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 11:43 pm
anyway
like i said the other day………….whats with the printer and the 4 photos? cmon give old clueless a clue
July 25th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
# clouseau Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Gandy
whats up you are like a different person…………..are you a clone …….
—————
Look ere clueless; if i wanna be Garth i’ll be Garth all right? Thankyou.
July 25th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Gandy
whats up you are like a different person…………..are you a clone …….
July 25th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Aaaah noooo June, I’m sane at the moment , marrying him would tip me off the deep end …. although now there’s a thought ….. tip him off that rather deep end first ………
July 25th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
# clouseau Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
nags head brigade in…..evening all
M and a
Hi Closeau,Nags Head has been emptying all afternoon, think its been Nags Head Friday, mind you Garth has just come round…..
—————
Typical
Clueseau the clueless gets a nice welcome and poor old Garthy gets nothing but abuse.
Good day then
July 25th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Julie, make his life hell; marry the bugger
July 25th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Garth Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Well you aint tossing me.
________________________________
Couldn’t bear the thought - much rather slit my wrists ……………………..
July 25th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
# Julie Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Garth Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
What like you fink i can be in two places at one time. I know you believe in fairy tales and all that but Jeeeez.
Anyway, you’re not supposed to be talking to me apparently so bog off!
________________________________
Well, you apparently think you’re this god like dude who knows everything …. I thought being in two places at once was a piss-willy act for you lot?
I’m not supposed to be talking to you? Just getting pissed off at your self-righteous, I’m a rich dude who can do and say as I please attitute ….fits you perfectly actually, except your crap stinks as much as any one else’s whether you like it or not BUDDY
—————-
Oh come on, there’s no need to get all nasty. I was only mucking about.
I dont know
July 25th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
nags head brigade in…..evening all
M and a
Hi Closeau,Nags Head has been emptying all afternoon, think its been Nags Head Friday, mind you Garth has just come round…..
July 25th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
# Garth Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
…… and at 5ft nothing June me old prune its never too late to take up the sport!
M and A
I’m ever so good at tossing the caber, and the garth….
—————–
Well you aint tossing me. Thankyou anyway but stick to the caber.
July 25th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Garth Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
What like you fink i can be in two places at one time. I know you believe in fairy tales and all that but Jeeeez.
Anyway, you’re not supposed to be talking to me apparently so bog off!
________________________________
Well, you apparently think you’re this god like dude who knows everything …. I thought being in two places at once was a piss-willy act for you lot?
I’m not supposed to be talking to you? Just getting pissed off at your self-righteous, I’m a rich dude who can do and say as I please attitute ….fits you perfectly actually, except your crap stinks as much as any one else’s whether you like it or not BUDDY
July 25th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
# Garth Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
whoops Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
————–
I was only taking the piss. You do realise that dont you?
M and A
Yes Garfy ,we know, even though we haven’t been floating round space for 80 years….like you
————
Get on? Surely you’re kidding………
M and A
No
July 25th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
…obviously not
oh gawd……….. 
July 25th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
I know it is a difficult one sweetheart-Ask the audience? Whoops can’t give you 50:50.
July 25th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
whoops Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
————–
I was only taking the piss. You do realise that dont you?
M and A
Yes Garfy ,we know, even though we haven’t been floating round space for 80 years….like you
July 25th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
# Julie Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Garth Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Where’ve you been for the last 80 years?
_____________________________________
Probably the same place as you ……. here on earth ….. or in your case … outer space
————–
What like you fink i can be in two places at one time. I know you believe in fairy tales and all that but Jeeeez.
Anyway, you’re not supposed to be talking to me apparently so bog off!
July 25th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
garfy-love-Look, I know you have certain difficulties but….how can i spell it out….hmmm, well if your mummy and daddy went out and left the front door unlocked, would you:-
A) Try to find a piece of wood-about an inch diameter and flexible enough to hold your weight and try to propel yourself through an eensie weensie gap-
or would you:
B) Open the door and walk out just like you’ve seen mummy and daddy do the 6 previous nights.
Difficult I know-do you have friend you could phone?
July 25th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Nosey
I just feel it’s sad. I think you will too when you read the resume of the book.
But maybe he is right and there was an international conspiracy to get him sacked and silence him. The PJ are right in it as well, if so.
July 25th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Garth Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Where’ve you been for the last 80 years?
_____________________________________
Probably the same place as you ……. here on earth ….. or in your case … outer space
July 25th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
…… and at 5ft nothing June me old prune its never too late to take up the sport!
M and A
I’m ever so good at tossing the caber, and the garth….
July 25th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
# JuneJohnson Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Indeed it is Jo.
Did you pole vault when you were 3? I didn’t,and Garth apart did anyone else?
——————–
Bleedin Nora, dont you know anyfing? Its the knew sport for 3 year olds. They’re all doing it. Where’ve you been for the last 80 years?
July 25th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Well JJ-I hide my light under a bushel! Pole vaulting?- I was composing concertios at 18 months.
m and a
Piano, or violin ?
July 25th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
jo Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
I am off wishing you all a very good night
Can no more,too tired xxxx
__________________________
JO!!
July 25th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
# whoops Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
and your point is Garfy? How tall do you need to be to open a door with a handle at about 2 ‘ 6”-I know it’s difficult so I’ll give you lots of time on this one……don’t be frightened of giving up-it’s the taking part that counts.
————–
Blimey you’re still here. Havent you had enough?
Anyway, just in case it was that difficult………… i was talking about the window.
She’s hardly gonna pole vault out the bleedin door is she you daft moo.
July 25th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Jo- I am being myself to everyone including myself!!!! We don’t know what happened and we are no closer 15 months on!!!!
Keep it good humoured though. The situation is tragic enough as it is.
July 25th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
I am off wishing you all a very good night
Can no more,too tired xxxx
July 25th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Indeed it is Jo.
Did you pole vault when you were 3? I didn’t,and Garth apart did anyone else?
July 25th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Jo ….. hey there my batty bimbo
Is it fun around here tonight ….. where’s my favourite McCann fan … he still around?
July 25th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
whoops Says:
July 25th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
and your point is Garfy? How tall do you need to be to open a door with a handle at about 2 ‘ 6”-I know it’s difficult so I’ll give you lots of time on this one……don’t be frightened of giving up-it’s the taking part that counts.
*****
Oi! thats unfair,its too difficult!after all Garf is only trying to establish the truth for Madeleine and the cirscumstances of her strange abduction ..err….
Dont be soooo hard on him,he has been trying for months on end!!
July 25th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
jo
Keep taking the tablets. They’re fookin brilliant!