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
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:22 pm
coolandcalm
The ‘PJ’ wouldn’t necessarily have leaked any documents, it only takes one person with an excessive credit card bill. Sadly.
Enjoy your new toy.
I’m off to see if I can sqeeze in another hour of zzzz’s before girding my loins for the long long night ahead.
be good all
x
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Noseycow Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:16 pm
chenier Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:11 pm
edit
Tsk, tsk, Nosey; I’m sure she’s being treated like a princess somewhere.
Princess Diana got a whole island to herself…
—————————————————————————————
That the general public were charged access to. Please don’t tell the McC’s and give them more money spinning ideas.
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There’s a missing ingredient there, but I can’t quite put my finger on it…
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:20 pm
I can understand the anger of the public over this case but I still do not know exactly who did exactly what to Madeleine.
So far the only known fact about Madeleine on the evening of May 3rd, is that, according to her parents, she was left unattended about 85-89 minutes out of 90 minutes which would be about 94-99% of the time her parents were away. We know that her parents are of the strong opinion that such a system is neither abusive or neglectful.
We know that there really was a significant delay in the reporting of Madeleine’s disappearance.
We know that the parents allowed many people into the holiday apartment before the police arrived.
We know that on a previous evening, Madeleine was left to cry for 75 minutes. We know that Madeleine personally rebuked her mother for her lack of parental care on that evening. We know the mother learned nothing from her daughter’s intelligent communication and that the mother remained committed to leaving the children while she was not in the same building with them or in ear shot of them. We also know that one member from the group, a Dr. Payne, did use a form of electronic surveillance for the Payne children, and that Dr. Payne also planned the holiday one month before it took place.
We know that a relative of Madeleine’s mother made a public statement that the PJ wanted Madeleine’s mother to admit to an accident because they didn’t want the publicity of a murder case. We know that announcement was replaced with a different announcement that there had been a misunderstanding and that making such a deal was illegal.
We know that Madeleine’s mother has always been convinced that her daughter was taken by a paedophile. She has never been allowed to explain how she knows this. Now she can. I await her explanation.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Noseycow Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Chenier
I agree re: here we don’t go (and if I didn’t I would bow gracefully to your superior knowledge of legal niceties )
It just gets me that they have and still are constantly looking for somewhere else to deflect the ‘blame’ for the situation that they’ve found themselves in
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You should be used to it by now!
But yes, I agree that they seem wholly incapable of grasping that they have some responsibility for the situation that they find themselves in, unlike the small child that they should have had responsibility for.
And if it really is true that Mrs Fenn heard Madeleine crying for 75 minutes on the previous night then the dazzling prospect of untold riches from Oprah may recede into the distance; she would be unlikely to overlook points which Clarrie would dismiss as trifling details…
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Noseycow…. I read about all the alleged evidence and wonder how, if it is true, that could not have been enough to arrest them.
I wonder how holidaymakers could dispose of a body on the spur of the moment and hide it so it is never found. Especially their own daughter.
I really think that Madeleine was abducted from her bed by someone who had been watching the routine of leaving of them. I also think she is probably long dead.
But that is just what I think……
And I am bewildered.
Surely the PJ would never shoot themselves in the foot by leaking a document after saying they didn’t leak anything??
So I’m going to play with my new toy instead!
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Nosey, what you beat me to growing old?
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:16 pm
chenier Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:11 pm
edit
Tsk, tsk, Nosey; I’m sure she’s being treated like a princess somewhere.
Princess Diana got a whole island to herself…
—————————————————————————————
That the general public were charged access to. Please don’t tell the McC’s and give them more money spinning ideas.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Melanie Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:06 pm
edit
I am going to grow very old on this website…
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BEAT YOU ne ne nene ne…
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:13 pm
The best quote is the one from the attorney gen yesterday dontcha think so……..no evidence,…. and all the windylickers said there was oodles and oodles……..woof! woof! my arse !
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Noseycow
They clearly can’t admit to being wrong. Their egos wont let them.
Hell mend them - as my Great-Granny would say (she’s a Calvinist - she’d wouldn’t let them get away with any excuses
).
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Noseycow Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Thanks Melanie
I love that ‘there is no evidence what soever to suggest that Madeleine has been harmed’ except that she wa 3 years old and has been missing for 14 months.
So similar to the ‘no valuables were taken’ quote.
——————————–
Tsk, tsk, Nosey; I’m sure she’s being treated like a princess somewhere.
Princess Diana got a whole island to herself…
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Chenier
I agree re: here we don’t go (and if I didn’t I would bow gracefully to your superior knowledge of legal niceties
)
It just gets me that they have and still are constantly looking for somewhere else to deflect the ‘blame’ for the situation that they’ve found themselves in
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Bob
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Nosey, I guess so. Anyway, those were his words. A straight copy and paste.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:09 pm
The 1 hour and 15 mins she was left to cry alone on the 1st, with 2 witnesses is enough!!!
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Ah Mel
So they made a mistake that night and not the previous 4 nights. mmm.
So in fact they still do not think what they did was wrong in any way - they were just ‘unfortunate’ that they were found out, so to speak
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:06 pm
“I’m having trouble with the McCann stuff at the moment so am not commenting until something nice and definitive comes along.”
I am going to grow very old on this website…
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:06 pm
No evidence she was harmed???
Isn’t getting nicked from your bed in the middle of the night and being held in a strange place harmful??? (at least emotionally).
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Thanks Melanie
I love that ‘there is no evidence what soever to suggest that Madeleine has been harmed’ except that she wa 3 years old and has been missing for 14 months.
So similar to the ‘no valuables were taken’ quote.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Nosey, oh and…
“Q asked
12:39 [Comment From john]
do the McCanns accept they were wholly irresponsible for leaving the children alone? ”
CM replies:
12:41 Clarence Mitchell - Gerry and Kate accept that they made a mistake that night - one that they may live to regret all their lives. Their checking system failed. However, they were not intentionally being neglectful. Their checks were more detailed than if any similar baby-listening had been available at the resort, which in their case, it wasn’t>
Source, sky news lunchtime web chat 22/7/08
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Noseycow Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Mccann consider suing over aguido status!
Here we go
——————-
Or more probably, here we don’t. The McCanns are running out of people to sue; I really don’t think they have any realistic chance of going back to the English courts to have a go at papers like the Mail for libel.
It would be too embarrassing if the Mail decided to identify the source of its undoubtedly libelous articles about Murat and co.
No breach of privacy case because they invited the media in.
That leaves them with the PJ, and in court they would be required to provide some evidence that they had suffered some injury as a result of the PJ’s actions.
Murat would have a much better case than the McCanns, and Murat’s case would, no doubt, stress heavily the involvement of Team McCann in his continuing status as an arguido.
That in turn would raise issues which Team McCann might prefer to let lie…
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Cool
I couldn’t afford the software to be able to integrate with my other & work PC’s
and it had the nerve to TAKE A PICTURE. 
was quite sleek though - and nice for a freebie 
What are you having trouble with about the McC’s - we’ve speculated for the last 14 months, the world may have ended before anything ‘definate’ comes along.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Nosey, that is about it really other than he confirms he is not paid by the fund and that the search will go for as long as the fund has resources to fund the search.
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:59 pm
When Asked:
“12:59 [Comment From kyle]
hello Clarence..why do you keep pushing the abduction scenario…when all the evidence indicates the opposite.
1:00 [Comment From Duane]
Do you think Madeline is dead or alive ”
CM’s replies were:
1:03 Clarence Mitchell - The evidence does not suggest the opposite. The police examined all possible theories and, on that basis, the Attorney General has now clearly said that none of the former arguidos are guilty of any criminal act. Madeleine was taken. That is the truth
1:03 Clarence Mitchell - There is no evidence whatsoever to suggest Madeleine has been harmed, let alone killed. Gerry and Kate will continue to hope that she is possibly still alive, until it is proven beyond doubt that she is not.
Source: sky News Lunch time web chat. 22/7/08
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Noseycow… my disaffection with Apples started when I got an ibook and started writing on it. I even bought windows for Apple to help me along. Then my late mad cat jumped up and sent it flying off the desk onto the wooden floor. Splat. Landed on the corner of the screen/machine. (it was open at the time)
Insurance sent me a new one and that is the one in the box.
In the meantime I bought a pink laptop (cos it was pretty) and carried on writing. New kitten very cleverly danced on the keys. I wasn’t looking so he had plenty of time to: delete / overwrite / save. I lost 30,000 words. Please do not say BACK-UP to me. I know! My PC expert was most impressed with the kitten and unimpressed with me.
I’m having trouble with the McCann stuff at the moment so am not commenting until something nice and definitive comes along.
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Gerry and Kate are innocent in the eyes of the Portuguese legal system and as a former police officer he will know he cannot imply any suggestion of involvement in Madeleine’s abduction. Nor should he, as they were not involved in any way C Mitchell
Didn’t think Amarals book even hinted at Madeleine being abducted - so he’s ok there then ain’t he.
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:55 pm
ON Sky web: asked about Murat’s libel claim CM says:
“Clarence Mitchell - Mr Murat’s libel action and its outcome is entirely a matter for him and his lawyers to comment on. “
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Asked on Sky online about Amaral’s book, CM Replies:
“Clarence Mitchell - Mr Amaral needs to be aware that his comments in his book will be closely read by libel lawyers. Gerry and Kate are innocent in the eyes of the Portuguese legal system and as a former police officer he will know he cannot imply any suggestion of involvement in Madeleine’s abduction. Nor should he, as they were not involved in any way “
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Nosey, sorry. I wasn’t thinking of a compensation culture re teh suing of teh PJ
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:49 pm
No mel
i just woke up - give a girl a bloody chance will you?
summary / highlights please