Madeleine McCann: Suing Amaral, Mark Lawson’s Fact And Fiction, And Bloggers Beware
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann
THE GUARDIAN: “The Panama Mystery - Mr and Mrs Canoe’s case fascinates but can’t match crime fiction’s satisfying motives and denouement”
Mark Lawson does so love a good ending to a work of fiction and fact. A super-fiction. Take care you don’t confuse the two.
In his piece Lawson name checks them all: John and Anne Darwin, Radovan Karadzic, Fred and Rose West, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, Ian Huntley, Harold Shipman and…
As the trial was coming to a close, I was at the Harrogate Crime-Writing Festival, and newspapers were reporting the latest developments in the Madeleine McCann case.
Bingo! Where were you?
One of the reasons for the huge popularity of crime fiction is that the genre explores, in a sanitised environment, the fear and prurient fascination we feel when faced with murders and abductions. Real-life criminality and fiction have become a loop, communicating with each other: several of the books discussed at Harrogate featured missing children; in two years, expect a slew of novels about husbands and wives who mysteriously disappear.
Can you tell the difference between fact and fiction? Now read on…
THE SUN: “McCanns to sue cop over book”.
DEVASTATED Kate and Gerry McCann are to launch a legal blitz in Portugal after the publication of a scandalous book about the disappearance of their daughter Maddie.
In The Truth Behind The Lie, ex-police chief Goncalo Amaral details ludicrous allegations about the couple and the pals they dined with when Maddie vanished in Portugal last year.
Who gets sued?
The McCanns plan to take action against Amaral, Portuguese newspapers which reprinted parts of the £10 book and bloggers who discussed it.
Anorak did not discuss the book’s merit. We did not reproduce a single quote from the book. But can bloggers who did be sued effectively? Many are men and women of straw. What can the outcome be? Best for bloggers, perhaps, to avoid the matter? Or get a crack moderation team – like Anorak. But what, then , of freedom of speech?
Says Amaral: “This book is not revenge, it is not persecution. We can discuss the case in court if they want.”
In the context of a libel case, they might well…
DAILY MAIL: “We failed, says Maddie police chief… but he refuses to apologise to her parents”
Says Amaral: “’There will be no apology, I was just doing my job.”
As a writer…?
DAILY TELEGRAPH: “Madeleine McCann case: Portuguese police admit failings
The police detective who led the search for Madeleine McCann has admitted that there were some failings in the investigation but refused to accept responsibility for not solving the case…
Several hundred people queued up to collect copies of “Maddie The truth of the Lie” and many congratulated Mr Amaral for his courage to speak out.
BELFAST TELEGRPAH: “McCann case detective’s book to get English translation”
Who will review it if it published in the UK?
THE HERALD: “Sympathy for McCanns must be tempered”
Letters to the editor:
How kind Colette Douglas Home is to Gerry and Kate McCann (Comment, July 22). She uses many column inches pouring scorn on the Portuguese police (perhaps justifiably, I don’t know), showering Gerry and Kate with sympathy (I, too, feel for them), but only makes passing reference to the action that, had it not happened, would have prevented this heartbreaking event from occurring in the first place.
This is clearly their “decision to leave her sleeping while they met friends for dinner”.
- Allistair Matheson, Selkirk.
Colette’s opinion - that Gerry McCann is handsome and Kate McCann beautiful - is irrelevant. The eye of the beholder? Colette states: “And they will always carry the burden of their decision to leave her sleeping while they met friends for dinner.” What kind of parents, in a foreign land, needlessly leave their child, not yet four years old, asleep without a child-minder and out of sound or sight, while they indulge themselves with their friends?
The McCanns deserve all the anguish they brought upon themselves through poor judgment, and not endless public sympathy. Madeleine is the victim. I hope and pray that she is unharmed and is being looked after in loving care, however wrongfully.
- Donald C Irving, Ayr.
And on it goes…
Posted: 25th, July 2008 | In: Broadsheets, Madeleine McCann, Tabloids Comments (626) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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July 25th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Melanie
But you wouldnt be normal if you weren’t at least suspicious of me now would you?
So how come there are people here who blindly just see the innocence of the McCanns?
No logic to that stance at all is there?
[rel -dr]
July 25th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
m.e ., neither I would say
July 25th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Hypothetical…
I am at my neighbours with several friends from the houses nearby. I have left my 3 yo daughter on her own and for some bizarre reason (that there will never be a sufficient explanation for) I have left the door unlocked. Said child goes missing and I scream abduction. Police bring in cadaver dogs and the dogs examine my house, my car and ALL the neighbours’ properties who were with me that night. Police discover the scent of a corpse in my bedroom, living room, just outside my house, in my car and on my clothes. No scent of death is discovered in any of the other properties.
Would I be
A) Deemed toally innocent of involement?
or
B) Serving time?
[rel - dr]
July 25th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Liza
“If Madeleine was abducted, all the publicity would just go to push the abductor to the extreme act…”
***
Unfortunately too right.This is what they do.
I find it hilarious the mccanns suing Amaral. His main argument,if any, is going to be :show the evidence of an abduction
Like clarrie said “it is going to be a long process…..” Yes,clarrie,for once I agree with you.Tell the lawyers to scrutinize some of their friends as well….for once you may reveal useful.Go for it,pleeeeeease,watch out for hot stones,though….
Gosh! I never stop agreeing with everybody today.I started with Maria earlier on …. is mccannitis contagious?
July 25th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
liza
Exactly.
But then there was a mass delusion that a family took her - hence dark haired people with blonde children being reported to the police…
July 25th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Publicity (like the photos on the US 1040 tax return) probably works mostly for cases where the non-custodial parent takes the child to another state - the child lives a normal life, going to school, doing sports etc - so neighbors, teachers etc might recognize the child from the photo.
But when children are abducted for sex or whatever, do you honestly think, Cheryl and/or Maria, that the abductor first abuses them and parades them around for the world to see?
If Madeleine was abducted, all the publicity would just go to push the abductor to the extreme act…
July 25th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Cheryl
The publicity doesn’t work - all it does is keep the Kate and Gerry show on the road.
Great for Gerry’s ego - useless for anything else.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Saul Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
ğşç5%^^ üşğĞŞßæ
İ defy anyone to work that lot out
although….sometime,I must say,it sounds like a torture room 
******
Oi! this is a blog not a torture room
So what does this mean? ğşç5%^^ üşğĞŞßæ
July 25th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Karen Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Cheryl
They wouldn’t be damned if they didn’t.
No parents have ever done that level of publicity.
A couple of press conferences and a few updates on ‘This Morning’ would be perfectly normal and just what we’d expect - and it would be just as likely to get Madeleine back.
____________
So what? There has been bitching and moaning and nasty speculations on here about their friends with money and power - pays off at a time like theirs when true friends have the money to help one out and give them backing.
Who gives a hoot what you all would expect or even do - they want their daughter back and if they have the means and the backing to do it then all the more power to them!
Sad commentary on those who would put a price or PR limit on what they would or wouldn’t do to find their child!
July 25th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Cheryl
I like the Saint Amaral bit! I knew you have a sense of humour
July 25th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Cheryl
I don’t think the Saint Amaral joke is going to work.
Maybe if he visited the Pope…
July 25th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Melanie
Yeah. Probably.
Sorry - what does the mega-publicity achieve other than a rampant urban myth????
And how come you’re always getting at me when you leave posters with the same opinions alone????
July 25th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Right! Thats it,I am fed with Amarals book which is an ever so convenient diversion for the mccanns when we think about it…differently.
or can we hope you are FINALLY just going to have a feeble light over the sad case their progenitors have created and order further diligeances? 
I personally want to know WHAT have the lawyers AND detecives found out in the 81 files so generously handed over to them by Hogg the fogg.
Any feed back anyone?
Alos I want to know,Hogg,if you are finally going to DEFEND Madeleine and send an order to have her parents reinterviewed in the UK
Articles Against the Person Act 1861/Section 9
ah…..of course,the Person must be dead and proven dead abroad but it is where you are so incredibly useful. YOU could ask for it and eventually provide a decent funeral for Madeleine? Will it be necessary to force you into it?
July 25th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
The Real Stig Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 11:45 am
_________
Real Stig, you shock me putting such dirt on here about that sainted man! Why you know the real truth - remember - she did it to herself according to Saint Amaral and his henchmen!
Surely he is fast penning that book too, prior to their trial to tell the truth according to Saint Amaral?
July 25th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
And I think Ferd might be blocked for a bit
*******************
More’s the pity. It looks like the inhabitants of the Nag’s Head have been chucked out early today.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Cheryl
Lynch mob. Pah! K & G aren’t in America.
All we’re doing is tutting.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Karen, if ever a daughter of yours goes missing are you just going to do a couple of press conferences because that’s the form?
July 25th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Cheryl
They wouldn’t be damned if they didn’t.
No parents have ever done that level of publicity.
A couple of press conferences and a few updates on ‘This Morning’ would be perfectly normal and just what we’d expect - and it would be just as likely to get Madeleine back.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
ğşç5%^^ üşğĞŞßæ
İ defy anyone to work that lot out
July 25th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Is D.P going to sue Amaral-ito?
Not a single word over this sad of the story from any of the T7… mmmm….no news good news?
M&A
About news,what/where is Marie Nicholas? Long time not seen….?
July 25th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Noseycow Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Maria
So why is it wrong for Ameral to profit from it, when the McC’s (who I would argue were responsible for the whole sorry saga in the first place) have made more than a few bob?
___________
Noseycow, they haven’t made money off it at all - that money is in a fund to help find Madeleine. I know they used it one time to pay back mortgage payment but was it paid back? One again, damned if they do and damned if they don’t in any action they take!
That old lynch mob is still circling, huh!
July 25th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
M3 being investigated for extortion and attempted murder.
No wonder the new unnamed Detective Agency was “employed”.
Over to you Clarence….Are M3 still in employed by Mr B Kennedy on behalf
of the Hallowed Duo ???
http://gazetadigitalmadeleinecase.blogspot.com/
July 25th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Noseycow Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Karen
Are you suggesting all the video footage, sofa tours, press releases and round the world trips have NOT been about generating publicity to find Madeleine?
Wash your mouth out with soap young lady!
_________
Good Morning, Noseycow! I must admit to you I was one of those silly people who thought all the video footage, press releases, posters spread everywhere, detectives hired to look for their daugther was to generate publicity in finding Madeleine.
Damned if they do and damned if they don’t!
July 25th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Cheryl
The PJs searched Murat’s villa after being given a tip off - so they’re not like that American case at all.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Cheryl
I’m sure if we could be bothered we’d find a case where parents sued and lost.
Comparing cases statistically is useful - but comparing individual cases is pointless (what happened in one case, doesn’t need to happen in another).
And I think Ferd might be blocked for a bit.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Well the cyber pipps have started pippıng just as well thıs keyboard was about to be launched ınto a very nıce swımming pool İ thought accents graves and cırcumflexes were the property of the French apparently they are small potatoes compared to a Turkısh keyboard
(İ stıll have no idea where the comma is)
July 25th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Maria Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Here is a link to the Lunsford case law suit. She is the little girl who was taken out of her home at night by a paedophile. Grandparents were asleep and never heard a sound - he took out her bedroom window. This law suit will give you an idea of what happens when the police don’t move as fast as they should and also when they focus in on one person and waste valuable investigative time. The suit by the way was dropped recently with apologies, etc.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/27/lunsford/index.html#cnnSTCText
July 25th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Gloria Smudd Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I’m going now! Bye y’all!
——————————
Have fun!
Phew!
I thought I was in big trouble there for forgetting whatshisname’s name; thank you for that well timed diversionary tactic, Saul.
I must go and get something to eat before the chip shop shuts…
July 25th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
been reading coco’s posts, funniest things i’ve seen for ages.
she seems like a psychopathically well educated tourettes sufferer, i just love her.
July 25th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Gloria ıs there any other kınd of chum asıde from Chubby. You would be most welcome. Melyvn with hıs orange hue would fıt right in