Madeleine McCann: Allison Pearson Demands And Fact Checking Kate And Gerry McCann
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann
Madeleine McCann is retuned to the front pages.
DAILY MAIL (front page): “ALLISON PEARSON ON THE McCANNS… If the Portuguese police had a shred of decency they would now make a public apology to Kate and Gerry”
Page 5: “Now clear out names”
Before the Mail’s columnist can voice an opinion – and what is the case of Madeleine McCann but one of opinion upon opinion – time to go over the fact that has been established in 14 months of reporting (a child is missing) and hear the McCann plead their innocence.
Oh, there is one other fact: the “McCanns are “both 40”. Remember that.
PEARSON: “The Maddie detectives must now apologise”
Now it seems the spectacularly incompetent Inspector Cluesnos are ready to admit they have no evidence against the McCanns
Yeah, those hapless amateurs. If only the Portuguese wooden tops were more like the British tabloid hacks who root their maybes in Portuguese press reports and hunches. What of Robert Murat?
Now, thank heavens, the ordeal of the inquiry is nearing an end. Nothing can make up for the loss of Madeleine, but at least the family can continue their lives without the poisonous cloud of suspicion hanging over them. It’s the least they deserve.
Yes, an apology will remove any doubt. Bring in the PIs. It’ll be over by Christmas. Case closed.
THE SUN (front page): “AS COPS GIVE UP MADDIE HUNT, WE SAY.. NOW CLEAR McCANNS”
Pearson of the Mail demands it. Now the Sun demands it. Can the call be resisted?
Page 7: “Little Madeleine McCann’s parents last night faced the nightmare possibility that they could remain suspects FOREVER”
Says the McCanns’ spokesman Clarence Mitchell, who may have a job for life:
If the case closes, who will hunt for Madeleine? And if Kate and Gerry’s arguido suspect status isn’t removed they will live under a cloud of suspicion. That is both immoral and inhumane… There are people in Portugal who have been arguidos for decades
Page 8: “End the agony – The nightmare goes on for tormented Kate and Gerry McCann”
“But it is clear to the whole world that they are innocent of any sinister act against their precious little girl”
At least the Sun and its readers know the truth and will not point fingers.
DAILY MIRROR (page 7): “”Maddy case to close with out charges”
Case not closed yet.
The 426-day police investigation into the four-year-old’s case ended yesterday
Case Closed.
Says a source: “If the case is shut without charges being brought, they cannot be arguidos, suspects, any more”.
Tell that to Clarence Mitchell (see above).
What of the facts?
Gerry McCann, a heart specialist, is “39”. Gerry is also 39 in the Sun.
Such are the facts.
DAILY STAR (page 7): “CLEAR THEM”
So says Clarence Mitchell.
Readers learn that police want to “shelves the case”. It is not yet closed.
Kate and Gerry are “both 40”
DAILY EXPRESS: NO MADELEINE McCANN
Is she deemed no longer newsworthy by this esteemed organ? Or are there other reasons for her absence?
Madeleine McCann: Let’s have a heated debate
Posted: 2nd, July 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann, Tabloids Comments (2,625) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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July 6th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Rain,rain go away!2443
July 6th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Let’s have a vote, who thinks the twins are Wards of Court?
July 6th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Can’t stand the strain, covers are out - bad light?
July 6th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
2442nd?
July 6th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
And back to Carmen’s point on controlling information, also from the Information Tribunal:
‘ However, where, on a provisional view of the law and the evidence,
information ought probably to be disclosed, then such an agreement
may be contrary to the public interest since the agreement will limit
access and any other interested party will have to issue a further
request. A sequence of agreements designed to buy off unwelcome
publicity would clearly be contrary to the policy of FOIA. A successful
request opens the doors to everyone.’
That last sentence is probably not what the McCanns want at all…
McCluskey v Information Commissioner and The Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland [2007] UKIT EA_2007_0056 (21 December 2007)
July 6th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I have found some SPIN in an Information Tribunal Decision!
But you can all breathe a sigh of relief, since it’s not Clarrie’s kind of SPIN:
‘Staffordshire Police provided details of how they assessed the information using a process similar to the “SPIN” system disclosed to the Tribunal and the parties. If the Police did not have a structured system for carrying out this kind of assessment then that would be a further factor pointing in favour of there being a public interest in the disclosure of the identity of informants, so as to deter Staffordshire Police from trusting unreliable sources. The Tribunal finds that the SPIN system is a proper means for such an assessment and therefore this possible public interest goes away.’
This was a case in which the appellant:
‘has been extremely angry at what he seems to consider are unsubstantiated allegations which he considers has devastated his life.
He has taken various actions against Staffordshire Police to try to correct what he regards as a wrong done to him, and as we see it, this appeal, is part of that process.
The Tribunal understands why [the appellant] is so angry and appreciates his predicament.’
Sadly, from the appellant’s perspective, the Information Tribunal upheld the refusal to identify the person who had given information to the Staffordshire police.
One point which strikes me is that the Tribunal clearly regards the evaluation by a Police Force of the nature of the information provided to them, in considering what weight may be placed upon it, as a necessary part of the Police’s duty to conduct itself in the public interest.
As far as I can tell from Clarrie’s ramblings he appears to believe that a Police Force has a duty to investigate any or all information provided to it, irrespective of the plausibility or reliability of the witness.
The Court, at least in this case, disagrees…
Alcock v Information Commissioner [2007] UKIT EA_2006_0022 (8 January 2007)
July 6th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Cheryl,
…”giving them supporting, encouragement…”
You forgot to mention “money”.
July 6th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
M and A
Jo, every country, even the US, has paedophiles.
But Kate maintained that someone was watching them, but STILL they said it felt so right to leave them , even though they felt they were being watched, and they left the doors open in case of fire… if these are the thoughts and action of RESPONSIBLE parents woe betide the children of irresponsible ones.
My thoughts and concerns are with Madeleine, her parents took chances, she is/has faced the consequences and possibly paid very dearly for those risks.
For me , her parents pale into insignificence at the very least.
********
I know,I know and I am really really sad FOR Madeleine and very angry with them
Gone for the rest of the day now….bye all
July 6th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
2423
Julie
Thanks Julie
July 6th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
2433
PeterMac
July 6th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
2414
Cheryl
I definitively “condemn” them for the neglect which has lead to the “disappearance” and than that, of THEIR child.The neglect is the root of this sad story.
YES,Portugal certainely has a history and an ugly one,as it is,of paedophilia.Unfortunately,it is not the only country in the world.That they knew it or not,this is not the point.They were not with their babies,they are guilty of NOT being with the 3 children for leaving them unattended at night,nights after nights,in a foreign
The fact is Madeleine is the ONLY victim and will never be back.
The rest is litterature
M and A
Jo, every country, even the US, has paedophiles.
But Kate maintained that someone was watching them, but STILL they said it felt so right to leave them , even though they felt they were being watched, and they left the doors open in case of fire… if these are the thoughts and action of RESPONSIBLE parents woe betide the children of irresponsible ones.
My thoughts and concerns are with Madeleine, her parents took chances, she is/has faced the consequences and possibly paid very dearly for those risks.
For me , her parents pale into insignificence at the very least.
July 6th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
2433
PeterMac
Do you think we will ever find out what the questions were?
July 6th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
2387 veritablequandary
“I would love to have an authentic list of the 40 questions that KM allegedly refused to answer.”
Something along the lines of
‘Will you now tell us the truth about what happened ?’
repeated 40 times until they gave up in despair
July 6th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Just watching Extras and just thought that Ricky Gervais would make an excellent spoof character of Gerry!
July 6th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
2426
chenier Says:
July 6th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
****
Excellent post, Chenier. But doubt if this will change her occasional strange ways of reasoning
July 6th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I think we should lay off the McCanns going on holiday as they have worked so tirelessly (cant spell) in looking for ways in escaping justice.
July 6th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Cheryl’s starting to remind me more and more of the poster who was obsessed with ice-cream
July 6th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
2426
chenier Says:
July 6th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
_________________________________
I’m sure, according to Cheryl’s standards, that should be pretty OK!
July 6th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
And that fact, Steve, is unquestionable …. by their own admission!
July 6th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
‘in a foreign country, which had had paedophile activity in the past.’
Well, that narrows it down a bit, doesn’t it?
Now all we have to do is find a country which hasn’t had paedophile activity in the past and the McCanns can holiday there to their heart’s content, secure in the knowledge that their small children may choke to death, or break their necks falling down stairs, or injure themselves by any of the thousand and one things which small children do when there are no responsible adults around to help, but they won’t be abducted by a paedophile.
So that’s all right then, isn’t it?
July 6th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Julie,
At the very least they caused the circumstances under which their own child went missing.
July 6th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
MrsT …. many, many congratulations!
What a beautiful baby!
One simple request please
….. in about 18 years time, could you please buy him an aeroplane ticket to SA, the Springboks could do with a few good looking rugby players 
July 6th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
2414
Cheryl Says:
July 6th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
You don’t know, JO, “how they manage to relate everything to the infamous mccanns”? A fact I guess you have overlooked in your rants, rages, speculations, condemnations of the McCanns - a small child is missing by the name of Madeleine McCann and she belongs to them, they left her alone one night in a room with her two young siblings, in a foreign country, which had had paedophile activity in the past. These people want their child back - yes she is missing because of their stupid act of neglect.
Every parent who has had a child go missing feels deep compassion and heartbreak for them, having once walked in their shoes, and understands only too well the hell they are going thru, the horrendous guilt they must feel inside but are taking great pains not to show in public. People who have been through it - and even those out there with kindness in them who haven’t - are giving them support, encouragement and hoping against hope that they will find their child.
_________________________
Cheryl,
How can you speak for “every parent who has had a child go missing”?? How do you know what their feelings towards the McCann’s are??
I have never been through having one of my children go missing, and I pray that I will never have to go through it. I am a very kind person, and I involve myself in matters to do with missing children because I care!
HOWEVER, just because I am a kind person does not mean I have feelings of compassion towards the McCann’s - I will never SUPPORT them - not in this lifetime. That little girl depended on them for her safety, and they let her down! Because they have now lost her, do I afford them my sympathy? Very unlikely!
My unsympathetic attitude towards the McCann’s is something I have expressed since the day I joined Anorak over a year ago - I have been called all sorts of names for it - but do you know what - I actually don’t give a hoot - my sympathies and caring lie with a little defenceless child, and NOT her parents who couldn’t give a frog’s fart about protecting her the way a child should be protected!
And as for Jo’s “rants, rages, speculations, condemnations of the McCanns” - she expresses herself in a way I wish I could in writing! She cares about Madeleine and despises the circumstances under which she went missing - as do I!
Why should we feel sorry for, have compassion for, support and encourage people who caused the circumstances under which their own child went missing?
July 6th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
2419
MrsT
Very true!
July 6th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
cheryl
Children are killed, maimed, go missing all over the world every single day. This couple are no more or less special then any other parents who have suffered such loss. It is a fact that they were named as suspects in the investigation and, yes, sadly the parents are guilty sometimes.
July 6th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Duncan! Wash your mouth out boy …. a rugby ball ?!?!?!
I did suggest, as per Mic, the middle name ‘Fernando’ . It got a lorra laughs ……
July 6th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Actually Cheryl, I think you will find that most people in the UK couldn’t give a shit about the McCanns anymore.
July 6th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Mrs T
Have you bought him a rugby ball yet ?
July 6th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Thank you June!
I was running out of fingers … and toes
July 6th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
He’s beautiful jo
We all went to see him again yesterday and I couldn’t stop looking at him. Gorgeous boy