Madeleine McCann: The Belgium Connection
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann, Kate McCann and Gerry McCann…
By Duarte Levy
The information contained in the email written by the Metropolitan police officer, John Shord, to the Leicestershire police and sent to the Portuguese authorities, a few weeks later, stating that Madeleine McCann may have been kidnapped to order by a Belgian paedophile network is based on information circulated by Antonio Toscano, a so-called Spanish journalist who claimed to be an expert in abduction cases.
Toscano, who attributed Madeleine’s abduction to orders from a paedophile network to someone called “El Francés“, was interviewed several times by the Portuguese authorities, but his allegations were quickly ruled out after investigation. The Spaniard had even asked to meet Kate and Gerry McCann, who had refused.
The e-mail states that:”Intelligence suggests that a paedophile ring in Belgium* made an order for a young girl three days before Madeleine McCann was taken,” adding that “somebody connected to this group saw Maddie, took a photograph of her and sent it to Belgium. The purchaser agreed that the girl was suitable and Maddie was taken.”
According to a friend of the McCanns, quoted by The Telegraph, “trafficking into Belgium forms a very strong part of their investigation as does trafficking into north Africa.”
The information from the media is all the more surprising when one remembers that the majority of the British journalists received the same copy of the investigation procedure containing all the details of the work carried out by the PJ, in conjunction with the British police, concerning these revelations.
The Dutch witness statement was checked.
A Dutch police source, contacted in Amsterdam, confirmed having investigated Anna Stam’s witness statement and having ruled out any possibility that the child seen was Madeleine McCann. In perfect English, the police officer stated that he did not understand the persistence of the media as, according to him, “the Portuguese authorities requested and obtained the collaboration of the Dutch police via Interpol and the conclusions of the investigation carried out in The Netherlands were sent to both Portugal and the United Kingdom.
Referring to the McCanns’ spokesperson, Clarence Mitchell, The Telegraph states that the “revelation” added weight to Kate and Gerry McCann’s theory that their daughter may have been abducted by a child smuggling ring.
Anna Stam, a shopkeeper in Amsterdam, the same city in which Kate and Gerry McCann lived before the twins were born, is one of more than a dozen Dutch people who contacted the police claiming that they had seen Madeleine, but each time the lead turned out to be false.
The PJ had notably requested support from Interpol concerning all these witness statements, not only those emanating from The Netherlands, but also those from the rest of the world. According to a fax (which is amongst the documents that all the journalists, including the British, have received) sent from Lyons, Interpol’s European headquarters, the organisation placed all its resources at the disposal of the Portuguese authorities.
Given that the Dutch witness statement is not a unique case, one can expect other “revelations” as Madeleine remains the only missing child who has succeeded in being seen on every continent, sometimes on the same day.
Duarte Levy & Paulo Reis
* The Belgians know “the Dutroux effect” better than anyone: following that case, the image of the country and of the Belgian people became commonly associated with paedophilia. However, despite political or language issues (the Achilles’ heel of Belgian society), the whole country took to the streets to demand reforms in the judicial system and particularly in the police. If there is a single country in Europe which has made an effort to prevent another case like the Dutroux one, it is indeed Belgium; and it has now become common practice for the country’s authorities to offer support and collaboration to its European partners, as was the case with the trial of Michel Fourniret and his wife Monique Olivier.
Posted: 8th, August 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (270) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
August 9th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Ah, yes.
Amsterdam. Capital of Belgium.
August 9th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Yes fukwit you did understand AGW’s post, that is why you have run off.
The fact that you tried to turn your rather unwise statement around to try and justify your post, and against me , really says more than I need to.You are worth the watching and I mean that totally.
Administrator: Calm down Billy Boy. Thousands are dying in Georgia and South Ossetia while the world plays silly sods in Beijing. All things are relative and heavy language at this time of the day and particularly in this thread which concerns the absence and probable death of a child is not appropriate. For the record and going back to a couple of earlier posts; I was not defending your position…just the fact the use of children to shield, promote or defend an argument is wrong. You have now fallen into the trap of prompting what you disapprove of.
Humour is still allowable. Though I see little to laugh at.
When you use the ready wit you are fortunate to possess, your argument and points are always well received. -agw
August 9th, 2008 at 6:53 am
MODS and ADMIN!
Gandolph would appear to have the problems that I have indicated earlier and is like a dog with two dicks so I am not engaging with him.
Especially as he feels he has anally - I mean an ally with AGW now - having completely misunderstood AGW’s post.
I am signing off now because it looks as if Gandolf is so much of a Weirdy-Man he is even getting up early to banter with me - and this is freaking me out even more!
I feel totally abused! This is worse than the thing he threatened me with the other day! Which I am not repeating for fear of arousal!
LOL!
Administrator: How does the line go?
“There’s none so blind who cannot see?”
That’ll do nicely. -agw
August 9th, 2008 at 6:44 am
Hi Liza! Cheryl is one of life’s sweeties and I have much to learn from her ability to be objective about things that smack me in the face like a big wet sardine!
Cheryl is in disbelief - as any decent person should be!
I have wicked thoughts because I am not well and my tablets empower my intuition.
Cheryl keeps us grounded and stops us going mental and screaming from the roof of the BBC in London.
Remember the Panorama man that had to leave the Panarama programme because he wasn’t allowed to make it properly?
PANORAMA! A national Institution - and it’s makers being told what to fucking do!
August 9th, 2008 at 6:43 am
Madeleine was “sighted” in a bank 5 days ago with a North African person.
August 9th, 2008 at 6:41 am
I am also pointing out that people who refer to nine year old virgins as some sort of joke, are sick in the head and soul.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
agw Says:
August 8th, 2008 at 8:16 am
Gandolf said, from his pulpit:
Most people including me, find it offensive to use children in sexual jibes, if you think it is a return to the glory days that a poster uses that form of reference that is your choice, it certainly isn’t mine or the vast majority of decent peoples.
Administrator: For once, I am in total agreement with Gandolf(s).
One question though. Which (I) is taking the moral high ground and which personality is going to see the saw bones in the longest non-working leg-pull story in the known universe? -agw
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I rest my case Artmedis, there is some value in my comment, when my old sparring partner AGW agrees with me.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There is adult humour and there is humour that is beyond the pale, the fukwit coco should not believe that ordinary people are not aware of the Prophet or his bride, that is a matter of record, it has no place in the subject matter of Madeleine McCann or any other thread as some form of throw away shithead comment.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
M&A
Artemis
Since this is a matter of editorial content I have consulted the editor, Paul Sorene.
Coco’s post was on the Nuts: Name a Taliban Lads Mag piece at:
http://www.anorak.co.uk/celebrity/187437.html
where Paul invited suggestions for naming a Lads Mag for the Taliban. Anyone reading Coco’s suggestion in context would have been perfectly well aware that Coco was doing the very reverse of condoning paedophilia.
Please feel free to continue providing suggestions; we only have 38 so far.
August 9th, 2008 at 6:37 am
Apparently - and it has been alleged and reported and everything and that - Amaral’s publisher’s are going to announce when the book is to be printed in English.
Who’s going to try and stop that then?
And by the way …….. I am not happy that it’s possible to refresh your memory by going over a previous statement that you wrote at a certain point in your life where you had to write down your memories of an evening out - to remind yourself of what you wrote about the memory at the time - just to make sure you are refreshed of memories! Of something that really really really happened!
A memory is a fucking memory!
It is how you fucking well remember something - albeit with some people it could be a falsely-stored or faulty false memory.
But a memory is a fucking memory and should be recalled by the brain! Not a piece of fucking paper!
And as for reading each other’s statements and refreshing oneself of theirs as well - I am fucking well appalled!
No wonder the Clan aren’t going to sue the arse off the PJ!
I bet they want this pile of crap brushing right under the carpet.
Amaral wants to sue the police for harrassment and a series of protracted events that stopped him doing his job to the best of his ability!
The poor bastard!
His fucking head must have started to fall off when the Embassy and British police and a risk-control group started pouring into PDL.
A fucking risk-control group! Risk-control and extradition lawyers on the pay-roll! Before any charges were laid!
What the fuck made them think they needed risk control! After the event!
How many more fucking risks were they yhinking of taking? lol This poor fucker didn’t stand a chance.
Bollocks to the big PR companies - I would take Amaral’s case today!
Let’s see how much more criticism the Portuguese can take before they stop being so gentlemanly.
I am embarrassed. Amaral was abused and is still being abused - and I think that the big Bizzies should show a bit of solidarity and love towards him now!
He was a Bizzy for nearly 30 years - he can’t be that crap!
Surely they can start to make a bit of a fuss of him.
He has been loyal to them in the past year!!!
Will he continue with his loyalty if he’s not getting anything in return?
Poor bastard!
Bless him!
August 9th, 2008 at 6:33 am
BTW - the two little blond girls caught on CCTV looked (at that distance and from that angle - in other words, not clearly at all) a lot like my daughter used to look at that age. And I am (or rather was, since now I henna my hair) a brunette, and my husband a really dark complexioned and black haired guy…. good thing my daughter is now 18 and we haven’t been together in Portugal for quite some years or else I guess we would have Clarrie breathing down our necks, or showing our picture at some event and thundering that we might be members of the children-snatching ring….
August 9th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Hi coco!
Cheryl - it appears you think that the Mc’s have been exonerated by some evidence or circumstances and that is certainly not the case. Simply, no charges have been brought because evidence was not conclusive enough - it seems quite simple to me. So that in the future some evidence might turn up or some witness might decide to speak, and this may operate to exonerate them, fully proving their innocence (which was not proved this time as many seem to think) or may cause them (or any other party) to be charged. Or no evidence will turn up and no witnesses speak out, and a shadow of a doubt will always persist.
All of the foregoing is of course in my most humble opinion!
August 9th, 2008 at 5:42 am
Hi Again!
The paintings will not take up too much room if somebody just wants to drive about with them for a couple of weeks.
It’s the cold-storage facilty that I need. X
August 9th, 2008 at 5:37 am
The air-con’s fucked at the apartment they are held in storage and the new system at the new place can’ be fitted for at least a couple of weeks.
Don’t think I am being obtuse - it’s a genuine need. Thanks.
JO! Do you know anybody? I will give you a super set of new dollies!
This new set are wearing gags - even though the files are public now lol!
August 9th, 2008 at 5:31 am
URGENT! URGENT! URGENT!
I am desperate to move some oil paintings from a place in PDL to somwhere within an hour’s drive.
Does anybody know somebody who has a refrigerated van for hire. I don’t need a driver - just the van.
Would ideally like the van for maybe 2-3 weeks.
Sorry it’s short notice but need it within next 12 hours.
Thanks in advance X
August 9th, 2008 at 5:24 am
.
August 9th, 2008 at 4:01 am
Pam Says:
August 9th, 2008 at 3:30 am
Maravilha? Sweetheart, if I learned tomorrow that the McCanns were guilty as sin, I would be disappointed, but not hugely shocked. But to hear someone call Amaral
WISE??? I never saw that coming!
__________
Pam, he is not wise at all. But he was smart - he put that piece of cover your ass out there knowing all those idiots who believed him to be the Messiah would put their money into his pockets! And he has made a bundle on them!
As for being disappointed if you learned the McCanns were guilty as sin - you shouldn’t be in for a shock if you have been following the news and heard the AG’s statement - they are not found guilty of anything so…no need to worry about disappointment or shock!
August 9th, 2008 at 3:30 am
Maravilha? Sweetheart, if I learned tomorrow that the McCanns were guilty as sin, I would be disappointed, but not hugely shocked. But to hear someone call Amaral
WISE??? I never saw that coming!
August 9th, 2008 at 3:03 am
M&A
Artemis
We goddesses don’t use Youtube, but I commend to you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xhYk9PEmXA
as a perfect description of the state induced by Gandolf.
__________
Thanks for that Artemis, always one of my very favourites! Gandolf keeps me quite entertained also with his links! I received a link from 4 different friends from over there to the young girl Farl Smith singing the Ave Maria for the UK Talent … sat with tears rolling down my face listening to her voice !
August 9th, 2008 at 2:23 am
I disliked them the minute I saw them - but it seemed wrong not to feel sorry for a couple with a missing child - so I lied to myself for about 3 weeks.
But Gerry’s grinning and Kate’s sulking got me in the end…
I’m off to bed. Night everyone. x
August 9th, 2008 at 2:07 am
WTF ……’everyoneloves the mccscams, why not me?’
Because you two have thought out of the box - the TV box that is. And I feel you are both very intuitive and sensitive people.
My mate the blind and deaf man who rode through a pea-soup fog on his galloping horse could tell there was something not right about the Tapastwats.
And we have this fab site
August 9th, 2008 at 1:57 am
WTF ……. I get your drift. I set traps now and then to find nerves - because I am wicked!
And the person/s you expect to start being spooked - are spooked! Hilarious really! But not nice for the person when they see you can see through them lol.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:49 am
off to bed all, keep up the good work
August 9th, 2008 at 1:47 am
willo
well said!
No need to refuse to answer questions if you are totally innocent, no need to emloy spin doctor if your such a normal devastated family. Actions speak louder than words, and their actions have always been extemely shady!
August 9th, 2008 at 1:44 am
To me its simple. If they are innocent why don’t they disclose their phonecalls, texts ,bank accounts details and answer the 48 questions . A course of action which innocent parents would surely do. It would be so easy to help clear their name. So the obvious conclusions are they have something bad to hide or are covering for somebody.
The amazing thing is hundreds of articles in the myriad of British based newspapers can see nothing out of order in this affair. Wonder what the next twist will be.
I think a Tapas 7 will break ranks. They can’t all have the stomach for this. The pressure must be kept up. You can only spin so much but sooner or later you get dizzy and fall over. We used to giggle as kids but not much laughter with the CM spin. Unless it is with amazement.
A confession would be out of left field, so must be considered. One with immunity perhaps.
Great win by Arsenal too.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:38 am
coco
I think you are barking up the right tree when you say certain posters hang around this site for certain topics. It has been my theory all along. dont want to get banned, but my one brain cell tells me that the mcscums did NOT want an autopsy if accidental death was involved. all in my humble opinion of course!
August 9th, 2008 at 1:33 am
This is a proper Pandora’s box that is opening.
Something that I asked about last night is still unanswered in my mind yet.
Where did KM get the confidence from to threaten Amaral with the fact the Government would put pressure on him if he didn’t fuck off and leave her alone?
August 9th, 2008 at 1:31 am
coco
i have had bad wind tonight! its mrs wtf again btw, i am torn between thinking i am slightly mad in suspecting the mcscums, purely because sky, bbc and itv tell me constantly how hard done by they are, how the pj have set them up, oh! and the papers, everyoneloves the mccscams, why not me?
August 9th, 2008 at 1:30 am
today I received Amaral’s book A Verdade da Mentira.
I read already the half of it.
He is a wise man.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:29 am
WTF! Them weren’t kind words. Them words wasn’t kind! Coco doesn’t do kind! She’s too judgemental! lol
Them words is like prophetic man. The Universe is abundant and you will be rewarded sooner than you fink! Trust me!
August 9th, 2008 at 1:25 am
WTF - ’tis an ill wind that bloweth around the manor these days. I am astounded that it hasn’t been sold by now. I thought they would move. But then again - they have hardly been there. lol
I was so upset yesterday to find that one of my learned friends had decided that it was not necesssary to send Keela and Eddie for a quick sniff about - so there you go!
Not being a conspiracist in the slightest I was shocked at that.
There be something going on behind the scenes of all these mirrors amd smoke-screens as batman said yesterday.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:24 am
karen
The worms are turning too slowly for me! Everything is so bloody sugar coated, why is everyone pussyfooting around them ffs!!
August 9th, 2008 at 1:23 am
I noticed in the Daily Mail (I know - I was reading it again
) that one of the columnists inbetween the usual fawning about the torment and suffering of the McCanns said that Gerry was hard to like because he seemed to be enjoying it too much and that the McCanns seemed to be blaming us for Madeleine’s disappearance instead of taking some responsibility themselves.
The worms could be slowly turning.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:21 am
Just dashing through - trying to catch up !!!
It is fashion week here and Paris is in town…
Can yo sleuth wherev I am …