is a saying, all will come out in the wash - well, probably could do with some help from the stain remover.
March 19th, 2008 at 4:13 am
wow, i am in shock.
what does it say about Britain that it is afraid of the McCanns?
what does it say about Britain that legitimate beliefs cannot be expressed in this nation?
My mother would say “They will get it in the end.”
If only I believed that.
March 19th, 2008 at 3:39 am
What has always intrigued me about this website is that the mooses scurry when the big cats’ aboot the hoose , with the exception of a few passionate partisans.
March 19th, 2008 at 2:06 am
72 Pepe
how on earth have the McCanns managed to be successful! Four newspapers done already. Maybe you are right, more to come. What about all stories published about Diana and others. All acted maturely and issued statements and that was that. Makeamemoney is what it is all about.
March 19th, 2008 at 1:59 am
Leaving no paper unsued
http://www.esplendordelaforma.blogspot.com
March 19th, 2008 at 1:12 am
70 Val
Yes, do hope the status is not lifted due to pressure.
It is early morning here and raining heavily.
Sleep tight, catch up with later, Bye.
March 19th, 2008 at 1:08 am
66 lyn
Their attitude from day one has been “we have done nothing wrong”. the fact they
could command such high level support and world wide attention only added to
their “celebrity” status, I just sincerely hope the PJ isn”t forced to lift their arguido
status because of political pressure.IMO of course.
We seem to be ships passing in the night all the time, I am off to bed now, catch you later, Goodnight/ Day or what ever.
March 19th, 2008 at 1:03 am
64 Denzylle
1.13 sounds good - the sole purpose of the fund.
To ensure the safe return of Madeleine - the police and authorities do that work!!!!!
March 19th, 2008 at 12:59 am
65 Denzylle
I just checked old thread 61 Brandon, no mention of “team landing” guess we”ll just
have to wait and see. With regard to the fund, if you remember it was agreed that
the McCann”s Mortgage could not be paid from it. There is no way the McCanns
can search for Madeleine much longer, sad as it is, so the Company would be wound
up.
Anyway, we could be here all night speculating, so I”ll say Goodnight, sleep well and
catch up with you soon.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:52 am
56 Val
Very much indeed. When first reported people had other ideas along the same line as a scam!!! It has been on the news this morning early, on the morning shows, and haven’t read newspaper yet. Madeleine’s “abduction” must go down in history as a jack the ripper crime, no-one will every know whodunit. I am absolutely appalled at the thought in the first place, that the McCanns have in mind to sue…what for I ask.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:48 am
63
Clarrie can demand all he likes. I don’t think the PJ has any intention of lifting the arguido status (at least yet).
I DO believe the interviews will take place, and that perhaps they are being undertaken already.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:46 am
The terms of the Fund allow for a very free interpretation of how the money can be spent:
———————————————————-
1.1 The full objects of the Fund are:
1.1.1 To secure the safe return to her family of Madeleine McCann who was abducted in Praia da Luz, Portugal on Thursday 3rd May 2007;
1.1.2 To procure that Madeleine’s abduction is thoroughly investigated and that her abductors, as well as those who played or play any part in assisting them, are identified and brought to justice; and
1.1.3 To provide support, including financial assistance, to Madeleine’s family.
1.2 If the above objects are fulfilled then the objects of the Foundation shall be to pursue such purposes in similar cases arising in the United Kingdom, Portugal or elsewhere.
———————————————————
There is almost no chance that 1.2 will ever be reached. Even if the child were found, alive or dead, funds could be expended fully on 1.1.2 and 1.1.3.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:45 am
57 Denzylle
Surely the PJ would have to drop the proposed interviews for the McCanns to have their arguido status lifted. Gandolf says the rogatory letters requesting the interviews
has not been ratified, is it the Home Office holding up the process do you think. It is a
fact that U.K. police were in Portugal recently discussing the Mutual Request.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Oh, no I’m sorry… I cannot go to bed with such a repulsive issue in my mind… They have gone much further than I had ever expected… and don’t look like stopping. They feel strong, untouchable, powerful… but Jesus WHY are the British papers, the British justice, the public opinion allowing so?
See you tomorrow (or maybe not, I don’t know…). All this is boiling my blood. I think I prefer to keep aside
Good night
March 19th, 2008 at 12:42 am
The team has landed!
Goodnight everyone!
They’re on old thread for now……
March 19th, 2008 at 12:39 am
53 Gandolf
What”s the betting this “Windfall” will not stay long in the Fund, the McCanns will go
on to appear on T.V. having had their arguido status lifted, take part in a Documentary
etc and enjoy their ill gotten gains IMO of course.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:38 am
pilimary
To get a watertight conviction! One their poncy lawyers wont be able to pick at!
March 19th, 2008 at 12:34 am
and.. what about the PJ? What the fuck are they waiting for?
March 19th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Val
48
So they are hoping to have their Arguido status dropped as well? Do they know
something we don”t, or are they just hoping this conference will frighten the PJ?
———————————————————————————————————-
The press conference will just be to reiterate and rub in the newspapers’ capitulation, but as always, Clarrie will spin this to stress their ‘innocence’ (now a primary source for that!) and to demand again the the arguido status be removed.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:31 am
45 lyn
Hi lyn, you dropped in at the right time, I know you said you live abroad, will there
be any reaction in your Country to this News? It”s unbelieveable, and one wonders
what”s going to happen next. The wheels of Justice grind too slowly IMO
March 19th, 2008 at 12:30 am
“Police allegedly found her 24 days later in the base of a double divan bed in Donovan’s flat in Batley Carr, Dewsbury.”
The Star is being very careful - allegedly found her !
March 19th, 2008 at 12:30 am
Brandon Flowers
A process?? Its a shame, they are strangulating the freedom of speech of a British paper, a paper which has apologized for giving a given information… cANT BE TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 19th, 2008 at 12:28 am
val, I think they will never be charged with anything, and will go on to successfully sue or settle out of court with other libel targets.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:28 am
‘restored to her loving family’ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 19th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Lyn
45
One very positve outcome of this would be for a journalist to undertake a thorough investigation. It might be timely IF the PJ’s files are due to be opened up soonish.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:27 am
My god!
Just realised under the Stars apology …………
‘SHANNONS MUM TO BE QUIZZED AGAIN !!!!! ‘
March 19th, 2008 at 12:26 am
Lynn, all…
I can’t believe, my Godness, I cannot….