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
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August 3rd, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Holmes ‘robbed on £10,000′ while on Algarve holiday
TV star slams police over burglary at luxury hotel
By Stephen Breen
Sunday, 3 August 2008
Eamonn Holmes taking part in a golf tournament at Surry’s Wentworth course to raise money for Northern Ireland’s first Childrens Hospice
Eamonn Holmes taking part in a golf tournament at Surry’s Wentworth course to raise money for Northern Ireland’s first Childrens Hospice
Ulster-born telly star Eamonn Holmes has had thousands of pounds stolen in a burglary in Portugal — and he has slammed the local police investigation.
Sunday Life can reveal Sky TV’s morning anchorman had his room at a luxury hotel in the Villa Moura resort ransacked by thieves last month.
One pal said he believed Holmes lost £10,000 in the raid.
The 48-year-old, who was holidaying with his partner Ruth Langsford and his four children, was out of the room when the gang struck.
The burglars forced their way into the room before smashing the safe and making off with the money.
We understand the telly star had been playing golf with pals from Northern Ireland.
The former UTV man hit out at the Portuguese police investigation into the burglary and expressed sympathy for the parents of missing toddler Maddie McCann.
He said: “Like Kate and Gerry McCann, I’ve had dealings with the Portuguese police.
“But unlike Kate and Gerry, I was only trying to report a burglary — not the theft of my child.
“One of the things obvious to anyone dealing with the police on the Algarve is the sorry fact that no matter what you have lost, there simply isn’t enough of them to begin tracking it down.
“That may be one of the worst twists of fate in what happened to Madeleine — that tragically, she went missing in the wrong place.”
A pal of the presenter told how Holmes had been left “stunned” by the robbery.
Added the pal: “Eamonn was looking forward to his holiday and can’t believe this has happened to him.
“The only reason he brought so much cash is because he didn’t want to use his credit card every time the kids’ needed some money.
“He’s not very happy because he was staying a top quality hotel and his family could quite easily
have been in the room. It may have been an inside job and someone may have recognised him because of his role with Sky.
“It put a real dampener on his holiday.”
Police in Faro are continuing to search for the missing cash and have appealed for information.
Said a spokesman: “Police are investigating a burglary in the Villa Moura area and enquiries are continuing.”
The burglary comes after a group of teenagers from Co Down also lost thousands after they were robbed in the Vale Do Lobo resort.
The victims were forced to hand over their valuables after they were threatened by a masked man.
One of the victims, Lauren Rodgers from Holywood, spoke exclusively to Sunday Life about her terrifying experience.
She said: “We never expected anything like this to happen. It was awful.
“Not only was our dream holiday ruined but this man made off with valuables which were of sentimental value.
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GLORIA GLORIA IN EXHALES US DAGHIO !!!
Like fuck it happened!!!!
He forgets he let it slip last week of an earlier event
If he was then ……….what goes around comes around!
__________________________________
10,000 quid cash for the kids spending money on holidays?
what do they need, a kidney?
wish he’d adopt me.
-meercat
August 3rd, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Brandon
No - what is it?
I’ve had a hangover all day.
August 3rd, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Hi karen did you see question 41 yet ?
August 3rd, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Hi Brandon.
Night Totje.
August 3rd, 2008 at 11:24 pm
smArties
I have dislexic fantasys
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M&A
Artemis
Well, Anokar is the right place to be.
August 3rd, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Artemis
I wasnt going to libel, just point people in the right direction
BTW I love orange ones
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M&A
Artemis
Lollipops?
August 3rd, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Artemis
Go on ave a sneaky peak you know you wanna
Cant wait for the denials and the suing, and the witchunting and the fingering to pass
From SUN readers and SKY blinkered viewers
————————
M&A
Artemis
Well, after ‘Blame it on the Buggy’ where else is there to go?
But we would like Anorak to continue being Anorak, hence the care we are taking to avoid defaming anyone in any quarter.
August 3rd, 2008 at 10:56 pm
blimey the questions kate refused to answer are on jos blog
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M&A
Artemis
I believe there are a number of versions floating around, Brandon.
Here at Anorak Towers we are waiting for the official release of the documents. It seems probable that will be tomorrow, so we have a few more hours to go.
August 3rd, 2008 at 10:21 pm
If you had ever been interviewed by the plod in this country or stood before a Judge or Coroner you would perhaps understand why the right of silence is (or was ) fundamental to the rights of everyone, not just in this country
August 3rd, 2008 at 10:19 pm
M&A
Artemis
Cheryl, your comment arrived in the midst of other comments about an allegedly leaked document relating to Kate McCann’s interview with the police; hence my concern.
And I shall forward your suggestion about charging admission to the appropriate quarter; I think it’s a wonderful idea, but Anorak may disagree.
_______
That is okay, Artemis. I took and take very seriously all cautions given by AGW on anything that could bring potential grief for Anorak so it didn’t even cross my mind to look for any such ‘leaked’ information. Leaks are leaks and very few with total truth in them, in whatever apsects of life they take place in.
Artemis, in all sincerity I don’t envy any of you starting tomorrow your ‘jobs’ on here. Best you all start stocking up on gallons of coffee, gallons of tea (that is to keep awake)and cases of whatever the beverages of choice are to get you through it!
August 3rd, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Funny though.
August 3rd, 2008 at 10:18 pm
HOTWATER Says:
August 3rd, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Funny how people like to exercise their right to silence when being interviewed by the police or when in the dock in court yet are quite happy to talk to Sky News
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Maybe its because sky news aren’t interrogators!
August 3rd, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Funny how people like to exercise their right to silence when being interviewed by the police or when in the dock in court yet are quite happy to talk to Sky News
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Oh… sorry not yet! Can’t resist..
Woops
You’re right [re dodgy/innocent reasons].
BUT re the shutters jemmied or not and the door locked or not it seems to me it would be hard to ‘colour’ that. Oddfield did check too. How did he enter the apartment? As far as I recall we’ve never heard him tell that, but he must have told the police.
Really gone now
must resist, yes! yes! I will, I’m a strong person, I can do that, yes I can, sure I can, who dares to doubt it?
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Duncan
You could at least have posted something nice like ‘The fields of Athenry’ even tho it has been taken over by football
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Night, Totje.
The thought of a webcam is so hideous that I shall undoubtedly have nightmares about it, so don’t worry if you spend a restless night. It will just be me calling down curses upon your head from afar…
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Nite Totje. Hope the eye is better tomorrow
Or should I do…. 
?
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Duncan,
Translation please. You should know better
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Us auld yins hae tae get tae oor beds early but afore a go here’s ane last yin fur ye all. It’s no exactly whit ye wud ca’ a lullaby, but it’ll send ye tae bed wi’ a smile.
Nite all
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWeXpNyqOrU&feature=related
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Whoops
I always try & find an innocent explanation for their actions etc. I have been able to do that sometimes but not enough to convince me.
Maybe now they are free to speak out (after they have discovered from the files what & how they need to clarify?) a few more discrepancies can be cleared up….??
I don’t believe in trial by media or heresay so I still give them a certain ammount of leeway to put the record straight….if possible!
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Thanks Fair/Chenier, I couldn’t remember that word and I was too lazy to google it. And I do know a few English/American lullabies.
Lucky Anorak doesn’t provide us with a webcam/sound feature, so we can all sing together without making Ade go nuts about it
I’m off now too [give the one eye a rest] so bye all.
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Totje Says:
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Nite nite Maria
I like Irish songs too. And not even mr T wants to hear me sing.
Anybody knows an Irish “slaapliedje” = song you sing to your child when he/she has to go to sleep?
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We call them lullabies, but I don’t know any Irish ones. Fortunately the offspring was tone deaf as a small child, since otherwise my singing would have had the reverse effect!
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Fair
I especially remember the drinking songs, must be Duncan’s fault.
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Totje
I love Irish songs but most that I can think of are not really suitable as lullabys (sp?) A lot are about wars & famine & poverty!
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Duncan
Re Des O’Connor.
THANK GOD!!!
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Nite nite Maria
I like Irish songs too. And not even mr T wants to hear me sing.
Anybody knows an Irish “slaapliedje” = song you sing to your child when he/she has to go to sleep?
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I still think back to April when I did jury service. We 12 jurors really thought the 3 defendants were guilty but the evidence just wasn’t there to find them guilty.
Even though I still think that the Mc’s don’t come across as lilly white they cannot be charged without evidence. If it isn’t there it isn’t there.
Like with so many other cases, whether the people concerned have been found guilty or not, we may never know the truth!
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Well i don’t even know which article we’re not supposed to mention! Ah well. As for Carmen-it’s lights out at 8:30 in the old folks home I believe.
I wa s thinking today-for every seemingly dodgy thing the Mccanns have done, there probably could be an alternative innocent reason. No talking about the post dissappearance jollies-but on the night-and I think maybe they have had to twist the story IMO to colour over the absolute daft elements of the night.
For instance-they may have forgotten to lock the door-so in a panic said someone must haev entered through a window or people would say WTF were they doing leaving the door open….’What a tangled web we weave and all that….
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Fair
One has to maintain a certain standard - I absolutely draw the line at Des O’Connor !!!
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Thanks Totje!
…..gone