Madeleine McCann: Reading Amaral’s Book, Free Speech And Elvis
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann, Kate McCann and Gerry McCann…
THE GUARDIAN: “On the front line in the search for Maddie - Gonçalo Amaral’s intriguing memoir of the Madeleine McCann case offers no solution but reveals a man obsessed by the investigation”
Ned Temko is reading Amaral’s book:
It is a shame that this revealing memoir from Gonçalo Amaral, the police chief who ran the Madeleine McCann investigation until he was unceremoniously fired last year, has not been published in English…
Indeed it is. And a disappointment that no British paper has sought to serialise the work. Aren’t we interested in what the copper thinks? Or are we too scared to publish it? What of free speech, then?
Wouldn’t any reader of sound mind dismiss slights against the McCanns’ involvement?
Within minutes of its appearance in Portuguese bookshops, the McCanns’ spokesman let it be known their lawyers would be giving it a thorough read, with an eye to the kind of libel action that ended up costing the Express group £500,000 earlier this year. And that was before the Portuguese authorities finally cleared the couple last month of any suspicion.
We’ve been scared off. But:
Surely it won’t be long before enterprising translators feed the juicier bits to an online conspiracy community that, in the 15 months since the cherubic three-year-old went missing from Praia da Luz, has elevated Madeleine into something close to a new Elvis.
Has she been seen in America?
Or in the phrase Amaral prefers to use, with no evident trace of irony, in the book’s acknowledgements: ‘cybernauts and bloggers who have been defending the cause of truth and justice.’
Or just proclaiming themselves “pro” or “anti” McCann, as if that helps:
Yet even for those of us who happen to believe that Elvis is no more, the book offers a page-turning compendium of unexplained puzzles - as are so frequently found in wide-ranging, complex investigations.
LIVERPOOL ECHO: “Why we shouldn’t be frightened of the big, wide world”
Fiona Ennys plays Tabloid Bingo! Eyes down…
CATHERINE Mullany’s murder on the ‘paradise’ island of Antigua was awful and tragic.
Tick!
People like me who, until the expansion of package travel in the 1960s never saw further than perhaps Blackpool or Scarborough, now have the opportunity to visit supremely exotic destinations like Asia and Africa.
And..?
And it’s fantastic.
Phew! Go on…
It’s so easy to be lulled into a false sense of security when you are on holiday; the family of little Madeleine McCann know, only too painfully, about that.
Tick!
THE SUNDAY TIMES: “Big Yin on a voyage to explore big waste - Billy Connolly is recreating the Arctic journeys of two great pioneers for ITV”
ITV approached Connolly as part of its drive to get more factual “big access pieces” for the 8pm-9pm slots following on from the success of documentaries on JK Rowling and Madeleine McCann.
That’s entertainment (sha-la-la-la-la)…
Posted: 3rd, August 2008 | In: Broadsheets, Madeleine McCann, Tabloids Comments (284) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
August 3rd, 2008 at 6:29 pm
whoops
c&c
You’re right but I’ve already said yes now!
August 3rd, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Fair-No that’d just put a fly in the ointment!!
August 3rd, 2008 at 6:26 pm
A word of advice from one who knows. NEVER EVER look after pot plants or tropical fish. it will end in disaster.. trust me!
I can do cats and dogs but thats about it now. I’ve learned my lesson the hard way.
All you have to say is ‘I WILL KILL THEM ALL’. (like I did)
August 3rd, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Duncan
SH*T!!!!!!!!
How the hell can I get out of it now?? I said yes!
He’s a copper too!!
Could I plead ”entrapment”??
August 3rd, 2008 at 6:18 pm
I can’t take much more of this. I’m starting feel a little queezy at the capitalists on this board. ….
I’m going to speak to my bird friends and tell them to get their arses ready for some serious plopping
August 3rd, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Lone
These are East European Carrier pigeons.
They are more cost-efficient (work for less money) than the typical UK pigeon - content to hang around Trafalgar Sq living off handouts from the public, rather than take on useful employment!
Saul is a visionary. He has spotted a gap in the market. With all these rural post offices closing, how are folk going to post their letters? Air Mail - that’s the answer. Flocks of pigeons, specially trained to do the job. I tell you. The man’s a genius !!!
August 3rd, 2008 at 6:15 pm
val Says:
August 3rd, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Lone Pigeon
Hiya, how”s you?
I found a homing pigeon many moons ago and it was tagged.Took it to one of the
neighbours who kept pigeons and it turned out this one had flown all the way from
Holland!!!!!!
Since your”e more of a Trafalgar Square pigeon , I guess Lone you wouldn”t be worth
much. Unless of course they wanted you as an Extra in a re-make of that film where
Julie Andrews sings “Feed the Birds”………
WOULDN’T BE WORTH MUCH
How very dare you
August 3rd, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Lone Pigeon
Hiya, how”s you?
I found a homing pigeon many moons ago and it was tagged.Took it to one of the
neighbours who kept pigeons and it turned out this one had flown all the way from
Holland!!!!!!
Since your”e more of a Trafalgar Square pigeon , I guess Lone you wouldn”t be worth
much. Unless of course they wanted you as an Extra in a re-make of that film where
Julie Andrews sings “Feed the Birds”………
August 3rd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
OK if you did kill the plant do not answer any questions…..GOTCHA!
M and A
Just snuck in for atick, ask Duncan if would he like a drink…….
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Whoops
My best defense is silence.
If asked, I will refuse to answer any questions - no matter how many are put to me !
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Duncan R Says:
August 3rd, 2008 at 4:44 pm
VQ
2 week field course, intermittent internet access. Hhmm!
In that case you might want to be the first to take advantage of a new venture Saul has been working on - specially trained homing pigeons. Release them any where in the wild and they will make their way back to Anorak Towers carrying any missive you want posted in Opinions. (As a regular poster you can have a pair of them for only 10 zloty !!!)
10 Zloty - are you avin a larf? They are worth at least double that sunshine!
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Garth, this may be your last chance to leave the dark side.
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Only your word for that Duncan-i suppose you’ll be setting up a fund to help your defence-You plant murderer you-Will you be making a visit to Alan Titchmarsh to get him to bless you with a cutting in your campaign. We the public are not easily fooled.
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Fair
WARNING !!!
Don’t do it.
Believe me, the worry this plant has put me through !!!
F*ck !!!
I’ve just been re-reading the printed instructions I was left. In addition to the stricture about rain water, I’ve just spotted this one -
‘ never make the trap shut in an artificial way ‘
What was No2 stepson doing yesterday when he came round to visit? Only demonstrating to his girlfriend how the plant caught it’s prey - by tickling it’s leaves with one of Mrs D’s kirby grip.
It wos him wot done it. ‘E killed the plant !!!
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I would also like put forward to C and C, since she earlier said she did not have time to read Amaral’s book, why she can so readily laugh at 48 unanswered questions?
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Anorakers,
I have to be gone most of the next week, although I’ll not miss any opportunity to catch up. I would be really appreciative if anyone amongst you might keep me abreast of C and C’s answer to me concerning the top 10 funniest questions that Kate did not answer.
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Duncan R
You wanna watch that Venus fly trap.it might gobble you up , it”s closely related
to the Triffids.!!!!!!
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Whoops
No, it”s in English, might as well be double-Dutch for accuracy!!!!
I bought a book on Nostradamous predictions from 1990-2000, none of the prophecies came true, one was Prince Charles would be King.
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Duncan
Our neighbour has just asked me to look after 3 plants when they go on holiday, 1 being a venus fly trap! Must only be fed rain water which he is collecting for said trip. I am very nervous now, they are his 9 year old son’s pride & joy! What have I let myself in for?? And he’s a police inspector!!
By the way he told us that the person stabbed in our road yesterday is ok! 2 apprehended but out on bail.
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I meant east coast folk not east cost coast folk.
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Sorry, Asaul.
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Garth
You shouldn’t have called him Asaul.
==
Shit, did I really say this? Apologies Asual.
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Val said
Carmen
I thought Duncan was coming to your rescue ?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I’m here!
It’s hard to type though with a Jack Russell trying to climb on to your lap.
I could see you were all in good humour, no nastiness getting hurled about so I snuck off for a bit to feed the dogs and to give our next door neighbours Venus fly trap a bit of water to drink.
I’m looking after it while they’re on holiday. She left strict and comprehensive instructions for me. Sadly, it’s not looking too good at the moment. Perhaps I shouldn’t have ignored her instruction to feed it only ‘rain’ water. I couldn’t be arsed with that. I’ve been giving it some of Severn Trent’s best tap water. It’s only a plant for gawd’s sake. I didn’t think it would notice the difference. Alas, I forgot about the chlorine content of the tap water !!!
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Val, do travel west. Not that I have anything against east cost coast folk (although be aware that Annie my favorite Anorak gamber takes them for a ride}.
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Carmen Says:
August 3rd, 2008 at 4:54 pm
I value your service and intellect.
take your well earned rest.
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Garth
Hi Garth, how you doing.
Just caught your remark re Karen if she starts with her tongue lashing on you , I don”t
hold out much hope for you either!!!!!!!
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Carmen-is it time for your pureed roast dinner now dear-and don’t worry whatever they say i think commodes can be very attractive enhancements in any setting.
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:15 pm
val -is it in Portuguese, awaiting translation?
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Just to cheer you all up before I depart, Iv”e just been browsing a website
http://www.NostradamusOnline.com and you think wev”e got it bad NOW!!!!!!!
Apparently, from 2008-12 a Middle East Country will release a Nuclear Bomb across
the Mediterranean, but it falls in the sea and kills all the fish. Because the world is
in a depression, poverty forces people in Mediterranean Countries to eat the dead fish!!!! You have to buy the Book if you want to learn more.
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:09 pm
No-the one that saw Thora Hird off.