Madeleine McCann: The News Of The World’s Sorry Apology For Tabloid Reporting
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann, Kate McCann and Gerry McCann
HAVING read “the heartbreaking TRUTH that destroys the lies of Portuguese police”, the oh-so-caring News of The World tells its readers:
“We today offer Kate our immediate and sincere apologies.”
No need, surely..?
The News of the World only published extracts from Kate McCann’s private diary because it cares. It wants to help. It has investigated the case of her daughter’s vanishing and found that the Portuguese police are bungling and to blame.
Yeah, those sicko coppers like Goncalo Amaral who seek to profit from the McCanns agony by publishing books. Not sure how much Amaral’s book costs, but the NOTW is under a pound.
Says the paper:
“We published the extracts in the belief held in good faith that we had Kate’s permission to do so.”
Did the caring NOTW ask Kate McCann to publish extracts from her diary, or just think she would agree to it?
The extracts also appeared in The Sun, the NOTW’s sister paper. How did the paper come by them? A police leak? How the papers hate those:
THE SUN: “McCann cops deny ‘smears’”
The Sun: “Leaks, smears … now plane lies”
How the caring tabloids hate those leaks from the Portuguese police:
Madeleine McCann: Liz Hunt Wonders, The Leaked File And The End
As the NOTW explains:
“It is now clear that our belief was misplaced, and that, in fact, Kate neither approved of nor knew the extracts were to be published.”
“Belief”. Yeah, not fact, just an educated hunch…
That apology in full:
Last week we published extracts from Kate McCann’s diaries and explained in the article that we were doing so to “nail the lies” about Kate created by selective leaking from the diaries by Portuguese police.
No, not to make easy headlines, to keep the story alive and sell more newspapers (surely to keep Our Maddie in the public eye? - Ed).
We published the extracts in the belief held in good faith that we had Kate’s permission to do so. It is now clear that our belief was misplaced, and that in fact Kate neither approved of nor knew that the extracts were to be published.
Misplaced. Not wrong…
Upon learning of our error we immediately removed the extracts from our website and we today offer Kate our immediate and sincere apologies. We have agreed to make a donation to be used in the search for Madeleine. The News of the World remains wholly supportive of the McCanns and their continuing campaign to find their daughter.
Make a donation, or be sued, perhaps…
Posted: 22nd, September 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann, Tabloids Comments (353) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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September 22nd, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Val hi
What comment ?
GF Hi
some are 3 quarter length like the victorian bathing suits.
but we know its bollox
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:07 pm
PeterMac Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Hi saw your post earlier about the 6 million children going missing, that would mean
16,438 have gone missing today, 11 kids a minute.
Where do these people come from ? especially having quoted that there are no reliable figures ???
Loonies !
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Yes Thanks Marie xxx
BF why would Maddie be wearing pyjamas that were too small ?
The bundle man sketch showed them half way up her legs ?
I mean they weren’t that hard up were they ?
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Brandon Flours
Hi there,
What do you think of the Portugese talk show? Interesting comment from the
criminal phsycologist, but doubt if there really is any info which would cause the case
to be re-opened
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Marie N
Thanks for that.
It all looks very thorough so far. Not a lot of sardine munching going on, but the evidence seems to show leads being followed through properly.
If there is another 4000 pages like that I am not sure that the McCs will be able to continue to maintain that the enquiry was not done properly.
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Marie Nichols
Thanks once again
Enjoy your break xxx
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:43 pm
marie n, thanks so much, that’s sterling work and much appreciated.
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I’ll be away ntil next Sunday. If there is a new article in between, the translation should be on frommybigdesk.
I guess the next translations in Enfants Kidnappés will be important statements by important witnesses. But they also wanted to include other parts which showed the PJ working thoroughly.
Bye bye, until next week!
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Investigation on the ground
We are on the 5th of May 2007. Two days after Madeleine McCann’ disappearance:
We are gathering informations to complete our investigations.To this purpose, the whole of the touristic complex named THE OCEAN CLUB in Praia Da Luz has been seen. It includes several blocks of appartments, and a few small lodging units scattered in 4 buildings which are only separated between themselves by streets or small areas with trees called Waterside Garden, Waterside Village, Club Cottage and Ocean Club Gardens. Another building next to the OCEAN CLUB, named CRISTALUZ, which doesn’t belong to the same company, has also been visited. Thus, 443 lodging units have been visited with all their lodgers having been identified and asked questions about the informations they could bring as regards the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, with us checking any suspect situation or behaviour as well as judiciary background. We also inspected places that were’nt lived in, but into which we could enter thanks to the staff of the touristic complex. This work has been done by 6 teams of PJ inspectors, assisted by different members from the OCEAN CLUB staff.
Audition of Lance R.
He presents himself to us as a witness. Being a foreign citizen, he doesn’t have a command of the Portuguese language, therefore inspector J. D., assists him as an interpretor. The witness states that :
He has been a permanent resident in Praia deaLuz for 2 years now, owning there an appartment together with his parents. Professionally, he takes care of some other people’s property. He has a knowledge of the facts which we are working on, through the media, notably through Sky News. After the investigators of the PJ went from door to door yesterday with the description of a potential suspect, and the description of the clothes he was wearing, the witness remembers having seen someone fitting the description 2 weeks ago. He saw him several times in Praia Da Luz. The man is between 30 and 40, slim, about 1,70 m high, usually wears dark clothes, blue jeans, swarthy, with dark hair. The witness cannot remember any other details about him, but could recognise him in person or on a photo. He specifies that he saw him on the road leading to Praia Da Luz and near the pharmacist in the Helena do Nascimento Baptista street , Praia Da Luz. The witness only had eye contact with him, and saw him on foot, and alone. He only informs the PJ because he fits the profile that the investigators showed him, and because he doesn’t resembles the usual tourists in Praia Da Luz. In order to establish a police sketch (n° 19/2007) of the person, the witness will be asked questions by the profilers. The witness wants to add he thought the man seemed to suffer form some mild psychological perturbations. He has nothing else to add. After reading the present act with the help of the interpreter who explains it to him, he persists and signs it.
Suspect vehicle
We consult our registration list of vehicles to find all the Renault Clio cars that have AV -67 at the end of their registration plate. The answer shows that the vehicle corresponding belongs to a car rental business without chauffeur.
At the seat of the company “Luzcar rent a car”, we ask all informations concerning the vehicle registered with number.-AV-67, from 28/04/07 to this day. We find it was rented on 28 April 2007 in Faro’s airport, by a Polish citizen named F W. K. who stays at Solimar, Burgau, where he made a reservation through internet. We join the copy of the e-mail for the reservation, credit card number 5 185 … . …. …. … valid until May 2008. The contract was settled by an employee from the agency, Nelson M. whose statement we add to the act, as well as a photocopy of the contract. The car was brought back on 05 May 2007 in Faro’s airport, and then was rented again, as told us by Luis F., working in the agency. It is now rented by Clere E., who lives in parc da Floresta n° .. in Budens, Vila do Bispo.
Our research showed that W. K. lived in appartement n° .. Ed. Solimar, Ficticia street, Budens. The company that lets the apartment is ATB, main street, Marretas building , Burgau, Vila do Bispo. Its manager is Nuno F. whom we contacted.
The apartement belongs to Peter and Margaret O. who live in Windsor Grove, Cardiff, Wales. We add a photocopy of some documents that give a complete identification of Peter and Margaret O., as well as a copy of the renting file. Since W. K. left, the apartment hasn’t been rented again. A key is given to us, so that we can do all the necessary investigation.
Interpol
As part of the investigation concerning the disappearance of the British child named Madeleine McCann, from Praia da luz, in the night of 03 May 2007, it is essential that the relevant authorities investigate the Polish citizens, one of whom is W. K., with a Polish driving licence n° n° 6307…, and Anetta K., W. K.’s companion, in order to tell us if they have a criminal history. They arrived at Faro’s Airport on 28/04/2007, by flight, AI32744 (Air Berlin) and left Faro, today, flight AB2745 (Air Berlin). We also ask informations on the final destination of both passengers.
Following with the investigation…
In order to determine the comings and goings of the Polish couple who were on holidays in Burgau, we visit several commercial business according to the description we already have of the couple. The owner of the “Beach Bar” says they might have been his clients. He thinks he remembers they had lunch and dinner two or three times, without remembering exactly what days, but at the beginning of the week. He knows they are Polish because they were discussing football on the day of the Liverpool/Chelsea match, saying the goal keeper was Polish. That match was played on 01 MAY 2007. They also spoke of Portuguese and Brasilian classical music. The couple knew several musicians (interpreters) from the country. They asked the landlord of the bar where they could find that type of music. The landlord told them about the FNAC shop in the Algarve Shopping or the commercial center Chiado. They said they would probably go to Lisbon the same day. They seemed different for the usual holiday makers in the area to him. They paid with cash. Yet the owner didn’t find anything abnormal about them.
The investigation proves that the couple actually went to the FNAC in the Chiado Center, Lisbon, on 02 mai 2007, where they bought 2 musical comedy CDs which they paid with credit card n°… … … … .., the same one that they used to pay LUZCAR rent a car when they rented the car with the..-AV-67 registration plate. We took the CCTV footage from the FNAC and add photos from it where we can see the Polish couple.
Audition of Nelson M.
Nelson M. is heard as a witness. He has worked for “Luzcar” (car rental) as a receptionist for 2 years. According to the register he was working there when the grey -AV-67 Renault Clio dating form 2006, was rented. He let the car, which was given back today at 06.45 as showed by the register. He can’t remember who rented the car because he deals with 30 clients every day. But he says that the register holds all the necessary informations, such as where, at what time and what day the car was rented. The name of the client, the exact address where he lives. The address where he stays in Portugal. His nationality, driving licence, credit card number, private phone number.
He can’t remember anything else. After reading his statement, he persists and signs.
End of the lead, and our conclusion (Enfants Kidnappés):
The “suspect” couple has been clearly identified and very soon ruled out. They have been recognised by the witnesses on the photos. No need to publish their explanations and alibi since they are innocent. Therefore, why these articles about a suspect? Simply to prove that several leads have been followed thoroughly and in a professionnal way. Also to show that the sketch published by the British press about a month ago, isn’t of an unknown suspect, and isn’t a lead that wasn’t followed. But it is the sketch of a suspect who was well identified, a fact which the journalists reading the fils knew. Clarence Mitchell and the McCanns also. I published them also because they are part of the files, and we want to be transparent in that matter.
News
Up until the 20 th of September, the “Arguidos” could ask the PJ to go on searching Madeleine McCann. It seems they didn’t. The parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, seem not to have asked the police to continue their search about Madeleine’s disappearance.
From Enfants Kidnappés. Translated by Marie Nicholas.
M&A
Artemis
Edited to remove a typing error at the poster’s request.
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
That IVF is bloody good stuff then
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:26 pm
in the PT rag 24 horas, they are saying that there was 7 children in the room in 5a not three
http://www.24horasnewspaper.com/mostranews.php?id=7736caderno=Portugal
google translation
….A new turn in the media case of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. After all, in the apartment where the girl is “eclipse”, the last on May 3, were not just three, but seven children, establish
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:20 pm
With thanks to astro! @};-
Paulo Sargento and Duarte Levy are live on a PT talkshow right now. Levy, on the phone from Brussels, stating that new elements may force the case to be reopened, the 24 photos are not even the most relevant piece at the moment. Paulo Sargento - the uni professor of criminal psychology who organised the 3d animated reconstruction for SIC - is commenting that even the most sceptic person (that’s me) has been confronted with such an amount of strange things in this case, that it is hard not to believe, at least a little bit, in a conspiracy theory of some kind.
Duarte Levy is adding that Amaral’s book is going to be published in England, without doubt.
and
Duarte Levy (from SOS MAddie blog) was stating precisely that on tv, right now: that this case is far from over, and that new elements are surfacing. Whether or not the Public Ministry will value these new elements and have the ‘guts’ to reopen the case and see this investigation to a proper end, is obviously another question.
————-
just wanted to share
mods delete if not allowed
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Besides Luz and Praia da Luz, the Pj investigated in lagos as well.
Does any of you know if they investigated and interrogated in Portimão as well?
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:04 pm
A Bıker Boy free thread?
I`ll start the stopwatch.
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
yes jo, had to look it up as it doesn’t even feature on google news, another bombing.
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:56 pm
What incenses the McCanns’ friends is the suggestion they neglected their children on the night that Madeleine was abducted. Ms Renwick recalled a medical reunion in a Perthshire hotel a few months ago, where Ms McCann said her husband should attend the dinner by himself so the children would not be left alone.
——————————–
A**** and K********* did not know Fiona and Dave and they only met again once, during a dinner that gathered several couples.
I wonder if this is the same event ?
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:55 pm
New translztion ofthe files on Enfants Kidnappés. It will be ready in about one hour. See you later.
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:51 pm
and is that why we no longer hear from Clarrie? has he been, erm, fired?
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:25 pm
“We published the extracts in the belief held in good faith that we had Kate’s permission to do so. It is now clear that our belief was misplaced, and that in fact Kate neither approved of nor knew that the extracts were to be published.”
Erm, so did a ’spokeperson for Kate’ present these to the NOTW, hence the NOTW’s assumption that they had Kate’s permission to print her diary? Sure looks that way to me!
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
chaterlaine
midnight
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Elvera Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Interesting programme on BBC radio 4 this morning concerning the media ‘blackout’ concerning Prince Harry’s ’service’ in Iraq/Afghanistan and how it was achieved which could be pertinent to the case of Madeleine. There is a listen again facility on the site.http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/insidestories/pip/y3rnh/
***
Thank you, ELVERA.
Have bookmarked it and will listen later.
Also thanks to SAM for the Dnotice link.
For now there’s an unholy pile of important paper waiting for me
BBL
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:05 pm
jo Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Spot on!
Bye
Dont be good
****
When I’m good, I’m good. When I’m bad, I’m better …
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Châtelaine Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:01 pm
jo Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:52 pm
.
****
You’re making a point, Jo?
*****
Spot on!
Bye
Dont be good
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:01 pm
jo Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:52 pm
.
****
You’re making a point, Jo?
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Bye Sam
I am off again and I doubt very much I will be back before tomorrow
Too many bad news in spain right now
Not enough time for Madeleine
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:59 pm
brandon flours Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:10 pm
What does anyone think about gerry at a bar in luz on the 3rd talking to john hill the MW manager?
****
Hi Brandon. What time would that have been?
NB. first photos I saw of JH, before finding out who he was, actually thought it was DP … [don't forget I got on board rather late and spent quite some time finding out who's who]
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:53 pm
must do something more productive, bbl
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:52 pm
.
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:52 pm
bf, you’ve got a couple of years yet , enjoy them, i do miss doing the things one does with kids
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:48 pm
ah, apparently it’s an advisory function i was thinking ofvhttp://www.dnotice.org.uk/index.htm