
Madeleine McCann: Colette Douglas Home Spreads The Fear And Inside Irvine Welsh
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann, Kate McCann, Gerry McCann
THE HERALD: “Do you want to see every parent in the dock?”
It’s Colette Douglas Home, professional Maddie opinion giver. And to answer her question: yes. Fingerprint them, photograph them and question them for 42 days. Only the guilty have anything to fear.
Fear:
You’ve got to admit, they shouldn’t have left the children unattended and gone out to dinner.” It was a colleague talking to me about Kate and Gerry McCann. He went on: “We go on holiday with a big group of friends but we’d never do that. We put the wee ones to bed and eat downstairs.”
“And do you check on them every half hour?”
“Yes. Well, we send the teenagers to do the checking.”
Fear:
I wonder if he realises how fortunate he has been. If something terrible had happened, can you imagine the headlines? They would probably say something like: “Teenagers checked on missing toddler while parents partied.”
Yeah, who cares that the children have been eaten by alligators, fallen down the plughole or hit the minibar and suffocated in their own vomit – it’s the media’s reaction to it that matters most.
And what of the McCanns, Colette’s favourite subject:
I imagined the fact that Kate and Gerry McCann are doctors would stand them in some regard, since they spend their lives trying to help others. I was wrong. I thought the clear evidence from family photographs that Madeleine was a happy, well-cared-for child would demonstrate that leaving her unsupervised was an aberration, not the norm. But I didn’t allow for jealousy and resentment.
Maybe people are just bored of the McCanns? But Colette cannot face that possibility:
So let’s think about that call for prosecution. If the McCanns are to stand in the dock, who should stand beside them? We can start with those who were on the same holiday and who didn’t hire a babysitter. Then what about all the other couples who have stayed at that or any family-friendly holiday village where they felt safe enough to leave the children unattended while they ate? What about people who eat in the garden on hot summer evenings while their children sleep in the house? What about parents who sleep indoors, maybe one night a year, while their kids sleep in a tent? If we apply these standards, the courts would be jam-packed.
What about them? The McCanns are not being prosecuted child neglect, child abandonment, nor for any other crime.
THE SCOTSMAN: “Crime and Punishment - Irvine Welsh”
Dave Robinson is in Saughton jail. For crimes againt journalism. Ho-ho:
I’M WALKING behind the Famous Author. He’s wearing trainers, a T-shirt, an expensive-looking grey-green leather jacket and is carrying a plastic bag. As I follow him, I’m thinking that the way people walk tells you something about them. The Famous Author walks like a fighter: self-confident, disciplined, head up. He doesn’t walk like a 50-year-old, though in a couple of months he will be one.
How close behind Welsh is Robinson? Close enough to smell him?
Welsh has written a book called Crime, HMP Edinburgh. But he nearly didn’t:
He’s talked to child-abuse survivors’ groups and handles the subject with uncommon sensitivity – so much so, in fact, that he gave up writing the book altogether when the Madeleine McCann story first broke. “Even approaching the subject tangentially seemed frivolous and stupid.”
His is work of fiction, the McCann case is one of fact. What has one to do with the other? The McCann case is a touchstone for a writer’s book, a stepping stone on the PR drive.
Posted: 29th, July 2008 | In: Broadsheets, Madeleine McCann, Tabloids Comments (494) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments





July 29th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Coco
It WAS in the Australian media constantly.
There was no internet then, but had there been, I guarantee you it would have been as big as this story with just as heated debate.
It is pure déjà vu for me.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Elena! Give me time! I don’t just dream these things up out of my imagination! These are calculated on a sound scientific and logical basis. lol
And there isn’t a BMW economical enough for you on the market yet! And I don’t see you driving the cheaper 318i model.
Anorak could be loaded soon!
The Clan-Dollies and the Sardiner-Cadaveriner-Soothsayer-Sleuth Set!
With outfits, cars and buggies!
July 29th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
whoops,
I wouldn’t mind, but I had just found the ideal Barbie.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Stig! I know where you ar ecoming from but it was not on TV every minute with millions of people donating their money and energy.
The only thing that I can personally remember being so talked about is Twin Towers, Diana and the Queen’s Jubilee. - Oh! And the internet! lol
July 29th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Hi there!
M and a
hello
July 29th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Coco,
I guess no BMW so.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
I think Coco means she can be bothered with you Elena-you’re lucky at least you’re important enough to be made into a dolly!!! Then again they’ll just use a kate Moss double for me!!!!
July 29th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Coco
The fascination with this case is to do with it being an unsolved mystery with more than a few surreal elements to it, making it far more exotic than more mundane tragedies.
It is not unprecedented though. The disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain in Australia was very similar, especially the public judging the mother to be guilty because the story was unbelievable, and she did not act or behave as they expected or wanted her to. There was even an incredible saga over forensic evidence, including major errors in it’s handling, collection, testing and interpretation.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Elena …… Just a quickie! This is a satire site. It would not be on this site if it was not the subject of unprecedented debate.
The Clan have made themselves fair game in their deliberate attempt to clam up when asked certain questions - not to mention not physically searching for their child.
Some children in terror and fear would hide from all voices until they heard the voice of their parents. So please think on that.
If I need reprimanding for my posts - the Mods and Admin. will do it for you. Nobody else has missed the irony of what I say in my posts.
And anyway I had made a genuine error. I meant to say door but was in a Freudian moment and said floor instead. Very sorry for this crime.
(Would one be so quick to point out that these fuckers shouldn’t have fucked off and left these small children out of ear-shot?)
It’s a lazy site this one. We just ignore posters that we can’t be arsed with - as a rule.
You are going to be an easy dolly to make after all.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
JJ (?!?)
!trops liops
.noos niaga kcab tub noos deb ot og tsum
thgin thgin. .lla su sselb dog.
M and A
thgin thgin.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Elena-sometimes I think we make light of this situation as it is very distressing to think of what really happened. I know Ido…and sometimes I make jokes about it that afterwards I think are maybe cheap jokes. But truth be known-i would have had some sympathy for the Mccanns if Maddie had been abducted as they say but they had taken the blame….and been prepared to face the penal consequences. I think that a lot of people feel the same way.
I know how you feel though -I saw a light hearted comment on another thread yesterday about the poor 3 year old crushed by a wall and felt insensed.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
whoops Says:
July 29th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
As for Duncan-I imagine an inoffensive smallish guy sitting by the fire-and he’s always wearing a long sleeved polo shirt-or maybe I’ve got skype!!!!
—————————————————————————————
You’re wrong whoops.He is a Sean Connery look alike with amazing abilities with 5′ walls after two bottles of wine and unlike most men, he does the dishes.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Duncan,
Just noticed your post there. My son is much the same and as you know it is a waiting game. I haven’t been away anywhere yet but I may manage to get away this weekend if things are okay. I have promised my other two.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
As for Duncan-I imagine an inoffensive smallish guy sitting by the fire-and he’s always wearing a long sleeved polo shirt-or maybe I’ve got skype!!!!
July 29th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Muddler She Wrote Says:
July 29th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Brandon Flours,
Been thinking of you today. Hope you weren’t down on your when the fire ripped through Saint Shepherd’s Bush.
See you sometime
———–
KNEES was the operative word, lovely. fit it in somewhere
July 29th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Maria
You’re welcome!
July 29th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
whoops
I will make an appointment at the tattooist tomorrow to remove the offending pics…..promise. I will go through any amount of pain to be taken seriously by you.
Especially now that I’m so thin……..
July 29th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Brandon Flours,
Been thinking of you today. Hope you weren’t down on your when the fire ripped through Saint Shepherd’s Bush.
See you sometime
July 29th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Will be back in a coupla hours. Have to have a nap coz dead-lines to meet by lunch tomorrow.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Coco said,
“I am on the side of right. I believe that the sword should fall on the side of justice.”
—————————————————————————————
Well if we’re both on different sides , we can’t both be on the side of right, or can we?
Is it right to care about this little girl?
Is it right to want her found and the facts behind her disappearance discovered?
Is it right to want to see the guilty punished and the innocent cleared of all blame?
Is it right to hope that such a thing might never happen again?
Is it right to want a safer world for all children ?
All my answers are yes and I would guess yours are too.
We are not so different really.
Justice will be done, but at the moment you and I have very different theories as to what that justice might mean. That is fine.However, I cannot make light of Maddie’s situation .
Even if I don’t believe she died in the apartment, there is a chance after all this time that she has died.I seriously hope not, but one cannot hide from the possibility.No matter what we believe, any possible injury to her cannot form the basis of satire.
M and A
We sometimes have several days when Maddie may be thought of and frequently , but not posted about, it allows everyone to bond, which forms understanding .This group of people have been posting and hoping in their differing ways for many months now, and building a rapport cannot be bad. Your poem was very moving
July 29th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Mods and Admin
gits dna airam
pots gniteem ekil siht
July 29th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
whoops Says
Yes, I see your point. I think you do put a face to most posters.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Maria! Thin - but heavily-bosomed in a Pammy Lee way!
Rather like me! But I have longer dark hair! lol
July 29th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Coco
“heavily-bosomed”??!
How dare you?
I am thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin.
whoops has said so!
July 29th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
gitS
! uoy knahT
July 29th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Coco-No, maria is thin, olive skinned -take it from me-I’ll be really peeved if she tells me she’s actually 72 stone ,tattoed with no hair or teeth-I wouldn’t be able to take her seriously again.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
JuneJohnson! I am happy to raise money through a contract with Mattel so that Anorak has money in the bank to spoil us with and hopefully get a case going that forces a RE-ENACTMENT!
I have oodles of ideas to go on Dragon’s Den with to raise money for Anorak but I need a lot of pushing and encouragement!
Cheryl has encouraged me today as well. And she’s no push-over! Tough lady.
m and A
TALK TO PAUL
July 29th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Maria-most people do-Tee Hee!!!
has anyone cottoned on that this is the only face I know?
July 29th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
evening all
been a busy week back on the counter looking for some sprats….not got time to trawl all the posts so
whats with the 4 photos and the printer anybody please
July 29th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
WHOOPS! I do it all the time!!!
Of course I have everybody down as glamorous, intellectual and decent people with very few exceptions!
Even Maria is like heavily-bosomed Julie Andrews! lol