McGuckin In McCann Peril: Foreign Crimes In Foreign Climes
BRITONS planning trips to the new Portugal should go equipped with a loud hailer, a private detective and nothing too shiny. If on a driving holiday, ensure the boot can be opened from within.
Listen to the tale told by Eamon and Antionette McGuckin, who found their three children in the care of the Portuguese – and what irony there, readers – after they were attacked by a “Rohypnol gang”.
One would imagine that given the paralysing powers of the so-called date rape drug, the Rohypnol Gang are not much cop at ganging, preferring to lie down and wait their victim to trip over them. It would help if the victims were drunk.
But this gang is armed with the drug and slipping it into the “small jug” of sangria the McGuckins were quaffing, sipping, even. (Although the Mirror’s Sue Carroll sees the “dog tired, hot and thirsty” couple taking beer – mucky foreign beer.)
Says a friend of the family, namely a Dr Cyril Harkin: “Neither of them are big drinkers. They have tried to understand what happened and have linked the sangria with the sudden decline in their health. They believe they were drugged by someone trying to rob them.”
The GP puts the tin lid on the matter by saying: “The Portuguese authorities are paranoid after the Madeleine McCann case.”
We are not anti-foreigner, and are quite confident that if the entire peoples of continental Europe were placed in a cell we could find a dozen for a game of cricket and a scorer, but can only conclude that the vast mojortity Portuguese are the scum of the Earth and in need of hanging…
Posted: 7th, May 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann, Tabloids Comments (448) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
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May 7th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Afternoon all.
Don’t know if it’s really worth it running a long commentary on the McGuckins. But then again whilst nothing new happens in the McCann case we might as well.
Unlike the McCanns I’m not sure there’ll be too much of a media war between portugal and the UK. The issue is hardly big news in Portugal today. You should know that sadly southern and central European countries that receive a certain type of British tourists are used to similar and worst episodes. I would also add that irrespective of being drugged or drunk they were unable to guarantee the safety of their children. Therefore portuguese authorities should be praised for their swift action in ensuring the children were taken care of (please don’t forget that one of the children was as young as 1 year old FFS). It’s actually quite shocking that some of the family friends are suggesting the portuguese may have been over-zealous… that to me is very disturbing. But possibly says a lot about the standards of people that produce those comments.
Unlike in most other discussions, I do agree with Ferdinand’s opinion - and that is that nothing would have happened to the McGuckins at their visit to the Court. Indeed a reprimand by the judge would be the worst case scenario.
I understand that they have requested and received support from British consular staff - who are naturally well versed in portuguese rules (especially those consular assistants based on Brisith embassies across the sunny shores of Europe where sadly stories like those of the McGuckins and worst are every-day foda). It is therefore unthinkable that anyone could have told them anything other than explain them that the visit to the judge was a mere formality.
This alone would make this case rather strange - because even if they were plastered, they didn’t really have to run away.
But the case really gets strange when they now come back and start saying that they were drugged. This would be an even better reason to stay in the country and meet the court judge and the enforcement authorities.
Maybe I’m from a different planet, but if I really thought for a minute that a gang had drugged me… i would have thought that it would be my civic duty in whichever country I was to denounce those who I think could have been involved in this… but yet this couple decides to fly away from Portugal.
I’m sorry that yet again Portugal and the Portuguese have to put up with these. I’m portuguese with long and strong links to Britain. I’m ashamed by yet another attempt to portray portugal as a dangerous place. Whether or not this is deliberate or accidental I don’t know. We’ll probably find out soon.
May 7th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
195
brandon flours Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
‘get us a lemonade ice lolly please :-D’
sorry, missed that one
May 7th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
194
Matt. Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
‘Especially in a country reputed by the UK Press as being packed
pillar to post with nasty predatory paedos. :shock:’
well the press reports a lot of rubbish doesn’t it. could do with an eyesroll emoticon.
May 7th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
That’s a fit up, you’ll never take me alive copper!!
May 7th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
the punchline in scooby doo ruined the next generation of crims
May 7th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
200
Saul Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Whatever happened to the golden age of……
“It’s a fair cop guv”
——————————-
Buried along with the Kray brothers, I think.
Presupposing it ever really existed…
May 7th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Whatever happened to the golden age of……
“It’s a fair cop guv”
May 7th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Matt
sure its still early yet
May 7th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
191
sam Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
not sure why they didnt take the children with them really, but i didn’t think of that when reading it.
—————————————————-
That’s why I said that it was very carefully constructed; you weren’t intended to think of it.
It’s simply the art of trying to make people overlook the obvious…
May 7th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Time for some sun.
Good sleuthing !!!!
May 7th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
195…brandon flours
You on the wagon ??
Shouldn’t let newspaper headlines put you off your drink. IMO
May 7th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
thats ok, I was typing aloud again
get us a lemonade ice lolly please
May 7th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
191…sam
Especially in a country reputed by the UK Press as being packed
pillar to post with nasty predatory paedos.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
going to the shop.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
189
brandon flours Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
sorry sam
i just didn’t understand it, that;s all.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
187
chenier Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
‘It’s very carefully constructed. But there are very obvious holes, like the amount of alcohol they got through, and the strange behaviour of the husband.
After all, why did he stay at the hospital?’
not sure why they didnt take the children with them really, but i didn’t think of that when reading it.
‘He claims to have been fully compos mentis, and yet he chose to stay on at the hospital when he allegedly thought his children were back at the hotel being cared for by strangers, having had the very distressing experience of watching their mother being violently ill….’
yes. i would’ve taken my kids with me. they went everywhere with me at that age there’s no way i would’ve left them with strangers.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
185
Matt. Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
thanks matt.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
sorry sam
May 7th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
182
Matt. Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
181…chenier
So do I.
Another Media war between Portugal and the UK on the way, I fear.
————————————————
Stop sniggering at the back…
May 7th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
180
sam Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
….i think it makes sense
——————————————————
It’s very carefully constructed. But there are very obvious holes, like the amount of alcohol they got through, and the strange behaviour of the husband.
After all, why did he stay at the hospital?
He claims to have been fully compos mentis, and yet he chose to stay on at the hospital when he allegedly thought his children were back at the hotel being cared for by strangers, having had the very distressing experience of watching their mother being violently ill….
May 7th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
184
brandon flours Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
The poxy dog moved the fan and caused me to flash the whole of my courtyard
May 7th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
183…Sam
More about G Ratner…
http://tinyurl.com/59f5pl
May 7th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
The poxy dog moved the fan and caused me to flash the whole of my courtyard
May 7th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
178
chenier Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
thanks for the explanation.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
181…chenier
So do I.
Another Media war between Portugal and the UK on the way, I fear.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
177
Matt. Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
176…chenier
I wonder if the Press will agree.
========================
Which Press?
I would assume that the tabloids will leap on the statement with great glee, and so will the broadsheets on xenophobia patrol.
I always read the small print…
May 7th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
171
chenier Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1315265,00.html
i think it makes sense.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
I think there is a far bigger picture here and that is part of the state of the UK and what is going on at home and the breakdown of society in general but i’ve got a lawyer and i’m ok….
May 7th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
174
sam Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
161
chenier Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
We will have to hope he doesn’t do a Ratner…
——-
what’s a ratner ?
——————————————-
G Ratner was the CEO of a jewellery firm noted for its cheap products.
He made a much reported comment to the effect that their stock cost the same as a sandwich and lasted as long as a sandwich.
The firm, and he, lost a great deal of money…
May 7th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
176…chenier
I wonder if the Press will agree.