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
July 28th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Gandy’s ducked for cover, or he’s busy updating his spell-checker
Come back Gandy … promise I won’t let Chenier tease you anymore …. although I can’t make the same promise on her behalf
July 28th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
DuncanR, thank you! But isn’t “to grin” without an open mouth? Over here, if we grin, we screw our mouth without opening it and look meaningfully/shrewdly.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Gandolf, still checking if it’s one “T” oder double “T”?
July 28th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
DuncanR Says:
July 28th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Julie Says
ROTFPML
—-
Or as they say ın Turkey
ŞĞÜĞŞ”"ÇÇÜ
July 28th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
BabyJane Says:
July 28th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
—————————
Careful! My reputation for being lady like was somewhat dented a few days ago; we wouldn’t want an epidemic breaking out, would we?
The next thing we know it will be cartwheels and the Youtube video sans bloomers…
July 28th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Julie Says
ROTFPML
+++++++++++++++
Duncan says
BSO
(Bloody show off )
July 28th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Cheers, Julie!
July 28th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Saul Says:
July 28th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Jo, you are one of my favourıtes, keep it up.
have to agree with saul, don’t go jo.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
BabyJane Says:
July 28th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
It took me nearly a year to dare to openly write those letters, but now the time has cometh.: PMSL!
_______________
And you now have me ROTFPML
July 28th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Portia Says:
[...]“Rome is already preparing itself” for the visit of the oppressed and downtrodden parents.
LOL - Roman citizens an edict has gone out for the preparation of the white witch. sweep the streets, wash the feet, white togas only and bring a blanket.
——————-
Mister G. wrote in his blog they were expecting to sit in the first row.
+++++++++++++++++++++
BabyJane, replace the asterisk * with a colon either side of the text grin in order to generate the smiley - duncanr
July 28th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
(justıfıed)
rearrange these words ınto a well known phrase.. nıb .. sharpen …whetstone
July 28th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
chenier Says:
July 28th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Gandolf Says:
July 28th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I sense this story is dying a very unnatural death, after all does anyone remember………….Karen Mathews ?
———————-
No.
I do remember someone called Karen Matthews, if that’s any good…
——————-
It took me nearly a year to dare to openly write those letters, but now the time has cometh.: PMSL!
July 28th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
jo Says:
July 28th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
BabyJane
Thanks for answering to me Babe
Nobody does those days and when I am serious, its even worse ,so I”ll get my boots somewhere else methink…..
—–
Just because they dont answer doesnt mean anythıng, they may have a bit of fluff ın their ear.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Liza - I agree, the explanation is irrational. But irrational people are given tremendous free rein in our modern world.
Next time the politicians seize an opportunity to dance with the oppressed and downtrodden, I bet they first sneak a peak or two at a few personal records.
Would love to have heard their reaction when they read about how “Rome is already preparing itself” for the visit of the oppressed and downtrodden parents.
LOL - Roman citizens an edict has gone out for the preparation of the white witch. sweep the streets, wash the feet, white togas only and bring a blanket.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
M and A — 6:49 pm
Not bitter. Just frank. Yes I did. Which was appreciated. And did you notice Carmen’s last 4 paragraphs? May I underline that despite my (justified) criticisms of certain moderations (by no means all), having said that I still think ALL the Moderators do an applaudable job considering they generously give all their hours for free. See my post of 1:29 am from yesterday’s thread.
M and A
Believe me I have been on some sites where breathing was regarded as a liberty.
The only edits we make are if they are libellous, and if someone attacks us personally or another poster. Sometimes people challenge others, they reply, and that should end it, frequently it doesn’t. We are all only too aware of the emotion aroused by the MM tragedy, and the length of time that has passed and still no closure for Madeliene first and her family second. But no one can tell anyone how to feel over it.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Gandolf Says:
July 28th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I sense this story is dying a very unnatural death, after all does anyone remember………….Karen Mathews ?
———————-
No.
I do remember someone called Karen Matthews, if that’s any good…
July 28th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Gandolf Says:
July 28th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I sense this story is dying a very unnatural death, after all does anyone remember………….Karen Mathews ?
______________________
Isn’t she the one who is safely under lock and key at the moment?
July 28th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Only 32, Paaahhh
July 28th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Jo, you are one of my favourıtes, keep it up.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Pass that 32 degrees this direction please ……. down south
July 28th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
İs that you Dave
July 28th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Jo!
Don’t go … If one gets an answer or not mustn’t be taken personally on a forum. So many factors can be the reason, believe me. I’m sure and it is out of question all are reading and appreciating your comments.
July 28th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
No rain in London. Here, the sun shines always…
July 28th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I sense this story is dying a very unnatural death, after all does anyone remember………….Karen Mathews ?
July 28th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
BabyJane
Thanks for answering to me Babe
Nobody does those days and when I am serious, its even worse ,so I”ll get my boots somewhere else methink…..
July 28th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
News Flash !!!
Breaking News!
I interrupt this thread with a breathtaking announcement.
We have RAIN !!!
It’s f*ckin pissing down with rain here in BRUM.
Can you hear that thunder ?
Fantastic ! No more f*ckin heat wave. Now we can get back to proper Briitsh summer weather
************
June
Bloody hell Duncan , thought you had won that crate of wine!
Rain, oh bliss,we need that here 32 sodding degrees and a parched garden.
Oh well i blame you, its ALL your fault
July 28th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
jo Says:
Whats going on? apart for the coffee Her Highness was not offered….?
——-
Jo
July 28th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
No news from our dictators?
No threats? No suing?No rage? NO looking for Madeleine? No…nada????
Whats going on? apart for the coffee Her Highness was not offered….?
Its worrying…..
July 28th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Saul, if you include me in that cyber-clip list, I’ll split on you …..
I have no problem with any of the mods here (Carmen - hope your arm feels good enough to lift a few glasses soon
) ….. it’s just agw that I hide away from 
M and A
Why hide from agw? only the terminally moronic need do that, and you aren’t
July 28th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Carmen,
İ hope your injury ıs not a result of delıverıng cyber clıps round the lughole. There are a few likely recipıents around here.