That Kate And Gerry McCann Statement In Full
“WE are pleased that Express Newspapers have today admitted the utter falsity of the numerous grotesque and grossly defamatory allegations that their titles published about us on a sustained basis over many months.
“The exceptional publication of these apologies, together with today’s statement of full apology in open court before Mr Justice Eady, was the only just and proper response by Express Newspapers following our complaint.
“We also wish to place on record our thanks to Adam Tudor, from Carter Ruck. Today’s result simply could not have been achieved without him.
“Express Newspapers rightly acknowledge that we are innocent of all allegations that we may have been involved in Madeleine’s abduction and we would like to reiterate that there is absolutely no evidence that Madeleine is dead or has been seriously harmed.
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“We embarked on this course of action reluctantly, indeed with a heavy heart, as we did not wish the pursuit of it to become a distraction from our sole aim - finding Madeleine.
“Indeed, as long ago as last autumn our lawyers approached Express Newspapers and urged them to show greater restraint in their reporting - requests which went utterly unheeded.
“The distress all this has caused members of our wider family, at a time of great emotional turmoil for them, was also a major factor in our action.
“Their pain over the loss of Madeleine has been compounded by having to witness the irresponsible and libellous reporting that we have successfully challenged today.
“As part of our settlement, Express Newspapers have also agreed to pay damages, by way of a donation of £550,000 to the fund that was established to help find Madeleine.
“We feel it is entirely appropriate that the search for Madeleine will now benefit directly out of the wrongs committed against us as her parents.
“We hope that the Portuguese authorities lift our arguido status in the very near future so that everyone can focus on finding our beautiful little girl, Madeleine.”
Posted: 19th, March 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann, Twitterings Comments (384) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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March 20th, 2008 at 11:20 am
355
False Flag,
I’m having a quick glance at the posts during lunchbreak and I see I used the wrong word [English not my first language and checking fortnight thats within 14 days so that's wrong].
You’re right they arrived much sooner even within 24 or 48 hours [and that's what I wanted to say]. So that’s pretty soon after the event and before anybody could judge if the PJ was handling the case right or wrong [as far as people who aren't priviledged to all information of the investigation can judge that].
I’ve heard about the alledged instructions to the PJ. but imo that’s all that it is, alledged. Just another internet rumour imo. Never seen any real proof of it.
March 20th, 2008 at 3:53 am
Go to slep.
Nice dreams to everybody (Garth included)
March 20th, 2008 at 3:51 am
See? This is a war. A psychological, Judicial, Mediatic, Politic and Power war.
I’m afraid they will win, although the cost is going to be high. Policia Judiciaria is going to lose it, although the honour and proud of Portugal will remain untouched. And us… Can remain here, sleuting forever, or forget the case (if possible) without never knowing what happened to Maddie.
Im pesimistic tonight, Im sorry.
March 20th, 2008 at 2:57 am
377 False Flag
Excellent - your idea of finding out more on this Clarrie. Who is he to think he can, and he is, threatening by intimidation, we posters, and of course, the other newspapers. Like the bit about, “they are thinking about it”. Have this picture in my mind of all these people at computers trying to hack into - other computers! It would be impossible to do as for one thing, they would have to prove who the poster was and they change ID often. What a nasty nasty Clarrie!!
March 20th, 2008 at 2:38 am
316
“at least I would assume that if it’s said in court then it must be true.”
I am assuming that the only meaning it has would be that according to the premise ‘innocent until proven guilty’ they are technically or ‘legally’ innocent as of now, merely by virtue of not yet having been charged with any misdemeaner. What meaning could it possibly carry other than that ?
March 20th, 2008 at 2:29 am
313
“They have so far been able to convince the higher powers within this country that they were naive,and therefore totally innocent.”
March 20th, 2008 at 2:05 am
358 Lyn”Who are they getting in to do this!!! Why is it so important to threaten people, newspaper”
That would be where Clarrie would come into his own…….he had / has a media monitoring unit already experienced in this very fascinating new career ! Might be able to find a link where it can be accessed……..amongst other stuff about him.
March 20th, 2008 at 1:54 am
351 “but logic says perhaps the police can’t get it without a court order.”
hmm…..in that case I would reckon there is already some sort of government-sourced restraining order on them……citing National Interest, security or whatever……and what is more, for whatever weird reason, I suspect that the agreement of P.M. Socrates may well have been ensured……only speculating you understand …….
March 20th, 2008 at 1:43 am
Xenophobia is the fear or contempt of that which is foreign or unknown - posters here are from worldwide and are trying to work out what happened to Maddy. Once the interviews are done and news “leaks” out, maybe there will be a different thread to consider.
March 20th, 2008 at 1:40 am
369
Lyn
Yes
Time will tell and whatever the outcome people wont forget nor forgive
They have made the world a jail for themselves and their 2 other children
Very highly unaware people unethical
I guess it goes along with their “ideology” of life : money & power
Very sad
March 20th, 2008 at 1:38 am
371
jo Says:
March 20th, 2008 at 1:35 am
346
maria
Why dont you just go to bed now?
—————————————–
Excellent post! Good night. Sleep well.
March 20th, 2008 at 1:37 am
355 Stevo
If you’re still here.
To be honest, I have no theories. I’ve no idea what happened. I just don’t like to see people vilified for months on end without evidence. I’m surprised you don’t think they suffered at all from the libel. I’m sure it’s true that most people didn’t ever believe the papers but would you like to see those headlines screaming day after day from the Express?
“YOU KILLED MADDY” etc. etc.
I can’t think you’d appreciate this, Stevo, if you were innocent? They also have to think how all this affected their respective families.
In any case, they will never give up the search for Madeleine so there does appear to be some sort of justice in the papers having to pay towards that search to make up for their vilification and smears. The gutter press gets away with far too much.
If the McCanns are found guilty of something (other than the neglect issue), I will still feel the same about this.
March 20th, 2008 at 1:35 am
346
maria
Why dont you just go to bed now?
You wont have any neurones left if you carry on like this!
Watch out! the mcScams are a health hazard! did you hear about a new virus? The mcCanitis?
March 20th, 2008 at 1:34 am
298
“Strikes me there’s a bit of xenophobia around at times.”
Must say, Maria, that thought has often crossed my mind……
March 20th, 2008 at 1:33 am
367 jo
Thanks. Yes, feel all will come out in due time and feel it won’t be that long. We don’t hear anything from the “others” now do we. Someone has got to feel greedy and they may even try to do what the McCanns have done IMO - and once they try, well, they will fall flat on their faces.
March 20th, 2008 at 1:31 am
365 Stevo
Nite Stevo. Lock your door well !!
March 20th, 2008 at 1:30 am
Lyn
Stevo
Thanks for keeping the hope high
Sometimes I doubt (NOT of the PJ) and sometimes I am fully confident the PJ will crack the case despite of all the big stones in their way all along
March 20th, 2008 at 1:28 am
342
Ninsense. It’s completely different. The children were asleep in their holiday apartment. Much like any holiday apartment anywhere. When you’re 3 or 4, anywhere away from home is strange!
It was completely different for the parents struggling with their child missing. I think a foreign police system and language difficulties are somewhat significant when you are desperate and grief-stricken. It’s just ridiculous to compare the two situations.
I agree, by the way, that they have had a lot of help and support, BUT, as we know, if the help has been “unprecedented”, as you suggest, so has the smear campaign. I can only think of Diana who was the victim of a similar vilification. And even that wasn’t in the same league. Being accused of killing your own child, on top of losing her, is more vile than anything Di went through. What’s wrong is not that they have had help but the possibility that people less articulate and intelligent than they are (despite that bad decision to leave the children asleep in the apartment), might not have done. It’s inevitable, I’m afraid. There are always people with the knowledge, intelligence, skills etc. to manage systems better than others. It happens with education, medical services, legal services…everything. And the McCanns have the added benefit of well-educated family members and a wide circle of intelligent and loving friends who have never doubted their innocence and are desperately keen to support them. What we have to do is to strive to ensure that everyone can access the best support in every area of life, not just the professional middle classes.
(Just watching Andrew Neil’s excellent comments on Sky on the press libel.)
March 20th, 2008 at 1:27 am
363 Lyn
Just read your reply….agree with you totally.
Night Lyn
March 20th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Stevo
Good night
Going as well
March 20th, 2008 at 1:26 am
360 Stevo
They have not lost anything really. I do believe they know what happened to Maddy and are not that terribly upset about it. It could go down as the biggest scam ever should the truth ever come out. IMO> It will get tiring for them though and in the end ..it will all come out.
March 20th, 2008 at 1:25 am
Signing out now….night all. Fingers crossed and thumbs up for the PJ eh?
March 20th, 2008 at 1:24 am
355
Stevo
Yes
Forums and blogs and their posters have fed off a part of one aspect of the case
All the debate has turned around time lines,abduction,neglect,death etc…
The PJ is going to re interview the T7 witnesses who by law are bound to answer the questions, it might not be only and just about the inconsistancies in their declarations
I have always believed many people far too many were one way or the other involved in the story.”Big” people not only the T9 and this is why the case could well be shelved
Children should not be heard nor seen…..
March 20th, 2008 at 1:22 am
358 lyn
I’d like to know what loss the McCanns have suffered as a result of all the publicity - adverse or not?
They’ve made about $5 million if you include the latest $1.1 Million. Kate has given up work and Gerry still seems to socialise in and around Rothley. What have they lost or suffered damages from?
March 20th, 2008 at 1:20 am
352 dr watson
Thanks, you too
I think we’ll all be glad when justice is done in this case.
354 False Flag
Your reply to Totje…
The British heavies were already in PDL. Michael Frolich of Bell Pottinger was already at Ocean Club the week prior to May 3. He called Alex Woolfall and he arrived on the 4th or 5th. Clarence is there within days of May 3 if not already there. Why do people keep on thinking people arrived ages afterwards?
March 20th, 2008 at 1:15 am
351 jo
349 stevo
What a hide these people have in saying they are scrutinizing, or something to that effect, all forums….and other newspapers! Who are they getting in to do this!!! Why is it so important to threaten people, newspapers, etc.
March 20th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Jo
I’m certain the PJ are on top of this. They’re not stupid. They aren’t like us though are they? They have to make this work by dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s in the right place. We don’t - we can speculate all day long. I think we underestimate the barriers that are in front of the PJ and most of them put in place by nefarious people who have something to hide.
I’m an optimist so I’m confident they’ll crack the case.
March 20th, 2008 at 1:12 am
349
Stevo
A black cloud though :on blogs and forums we must watch our mouths it seems nowadays… more than ever
March 20th, 2008 at 1:12 am
351
Maria
To be honest, I’ve long since moved on from the story having anything to do with child neglect. That’s the smoke screen story - the popular story for the papers. I firmly believe that what happpened has nothing to do with that. This is why I don’t get involved in discussing the timelines or who checked who debates. They are the debates “they” want people to talk about. IMO something completely different happened. At this point in the debate I’d have to leave you to your own theories. Mine are completely different here so I’ve nothing to add to the May 3 timeline debate.
There are so many differences in the foreign rooms than in the UK…or the USA. Light switches turn on differently as well as all the other things I already mentioned. Leaving kids alone is neglectful but we’ve all acknowledged that and again, I don’t get involved in this because we’ve moved on from the obvious child neglect debates.
The interesting part of the story is the background to all the people who rushed to the aid of the McCanns. Connecting those dots is the best and most interesting part of the whole puzzle. Neglect and timeline are like the edges and corners of the jigsaw. We’re in the middle of the puzzle proper now.
March 20th, 2008 at 1:07 am
263
Totje Says:
“The British ‘heavies’ arrived within a fortnight.”
A fortnight ! Totje, quite a lot of significance happened within 48 hours……..even 24 !!! How on earth could such decisions have been taken at that time ??? Most damning of all is the alleged instrutions relayed, I believe by the consul to the head of the PJ that the case MUST be treated as one of abduction ???? Who remembers hearing about that ? If no one else, I’m sure CSN will tell us about this.
March 20th, 2008 at 1:06 am
Stevo
I was wondering which approach the PJ has in terms of the investigation if they have checked and kept absolutely every possible evidence to build a picture of the events?
have they looked up at all very closely all the details you personally mention and/or found out?
Naturally they also have an awful lot more which has never been spoken of
This what I expect will be revealed: the unknown the essence of the case
May be then all what we know will become totally irrelevant or was misleading in the sense it is a fairly simple case which has become extremely complicated because of the protagonists themselves : a true reflection of what they are :neurotic