Which Newspaper Will Buy Robert Murat’s Story?
MADELEINE McCann aguido Robert Murat has accepted £600,000 in libel damages over claims that he was involved in her abduction.
Outside court Mr Murat says: “The newspapers in this case brought about the total and utter destruction of mine and my family’s life and caused immense distress.”
Round up here.
Mr Murat, his friend Michaela Walczuch and IT consultant Sergey Malinka had all brought proceedings against Associated Newspapers, Express Newspapers, MGN Limited and News Group Newspapers over nearly 100 “seriously defamatory” articles.
Murat’s solicitor, Louis Charalambous, says:
“In particular, the defendants accept that none of the claimants had any involvement whatever in the abduction of Madeleine McCann.
“They accept that none of the claimants has any paedophile tendencies or connection with paedophiles or paedophile websites and that none of them lied to the police or obstructed the investigations.
“They accept that Mr Murat’s actions after the abduction were entirely proper and were motivated by a desire to help find Madeleine McCann. He became a volunteer translator for the Portuguese police and did everything he could to assist the investigation.
“Ms Walczuch was never suspected or accused of any involvement in the abduction of Madeleine McCann. Mr Malinka was not guilty of any sexual misconduct and has no criminal convictions.”
Now which paper will buy the rights to his story and try to earn back some of their losses?
Posted: 17th, July 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (499) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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July 17th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
It was controversial at the time since he had previously said that he couldn’t tell because he didn’t have access to the police files, but whenever I try to post it the cybervoid beckons…
July 17th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I keep trying to post the link to Ray Wyre’s sensational article in the People where he announced that the McCanns were indisputably innocent, but even with a tiny url it disappears into oblivion.
Try the People 27/1/2008
July 17th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
345
MrsT Says:
July 17th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Good god Maria, have you never watched Dr Who?
—————————-
Oh yes! I’d forgotten that!
July 17th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
342
Maria Says:
July 17th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
———-
Surely you don’t think Mr Wyre could have been mistaken?
After all, on 27/1/2008 he told that icon of accurate reportage, the People, that
‘Kate and Gerry played NO part in the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine, one of the world’s top crime experts declared last night.’
http://tinyurl.com/6×4jc9
July 17th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Good god Maria, have you never watched Dr Who?
July 17th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Rasputin
Where does it indicate that??!! Live TV?
Don’t believe it for one minute!
In litigation cases the ideal resolution is usually to reach an agreement out-of-court. There is always the POSSIBILITY of an unfavourable outcome but I can see no reason to suppose that this is likely to haver been the case here. They agreed to a RECORD settlement, remember!
Please tell us exactly what was said and where.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Let me rephrase that, Rasputin.
You are a liar who is trying to libel Martin Brunt and Sky on Anorak’s blog.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
336 chenier
You give us a lot of food for thought. Very few kids ever play at monsters. Very few dads ever chase their kids in that way.
How could I have missed it? Sinister.
A bit careless of him to have given it away, don’t you think? Wonder if it’s in the files?
But maybe you weren’t implying anything unpleasant???!!!! Maybe you were just offering a soupcon of tomato dressing? No acid maybe!
Or maybe it was just a charming little joke?
Or irony? After all, Anorak is a satirical site, isn’t it? Let’s not forget the satire. Covers a multitude of sins!
July 17th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
337
MrsT Says:
July 17th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I see your reporting from the Courts is not going down to well again chenier
Thank you again for taking the time to attend.
————————-
You are most welcome; it was in some ways a bit odd to see youngsters in Court, but then it occurred to me that they could go back to their schools and their colleges and be able to say that they had been in Court when it was all read out and - in essence- tell the people who had made their lives a misery parroting the stuff in the press to go stuff themselves.
And Justice Eady did them proud in wig and gown; there are times when the majesty of the law can be very comforting…
July 17th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Julie
By referring to it I was just saying that I could be equally pedantic, or careful, depending on your point of view, about being exact and truthful!
333 Star
They can only get money for something the fund directors agree might be hlpful for the campaign to find Madeleine. I doubt if they would accept, for example, a new kitchen or some such! Basically, it is probably used to pay private investigators and print the stuff that gets sent out, posters etc. I guess “supporting the family” was relevant when they needed to be in Portugal but, from what I read, it was only used for those two mortgage payments. It was reported that they used for own savings for living expenses up to that point. May or may not be true.
The HTFM (Helping To Find Madeleine) volunteers are just that, volunteers. They don’t get paid a penny but put in a lot of work, from what I could see from their site early on, into helping the campaign worldwide.
Of course, they haven’t succeeded yet. Neither has M3. Maybe the police have. We’ll know on Monday. (Of course, the police have access to all the information which M3, the family and friends, the volunteer helpers etc. cannot see.)
Over to you chenier ………!!!!
July 17th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I see your reporting from the Courts is not going down to well again chenier
Thank you again for taking the time to attend.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
But I would certainly advise caution in believing anything the now, sadly, dead Mr Wyre said; after all, having said that:
‘I have been asked by the press many times to provide a profile, to assess whether or not the McCanns have killed the children. How does one even begin to answer the questions if one does not have access to the police intelligence and investigation’
on Tuesday, September 25th, 2007 he changed his mind, notwithstanding the fact that he had still not had any access to the police intelligence and investigation.
On 27th January he told that fine upstanding media organ The People that:
‘Kate and Gerry played NO part in the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine, one of the world’s top crime experts declared last night.
Ray Wyre - who has given Cracker-style testimony to courts since the 1970s - said: “It is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE for them to have been involved.”
It’s a very long article; did they really spend several hours with him at he and his wife Charmaine’s home in Milton Keynes? Could have he been wrong????
http://tinyurl.com/6×4jc9
July 17th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Though in fairness, Maria is doing her best. A for effort, though outcome a little less positive.
By the way, monsters may well have been a recurring feature of family life chez McCann, so perhaps Mr Wyre got his story wrong:
‘”She was running around shouting, ‘Be a monster, be a monster’ and we would chase her.”
Gerry McCann, according to the BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6692161.stm
July 17th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Judging from the number of interviews Max Clifford is doing a sterling job…
July 17th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Julie.
Quite.
The Metro is reporting The People’s Sunday story. At least it then had the grace to admit that the Mcs’ spokesman had denied the story!
The ketchup game refers to a brilliant post from whoops the other evening. It referred to chenier’s sometimes annoying way of addressing us in legal-speak, as if we knew nothing. S/he often says things like “If you could be bothered to read….whatever….” whoops pointed out that we had other things to do like getting fresh air! I think she then said that she (whoops) would be sacked if she spoke to her colleagues in that way. chenier then said she had been an “investigator” and would have been sacked if she had NOT spoken in that way!
whoops then went to imagine a conversation in which someone asked chenier to “pass the ketchup” and chenier replied something to this effect,
“I think you’ll find it’s not ketchup but tomato dressing. I think you’ll find that, to be called ketchup, it has to contain acetic acid.”
I haven’t given the exact words and haven’t done whoops justice. It was very funny but quite good-natured and I think chenier probably enjoyed it as much as anyone.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
wow….the twins think a monster took Madeleine? Well to an adult a monster could be a person that did somthing bad. But i dont think the twins have the same definition?
Who told them a monster took her? That would give a child nightmares….maybe they think a monster can take them? That is healthy?
1.1.3 To provide support, including financial assistance, to Madeleine’s family.
So does this mean anytime the Mccanns need some cash they can get it here?
July 17th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Rasputin 329…… also Ben Needham. There are still sightings every time a new photfit image goes out but never any results.
So very sad for everyone.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
What about this paper Maria?
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=86048&in_page_id=34
July 17th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
322 Chatelaine
Fund
The Fund is following best practice governance procedures as set out in the Good Governance Code for the Voluntary and Community Sector. The directors of the company are Peter Hubner, Brian Kennedy, John McCann, Michael Linnett, Edward Smethurst , Doug Skehan and Jon Corner. They have appropriate legal, business and charitable experience. An experienced Fund Administrator has been appointed to ensure the highest standards of transparency and accountability. This should enable the Directors to maintain an appropriate governance distance in the day-to-day operations of the Fund.
The Board and its individual Directors will ensure that the Fund is subject to required financial legal scrutiny. They will ensure that they receive reliable external advice and information, as the basis for making good decisions.
Fund Objectives
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.
—————————————————————-
I suspect the Brian Kennedy is Kate’s uncle, retired head teacher, who was often seen representing the family in Rothley in the early days after M’s disappearance. But I don’t know for sure. It might be the other Brian Kennedy (no relation, it’s always been reported), glass multi-millionnaire, who has supported them for many months, in every way probably.
Brian Kennedy, uncle, is RC and was head of a Leicestershire Catholic secondary school. Brian Kennedy, glass magnate, is a Jehovah Witness.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
I did not say the case was to be closed, but it is very possible. You are maybe on the correct road CC, this case has a distinct similarity to the Rene Hasee case, complete vanishing.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Maria, what is the ketchup game?
July 17th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Yes, PeterMac perhaps I’m jumping the gun too quickly on that little one, but man I get mad so mad when little ones like that get hurt, and in this case died. Why would they arrest the uncle and the teenager on suspicion of assault? Normal procedure?
July 17th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Have there been any new sightings? Any new clues? Any new info on the DNA or blood or death smell in the car? Sorry have not kept up as i did in the beginning. Looking forward to this new bit of info though!
I believe people will “think” they see Madeleine for a long time. Maybe others will remember seeing a man that looks like someone hanging out near the Mccann’s room or carrying a child wrapped in a blanket that they NOW know was Madeleine. Kate and Gerry will continue their search and campaign as long as there is money. T-shrts and posters and bracelets will be pushed to the side. And poor lil Madeleine will never be found. That is the sad part!! A lifetime of grief and guilt and what ifs because of a parent’s careless and selfish actions. Unfair to who?!?!?!?!
IMO Madeleine’s disappearance will become a cold case and over time she will be that missing lil girl left alone by her parents while on vacation.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
321 Julie
Can’t remember which article it was but did you happen to read the one with the suggestion that the negligent police had thrown stones down a well in which it had been suggested M might be…….with a callous neglect for her safety if she did happen to be there….??? UNBELIEVABLE.
So you see why I tend to treat anything The People says with a wee bit of caution! The fact that they quote someone is no guarantee that he or she ever said exactly what they say he said. But, in any case, that article didn’t actually say that the Mcs had told the twins that M had been taken/eaten by a monster.
I can play the ketchup game as well as anyone!
July 17th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
C&C, yes I agree the case has to be wound down to a point somewhere along the line. I cannot even bear to think how many millions it has already cost in investigations.
But, Rasputin is saying it is to be CLOSED? This I do not understand? They cannot possibly CLOSE a case of this nature? Shelved, yes I would think this is what is going to happen at this time. But don’t the two words mean entirely different things?
Also, in myself, there is just no way for me that Madeleine is alive any more (how I wish she were - so we could see that smile of hers for real - but sadly, no I don’t think it’s possible). Too much time has gone by, and with what I am doing, it just doesn’t seem any possibility that they will find her alive, living with some loving couple who desperately wanted a daughter? IF there were an abducter, it was for sinister reasons alone that she was taken. IF there wasn’t an abductor, then the reality is that she is no longer alive. Either way … there is never going to be a happy ending to this.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
319 Julie
Why? Why? Why?
Careful now. She could have simply walked into the path of a swing. Of fallen off the slide. Accidents do happen, however good the parenting/guardianship is.
Neglect, now that is a different matter altogether.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
280
Maria Says:
July 17th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
[...] The Directors of the Fund have to meet to agree the spending of every penny [...]
****
Does anybody know WHO the present directors are?
July 17th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Yes Maria, just done the googling as you suggested.
First article I pop up would probably score Goncalo Amaral a hefty settlement, and it’s only 7 paragraphs long - 6 of which are 2 lines and the last one line - so make that 13 lines worth of a couple of hundred bob for Mr Amaral already!
Yes? So?
July 17th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Julie… do you not think that, realistically, they have to wind it down? I can’t see how they can afford the manpower to keep it going, especially now the summer holiday season is in full flow.
I think it will be put aside and left, awaiting something happening. For example finding Madeleine……….
I hope it is not closed because if, as I beleieve, there was an abductor, then it is likely they will strike again and probably have done previously.
That bothers me….
July 17th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Why? Why? Why?
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Girl-Two-Dies-From-Head-Injuries/Article/200807315044708?lpos=UK%2BNews_0&lid=ARTICLE_15044708_Girl%252C%2BTwo%252C%2BDies%2BFrom%2BHead%2BInjuries