Madeleine McCann: Police Errors, Kate And Gerry McCann Speak, And Amaral’s Book
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann
Portuguese prosecutors have shelved the investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance. Kate McCann, Gerry McCann and Robert Murat are not longer official suspects.
Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro, Portugal’s Attorney-General, told police to halt the investigation into of Madeleine’s disappearance.
A statement released by his office confirmed that it had decided to “close the file on the investigation concerning the disappearance of the minor Madeleine McCann due to lack of evidence that any crime was committed by the persons placed under formal investigation”.
But it’s not the end of the matter. And Madeleine McCann returns to the nations’ front pages:
DAILY MIRROR (front page): “OUR DESPAIR – OUR FURY – OUR FUTURE”
No not an editorial by the Mirror’s staff wodnering where this story will end, rather words ascribed to Kate and Gerry McCann.
Says “angry” Kate McCann: “It is hard to describe how despairing it was to be named as arguido. It has been devastating to witness the detrimental effect this has had on the search”
Pages 4 and 5: “McCanns vow to keep up search for Madeleine and leave…NO STONE UNTURNED.”
Under the table, out of sight of cameras, her hand trembled as she gripped her husband’s, fighting to keep her emotions in check.
What of Robert Murat, the one the Mirror’s Lori Campbell introduced to the police?
Mr Murat spoke of his joy at being cleared but said he too now wanted the focus to be on finding her. The dad of one, 34, said: “It’s a good feeling but doesn’t take away from the fact there is still a child missing, which is very sad. I was dragged into this because of Madeleine’s disappearance so I would like to know what happened.”
FIONA PHILLIPS: “Let’s hope that they find peace one day”
Any human being with a heart will have felt the same as me - that Kate and Gerry McCann should never have been suspects at all.
If you don’t agree with Phillips then you are heartless, something less than human. Hey, you might not even be a parent:
They are an ordinary family who have lost their daughter and, as a parent, my heart goes out to them…
But as a parent, I know exactly what it’s like to go on a family holiday and be lulled into a sense of security.
DAILY MAIL: “McCanns’ fury - and despair - at Portuguese police as they are finally cleared”
Glasgow-born Mr McCann and his wife, both 40, had not ruled taking legal action against the Portuguese authorities for the way they have been treated.
The dodgy DNA evidence that lead to the McCanns being made suspects
Detectives apparently believed that scientists found Madeleine’s DNA and blood in the apartment and in the McCanns’ hire car, which they did not rent until 25 days after her disappearance.
Armed with that ‘evidence’ and the knowledge that dogs supposedly found the ’scent of death’ on Mrs McCann’s clothes, they decided to name the couple as suspects.
But the final report from the Forensic Science Service in Birmingham several weeks later said that the DNA evidence in the case was inconclusive, and did not support the police’s theory.
The forensic evidence which led to Kate and Gerry McCann being named as suspects was misunderstood by Portuguese police, it was claimed yesterday.
Detectives wrongly believed the work of British experts supported their theory that Madeleine had died in her parents’ rented holiday apartment, when in fact the DNA analysis was inconclusive, it was suggested.
The claims come from leaks from inside the Portuguese investigation, based on an initial British forensic report into the case.
THE SUN (front page): “MADDIE”
Pages 6 and 7: “COPS CLEAR ‘ARGUIDO’ HELL PARENTS”
The couple have fought long and hard to gain access to the documents, which could be available as early as the end of this week for a period of 20 days only.
After the 20-day term, the world’s media will then have the right to apply to view them.
FERGUS SHANAHAN: “TIME TO GIVE KATE A BREAK”
“Having consistently spoken up for Kate and Gerry McCann, I can welcome the official clearing of their names over Maddie without being called a hypocrite”
That’s the important thing. What of Robert Murat, also cleared? Nothing. Not a word.
DAILY EXPRESS (front page): “MADELEINE – Now Kate will see police files at last”
Great news. Now the Express can start featuring our Maddy on its front page again.
THE TIMES: “Kate and Gerry McCann cleared over Madeleine disappearance”
Remember those bungling Portuguese cops?
According to reports yesterday, one key error that led to the McCanns being declared suspects was made by Britain’s own Forensic Science Service.
The report, apparently from the Portuguese authorities and which was leaked to the London Evening Standard newspaper, states that the Policia Judiciaria, Portugal’s criminal investigation department, was told that DNA evidence found in the couple’s hire car, on the window sill of their holiday apartment and in the car park of the apartment complex, belonged to Madeleine.
The document claims that it was given categorically as her DNA and as a result the McCanns were questioned and later made suspects. But, one month later, the forensic service wrote another report saying that it could not be sure that those findings were correct.
THE INDEPENDENT: “Pandora: ‘You can imagine how I felt’ - Max Clifford”
Henry Deedes reads the Anorak.
McCanns finally cleared of blame over daughter’s disappearance
Goncalo Amaral, the detective in charge of the initial inquiry who was removed from the case, will publish a book this week making clear his belief that Madeleine died in her parents’ apartment on the night of her disappearance.
THE GUARDIAN: “Case closed: no leads, no suspects but, say McCanns, the hunt for Madeleine goes on”
“We welcome the news today, although it’s no cause for celebration,” Kate McCann said at a press conference last night.
DAILY TELEGRAPH (front page): “Case closed, but parents’ hunt goes on”
THE HERALD: “McCanns’ anguish: police should be in the dock”
Shame on the Portuguese police force. It emerges from the investigation of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance with its credibility in tatters. Where to begin? It has failed to find Madeleine or even to establish whether she is alive or dead, yet it has shelved her case.
It’s “COLETTE DOUGLAS HOME”. Yeah, those bungling Portuguese plods need to be punished. They’re not like our British coppers. Not like the Forensic Science Service…
Madeleine McCann: The news goes on…
Posted: 22nd, July 2008 | In: Broadsheets, Madeleine McCann, Tabloids Comments (590) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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July 22nd, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Julie, I have to disagree with you. But I do so in a friendly way
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:07 pm
It is 19c here also, now I know who nicked the summer we were supposed to have. Give it back immediately! - pretty please.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Real Stig
I expect they’d just assume I was drunk somewhere and would turn up when I needed my Mum to do my laundry - and they’d be right.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Karen Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:49 pm
karen, i like to watch gorden ramsey but i dont understand what you mean ?
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
sam Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:46 pm
chenier Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:33 pm
‘One of the reasons for the rabbit in the headlights look may be that the McCanns have been told that they cannot legally bar third parties from seeing the contents of the case files.’
but i don’t think just anyone can access them ?
Amaral seems to think he can
——————
‘As far as I am aware the McCanns have never wanted public access to the police files; they wanted access to the police files for themselves.
That is very, very different…”
it is indeed. you know i remember thinking some weeks ago they paid for posters and ballons and metodo and got others to pay for other things, but i don’t think they paid for or organised a ground search of the area themselves, and i think i personally might’ve done that, just to know, make sure. they complained a lot about the inadquecies of the pj, but they had the money, lots of it, to do something like a physical thorough ground search of the area.
I think that in reality they knew that a thorough ground search had been done; as always with the McCanns it’s necessary to separate out the PR. That was part of the whole ‘they are doing nothing’ line which has been fed to us since the very beginning.
The difficulty is that if we cannot rely on what they said then, we cannot rely on what they say now, since that too may be PR.
And of course, media access to the PJ’s files must be helpful to them since surely renewed media coverage could bring that vital break through.
Though Team McCann may not see it that way…
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
PeterMac, I should think they will be very careful not to put themselves in the position of having to answer searching questions.
We’ve been drawing inferences for the last 14 months.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
just_me
That’s very nice of you.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
“Tut tut - gloating while a child is still missing.”
Well someone has to do it.
“You’ll be descending to our level next.”
Tempting, there’s far more company down there.
“Anyway - we’re not the same people. The last lot left and we took over their names - so you didn’t tell us anything - we don’t even know you!!! :razz:”
Who’s Karen, I don’t remember any Karen, must be in the wrong forum.
Police!, there’s a student gone missing! (better hope Amoral, I mean Amaral, doesn’t answer the call)
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
just_me Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:56 pm
________________
You’ve certainly managed to say what I feel right now.
Yes, there is no ways that I will EVER have sympathy for them - leaving children like that is unforgiveable in my books, no matter if it was only as close as “the bottom of the garden” etc.
I just think that if they now try and fade into oblivion then yes, perhaps they are guilty of more than neglecting the children. BUT if they persist, and now actively get up off their butts and start looking for their child with a vengeance (sp?) , then I think that I was maybe just as gullible as plenty of others. Although their body talk still leaves me thinking over and over again …… something is NOT right! IMO
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Sam - was it cadavarine or was it the scent of blood? do we know for sure now?
M and A
just-me
one of the dogs is trained for cadaver scenting, the other for blood
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Petronius Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:38 pm
‘There is no getting around the neglect, or the Cadaver and Blood dog evidence (both coinciding only in one place, the Living Room, this is taken as proof of death and location in most police forces),’
yes, the cadaver scent is problematic, the dogs can’t lie, they do scent what they scent and the presence of cadaverine means either a body was there or the scent was planted, and i assume the pj did check that no-one had died in the apartment at an earlier time. lab tests prove inconclusive, but only in after second report corrects the first, and the cadaver dogs evidence cannot be counted.
the way i read yesterdays announcement is that no evidence can be linked to the suspects, hence the status of arguidos was to be dropped. that doesn’t mean to say there wasn’t any evidence. i am pleased for robert murat though.
Mand A
It was confirmed very early on that there have not been any deaths in 5a
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:00 pm
PeterMac
Absolutely and its when the real fun begins
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:59 pm
There are no longer arguidos
So they cannot hide behind that status to refuse to answer questions from journalists. Refusal to answer legitimate questions put to persons in the public eye about a subject which they placed firmly in the public domain will be just that. Refusal. About which legitimate comment can be made and legitimate inferences drawn.
All we need now is a decent journalist. Or even a half decent one.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Ah, that’s better Stig
Doing wunnerful thank you!
Yep, it’s winter, but days are getting warmer - so not for much longer (19 deg C today) …. roll on summerrrrr
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Sally, if it is published on Thursday, one hopes that he has already written it.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:56 pm
reason I asked is because I origanlly thought karen Matthews was innocent and I sympathised with her and felt sorry for her. I thought her reactions were more like how the parent of a missing child would react, upset, hair and makeup a mess, but I was ohh soo wrong. Maybe I was wrong about the McCanns. I said from the start if I was wrong I would be the first to hold my hands up and apologise. Ok I’m not apologising just yet as there are still things I cannot get my head around. Maybe, the blood in the apartment was from Madeleines cut knee, maybe she knocked a scab or something. Maybe hair was transferred into the hire car in an innocent way. Maybe I have fallen for untrue press stories and hear say. Maybe for 15 months I have had anger towards an innocent mother who did not deserve it. Maybe I WAS wrong. I have always thought they should be charged with neglect and that still stands, but, is that really fair on the twins? they have done nothing wrong. do they deserve to have their parents taken away from them as well as their big sister. do you think the McCanns would ever risk anything like this again by leaving the twins alone?
I for one will still be watching what happens, and will always remember Madeleine as the poor innocent child in all this.
Im certainly not Pro Mccann, I dont like them as people and I dont like how they have gone about some of the things they have done, but, I am starting to feel bad for believing everything I read in the press and not sitting on the fence with an open mind.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Mr.Pink on sky
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
sorry!
Hi Julie, I am very well, how’s your self?
Winter down your way isn’t it?
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
All the best to Detective Goncalo Amaral in writing his book.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:53 pm
is uit rude for women to do it?
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Real Stig
Tut tut - gloating while a child is still missing.
You’ll be descending to our level next.
Anyway - we’re not the same people. The last lot left and we took over their names - so you didn’t tell us anything - we don’t even know you!!!
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
STIGGIE!! How the hell are you
….. now remove those sunglasses please - it’s rude in the company of LADIES ……
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Did anyone here Clarrie’s comments on Fivelive about Amaral? Made me chuckle. The discrediting of the man and his book has started.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Sam
Don’t you know the media can achieve everything.
Who needs to eat - just watch Gordon Ramsey.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:49 pm
From the News:
Goncalo Amaral, the detective in charge of the initial inquiry who was removed from the case, will publish a book this week making clear his belief that Madeleine died in her parents’ apartment on the night of her disappearance.
————————————————————————————————–
All the best to you, Detective Goncalo Amaral.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I just can’t resit:
I TOLD YOU SO!
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
C&C, I have one of those ASUS machines!
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Well I hope everybody is happy now.
No?
Why am I not surprised!
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
just_me, yes and no
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:46 pm
chenier Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:33 pm
‘One of the reasons for the rabbit in the headlights look may be that the McCanns have been told that they cannot legally bar third parties from seeing the contents of the case files.’
but i don’t think just anyone can access them ?
‘As far as I am aware the McCanns have never wanted public access to the police files; they wanted access to the police files for themselves.
That is very, very different…”
it is indeed. you know i remember thinking some weeks ago they paid for posters and ballons and metodo and got others to pay for other things, but i don’t think they paid for or organised a ground search of the area themselves, and i think i personally might’ve done that, just to know, make sure. they complained a lot about the inadquecies of the pj, but they had the money, lots of it, to do something like a physical thorough ground search of the area.