Madeleine McCann: The Tabloid Dog Pack, Kate McCann’s Diary And Shannon Matthews
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann, Kate McCann, Gerry McCann and Robert Murat
PRESS GAZETTE: “Furious lawyer attacks tabloids’ ‘pack-dog’ mentality over stories”
Read all about it in the Star, Sun, Mirror etc.
Louis Charalambous represented Robert Murat in his libel action against eleven tabloid newspapers. Two other claimants in the same case, Sergey Malinka and Michaela Walczuch, were awarded apologies and a “substantial six-figure settlement”.
Charalambous tells the Press Gazette:
“Having to capitulate, apologise and pay up is not the end of it. The trust in those titles ebbs away among their combined readership of 15 million. In particular, readers of The Sun, Mirror, Express and Star were told lie after lie about my clients. It brings into question how much more of their paper’s news coverage they can rely on…
“There was a pack-dog mentality here and my clients and their families were the prey. The children of Robert and Michaela, little girls, one not much older than Madeleine, were hounded and had to go in and out of their homes with coats over their heads.
“I’d like to invite the editors of the worst of these titles to have tea and cake with them and explain why they let their journalists and photographers harass them. They are now recovering but the effects are long-lasting.”
Tea with lawyers? Take care. Bring a tape recorder and a copy of the invitation. Leave wallet at home. But what about the story, the single-thread story? What about our Maddy?
“Journalistically this was a story without legs: child goes missing, no idea of her fate and foreign coppers not leaking to their trusted hacks in the time-honoured way. Reporters then developed lines of the story and ‘creatively’ adopted the rubbish coming out of the Portuguese tabloid press.”
Case closed. What what about Murat?
Max Clifford, no longer representing Murat, says:
“If you think that the McCanns got £500,000 from one newspaper group, he went after 11 newspapers – and they were far more vicious to him than they were to the McCanns.”
Maybe Murat wasn’t after the money, just closure? Maybe the papers got of lightly?
“If you want people to believe you are innocent you can forget about it. He and his family are going to have to live with this for the rest of their lives.”
So says a professional PR not in the least bit bitter about being dropped by Murat.
THE SUN: “Kate’s Maddie diaries leaked”
EXCERPTS from Kate McCann’s diary covering the first agonising weeks after daughter Maddie vanished have emerged.
Did you see them? In case you didn’t, here they are:
They show that the desperate mum left messages asking PM Gordon Brown to “increase political pressure” to aid the search. After he phoned 40-year-old Kate and husband Gerry, she noted that Mr Brown was “nice and supportive” — but that she “felt a bit emotional after”.
DAILY MIRROR: “Kate and Gerry McCann: Portuguese cops’ hunt for Maddie ‘pathetic’”
Portuguese police knocked on just 443 doors in the failed hunt for missing Madeleine McCann.
That a lot?
There are 7,000 homes in Praia da Luz…
No door unknocked…
In stark contrast, British police probing the disappearance of Shannon Matthews earlier this year knocked on 5,000 doors and searched 2,000 houses. Nine-year-old Shannon was found in 24 days, whereas Portuguese police have stopped looking for Madeleine after 14 months.
But the police door knocking wasn’t what found Shannon Matthews. The rozzers responded to a tip off from a neighbour of one Paul Donovan.
Also, Shannon Matthews’ mother, Karen Matthews, is under arrest for her alleged part in her daughters’ disappearance. Kate McCann is innocent. So what do the two matters have in common? Or is this Tabloid Bingo?
A friend of the McCanns said: “The 443 doors would barely cover 500 yards from the apartment where Madeleine was taken. That is shocking and unacceptable.”
Is it?
Posted: 28th, July 2008 | In: Broadsheets, Madeleine McCann, Tabloids Comments (325) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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July 28th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Hi Karen - which video?
July 28th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
I’m still watching that interview…
They thought there was nothing unsafe about leaving the door open and the kids alone???? There was no information that would have made them think it was unsafe!!!!
I’d have more sympathy and respect for them if they just admitted it was a risk they thought they’d get away with. After all - the fact they checked proves they thought there was a risk - so why would they think trouble would only occur at half hour intervals????
July 28th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Abraham Zapruder Says:
July 28th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
abraham, are you saying it would be possible for justice hogg to initiate an investigation into madeleine’s disapperance here (the uk) on her behalf ?
July 28th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
brandon flours Says:
July 28th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
blimey its 32 degrees ! what a wally.
he has moved on, it seems. I hope he didnt murder anyone.
this was someone outside your house ?
July 28th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
blimey its 32 degrees ! what a wally.
he has moved on, it seems. I hope he didnt murder anyone.
July 28th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
M and A, I have no particular interest in CW himself, but I think it’s right to say that the UK authorities have made no official announcement on their role in the Maddie investigation. If they had been simply helping the PJ then it would be straightforward enough to announce: “Well the Portuguese have given up, so that ends our involvement too, unless new evidence comes to light etc.”
The best indication we have is the judgement of LJ Hogg, so as things stand it looks as though the UK investigation is following the PT one (ie shelved). I say this particularly because, if SOCA believed MM to be dead (and had some kind of evidence of this), there would be a relatively straightforward route open to them.
http://www.soca.gov.uk/financialIntel/guidanceReferringOfficers.html
M and A
I think its very strange indeed that we haven’t heard from the Leics police, perhaps they are waiting to have a look at the PJ files?
oh yes there would have to be an Inquest, but then again I don’t know the protocol when a person goes missing abroad, and is now a Wof C, perhaps the UK Police are still looking ? perhaps C&C might throw some light , as she has an interest in Ben Needham. Perhaps the whole case has been moved to the care of the FO?
July 28th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
brandon flours Says:
July 28th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Would you be suspicious of a teen in a cap, a hood and a scarf wrapped around his face was making noises and gesticulating at a neighbours house??
no, could be my son.
July 28th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
brandon
Yes.
Unless he’s signalling the house is on fire???
July 28th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Would you be suspicious of a teen in a cap, a hood and a scarf wrapped around his face was making noises and gesticulating at a neighbours house??
July 28th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I was just watching the interview Kate and Gerry gave to Sky in May on YouTube.
Gerry talked rubbish - as usual. Looked shifty IMO - as usual.
I don’t understand the fans at all. K & G are awful. They’re like the anti-heroes in children’s novels (the kind that scare an orphan to get their inheritance).
edited jj , sorry Karen feel anti heroes might be a better choice
July 28th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I see it as suspicious that she called him.
July 28th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Earlier post:
Also it’s difficult to see how Coldwater could have gone on for so long, claiming he had sources in Leics police, without them putting a stop to it.
M and A
From what I understand Coldwater no longer holds any water in 3a’s, and seriously would any Police force wade through 3a, wouldn’t they just do an IP trace….
@@@@@@@@@@@@
By “them” I meant Leics police. For many months CW posted with various “nuggets” of info from his LP “sources”, and it was never clear what his motives were, nor those of his “sources.” It would be surprising if no one brought this to LP’s attention, and they (the LP) could have easily stopped it by contacting/warning the owners of 3As. Plus they could also have got a court order requiring disclosure of CW’s IP address.
And CW always said he would stop posting when things reached a certain stage, then he would come back.
The only way the whole CW saga can be put to bed is if the UK authorities make a similar announcement to the PT one, ie that that the case has been shelved here too.
Don’t forget either that email from a MEP’s assistant (forget the name) saying that there was a parallel UK investigation, intelligence services involved, and they had a better handle on it than the PT.
m and A
I realised who you meant by LP, but there may have been logistical problems as 3A is US registered. But even so , LP would know they had NOT given Coldwater any info, and as I understand it , he was a troll poster anyway.
People making things up on websites is well known, and has to be borne in mind the only possible court case would be one of libel.
Whatever is said on Anorak is carefully edited, if needs be to avoid just that, but none of us would expect what is posted to have any standing or merit in a trial other than one where we were sued for libel
July 28th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
M and A
a moot but maybe relevant point Cheryl, GB did not become PM until later in the year, sometime last July. If that fairly obvious fact is misreported, what else is?
Are you referring to the Sun calling him PM in the article? Well he is the PM now and one would think that is how he’d be referred by that title in any article written re him even if the past. Maybe that is just our culture and way of speaking over here that I see it as addressing him as PM as only respect for his current position irregardless of whether he was PM or not back then.
As quite often pointed out to me - you have your ways over there and we have ours and far beit from me to even question or compare … you prefer to see something sinister in it and I look on it as a sign of respect to call him that when writing of him. Sorry I’m not a brilliant European thinker…I prefer to use logic!
Mand a
you continue to use your logic Cheryl, it really makes no difference to the English language in the UK
July 28th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Bye Daisy x
July 28th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
# chenier Says:
July 28th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Daisy Says:
July 28th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Thanks Chenier … thanks Karen!
I’m just amazed that not one of the ones “in the know” have broken rank and let it all out! This case will not be “on hold” forever … I believe something will eventually trigger the “activation” of the case again. There are just too many things that have gone unanswered to let it all gather dust forever, especially after what is apparently revealed in Amaral’s book.
————————————————-
I think the key words in the statement about potentially re-opening the enquiry are ‘credible evidence’.
There has been a great deal of incredible evidence, but no police force anywhere in the world is equipped to follow up the claims of random nutters or people whose desire to get their names in the media overwhelms their good sense…
–
Chenier,
I agree … credible tangible evidence … they must have something … but why didn’t they pursue it further???? … or is the police trying to give time to time and let someone drop their guard, and maybe make a mistake once more relaxed and at ease with the whole situation?
I can’t believe that such an incredible case as this one is not going to be taken further … it doesn’t make sense!
Have to go.
See you all next time.
July 28th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Sounds lıke a plan. Maybe see you all tonıght (hıc)
July 28th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
….. YUK …. that would leave us with fowl flavoured prawns full of white sand
July 28th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I suppose you could stuff the sand in the prawns, stuff the prawns in the swan and stuff the swan in the turkey.
That should fool them ok…
July 28th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Bloody hell C——-r, İ was tryıng the old double bluff.
July 28th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Thats 500 kılos of frozen prawns down the swanee.
—————-
I thought you were in turkey…
July 28th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
You lot couldnt keep a secret ıf you trıed. Thats 500 kılos of frozen prawns down the swanee.
m and A
oooh we resemble that dreadful saul on our characters, you tell us something, and alist of people we can’t tell it to, and a list we can, and I bet we can keep it
July 28th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Daisy Says:
July 28th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Thanks Chenier … thanks Karen!
I’m just amazed that not one of the ones “in the know” have broken rank and let it all out! This case will not be “on hold” forever … I believe something will eventually trigger the “activation” of the case again. There are just too many things that have gone unanswered to let it all gather dust forever, especially after what is apparently revealed in Amaral’s book.
————————————————-
I think the key words in the statement about potentially re-opening the enquiry are ‘credible evidence’.
There has been a great deal of incredible evidence, but no police force anywhere in the world is equipped to follow up the claims of random nutters or people whose desire to get their names in the media overwhelms their good sense…
July 28th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Carmen,
Sorry to hear about your pain. There is nothing worse than strong pain that doesn’t go away!! I hope you find some method of relief soon.
July 28th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
My lips are sealed ….. as long as I can share in a couple of kg’s of those frozen prawns …..
July 28th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Julie Says:
July 28th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
———————————
Shush!
That’s why we are going to smuggle it in frozen pawns…
July 28th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Thanks Chenier … thanks Karen!
I’m just amazed that not one of the ones “in the know” have broken rank and let it all out! This case will not be “on hold” forever … I believe something will eventually trigger the “activation” of the case again. There are just too many things that have gone unanswered to let it all gather dust forever, especially after what is apparently revealed in Amaral’s book.
July 28th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Well the cyber pıps are pıppıng agaın İ shall go before İ get a cyber clıp round the earhole from the Glorıous G
(actually i stıll have 10 mıns but ı understand G sometımes calls ın around thıs tıme)
July 28th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Sorry, Saul!
Perhaps if I just call him M in future?
I’m still waiting for the icons DuncanR is looking at; he got a very good one of me the other day, though the fingers were not all that one would wish for.
I would have thought a simple V for Victory is not much to ask for a devoted poster, but naturally I bow to the wishes of the despotic gang, sorry, warm and sympathetic team who crew the Good Ship Anorak!
July 28th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Daisy, they should get Jack Bauer to interview the T9. They will all want deals then!
July 28th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
http://www.marmarisinfo.com/sightseeing/cleopatra.phtml
…….. People say that the soft white sand was brought all the way from Egypt for Anthony and Cleopatra’s honeymoon pleasures. This special carbon based sand is very precious and must be conserved so please shake out your pockets and shoes before leaving the beautiful beach.
If Saul suddenly disappears, I am not volunteering to go look for him in a Turkish jail cell ……