Press Coverage: Madeleine, Kate and Gerry McCann
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann, Kate McCann and Gerry McCann
THE PORTUGAL NEWS ONLINE: “Business as usual in Praia da Luz”
Tourism is booming at the Ocean Club…
Robin Crosland has been in the Algarve for more than twenty six years. During that time, he has seen Praia da Luz grow exponentially.
He can remember way back when it was media as far as the eye could see…
The Ocean Club, of which he was architect and co-founder, has played a major role in the development of the once quintessential fishermen’s village and remains in the heart of Luz in more ways than one.
Can the name not be changed?
“I came here to help my partners, John Garveigh and David Symington, set up The Ocean Club. I was an architect, not an hotelier, and there was nothing here but fields, orchids, orange groves, olive tress - and a snake and a bull.”
Snakes and bull. That’s the Madeleine McCann story for you…
“The first unit we sold, a two-bedroom apartment with sea view, was put on the market for £11,000. That same apartment today is worth around €280,000”, 20 times its original value.”
Of course, some flats come with a premium. A bit of local history can affect prices…
The Ocean Club resort gained notoriety when it was thrust into the limelight on May 3rd last year, following the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. The British toddler’s face was broadcast into homes around the world, as was Praia da Luz, and the Ocean Club became a household name caught amidst an unprecedented media frenzy in Portugal.
It was a multi-media brochure, advertising the delights of living in Paedo, sorry, Portugal…
Over the past 16 months reports have sporadically emerged stating that, as a consequence of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, Ocean Club guest figures have plummeted, that people considered Praia da Luz to be an unsafe spot for families and resulted in the temporary tarnishing of the Algarve’s idyllic image.
Well, there are many other places to holiday. Although some hacks prefer Praia to any other resort..
Robin is quick to rubbish all of these reports, as have other leading authorities and tourism officials, denying that having the resort’s name associated with one of the biggest child-related mysteries of modern times had a damaging effect.
Now the media has left town, there are lots of rooms…
“But no one wants that type of publicity, at all”, Robin admits, stating “there were some immediate cancellations, until around October last year, but then things levelled out again”.
So let’s not talk about Madeleine McCann, nor dwell on the missing child. But in case you are tempted to make link between the Ocean Club and the missing toddler, Mr Crossland has prepared a statement:
“It was of course a terrible tragedy and all our hearts went out to the family, the whole village as well as our staff were deeply upset and the out-pouring of grief was enormous…
“We still had another 600 guests to look after who had paid to stay with us and who had nothing to do with this event and wanted to enjoy their holiday”.
600. Have they all been questiosned, or profiled by the media?
He says that, whilst figures were not as good as in 2006, when the Algarve experienced a mini-boom in tourism, this year “The Ocean Club continued to attract families with children of all ages with the exception of April and early May when there were fewer families with pre-school children. But by June, these had also returned to normal and by July and August things were more or less back to normal occupancy figures”.
Anything changed much?
Criticised at the time for its lack of CCTV cameras, as were many resorts last year following the debate for new safety measures, Robin retorts: “Most of the resort is spread throughout the village, the units are accessed via public roads and paths and in Portugal it is illegal to have security video cameras in public places. On private property we don’t need them as we have manned receptions”.
And:
In the meantime, The Ocean Club is planning to make “considerable investments” during this winter, which include upgrading restaurant areas.
Turn the beer goggles the other way up. Pass the binoculars…
Madeleine McCann is missing - still missing…
Online PR: Madeleine McCann Used To Sell Holiday Flats
Madeleine McCann: Buy The Flat And The Villa For The Maddie Experience
Madeleine McCann: Live Like The McCanns As Their Praia Da Luz Apartment Goes On Sale
Posted: 7th, October 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (177) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
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October 7th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
My post 11:27 directed at Stig, of course.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
I thought it had been established over and over again, that
a) abduction by stranger is very, very rare
b) if [some of] the timelines are to be believed, the “window of opportunity” for such a rare happening is extremely small
The combination of the these two leaves hardly any possibility to believe it
On top of that, we have a dog smelling a cadaver in the holiday apartment.
Call that going over “old grounds”…
Good night again
October 7th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
annie1
It may take years unless….. a break through and we all know this
The case is not closed
We know what we know Annie.I cannot say more than there is in the public arena but there are some lions around licking a very hurt pride.
This is one of the thing the mccanns did not plan :people”s and cops pride
“They finished you off…
GA- Certainly, I was attacked, vilified and humiliated by some of the ignoble British press which contributed to the interruption of the investigation with their continuous onslaught and interrupted, therefore, the Justice.”
and then….
“The fact is that this investigation was contradicting their interests.
GA : Of course. The thesis of our latest work remained in the process and there it is summed up that the minor died in the apartment, there was a simulation of abduction, the couple is suspected of hiding the body, the death could have been accidental and that there is evidence of negligence in the care of the parents for leaving them alone even if they were one hundred meters away”
Annie,some files have not been released… not yet
The mccanns are finished,they”ve lost all credibility and when they will be weak enough…wait and see
Nobody has a moral obligation to carry on posting on forums and blogs
People do not have to carry on making a daily hudge effort to read, to analyse,and exchange thoughts about a very muddled up case and its ramifications in 2 countries if not 3 (spain),looking for the truth and making justice to a child
Specialists will and are doing it.Thats what counts in the long run.This sudden silence is excellent: THEY have been silenced at long last
One day,you will wake up and there will be noises ….
October 7th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Jo
You have a bit of a problem in logic to overcome, you have to explain the difference between:
1) No evidence for an abduction.
and
2) No evidence for the abduction of a body.
Also, you have to explain convincingly, how the time frame of events that evening makes an abduction impossible, but how those same factors make the abduction of a body possible. Bearing in mind of course, that abducting a body requires even more time because most of the posited scenarios would also require additional time for; discovery, consultation, decision making/planning, cover up/body removal, body disposal/concealment, return from body disposal/concealment.
Occam’s razor suggests to me an abduction is the simplest hypothesis by far, and is therefore the one most likely to be correct.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
annie1 Says:
October 7th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
***
LOL
Good night…
October 7th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Totje Says:
[...]
In case you’re lurking, a special nite nite to Maria and Whoops
****
long time, no see
are they still around?
October 7th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Hey Totje
Let me say it like this: I prefer the professionals/trained persons who’ve got access to all files/reports/statements etc. solving a crime, in stead of a witch hunt by biased amateurs/internet posters, who judge people without real, hard, evidence.
YOU ARE ONE OF THEM!! lol
October 7th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Hi all,
Let me say it like this: I prefer the professionals/trained persons who’ve got access to all files/reports/statements etc. solving a crime, in stead of a witch hunt by biased amateurs/internet posters, who judge people without real, hard, evidence.
And I want to bet, that even if she’s found buried in a Portuguese cellar or backyard, there will be still people/posters saying “they” did it and it’s a [political] conspiracy.
Bye all…
Nite nite
In case you’re lurking, a special nite nite to Maria and Whoops
October 7th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
The Real Stig Says:
October 7th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Châtelaine
Yes, time to look at the tea leaves at the bottom of the cup or bring out the ouija board. They are more likely to reveal the ‘answer’ than the contents of the files.
***
If and when you’re joking, you should more clearly indicate that… Otherwise I might feel offensed.
I remain convinced, that - whatever happened - at least one of the parents and maybe one or two of the “friends” know about that. Otherwise, all of the inconsistencies cannot be explained. I have ideas about what may have happened [without consulting coffee grounds or tea leaves], however, will not mention, because I cannot proof them.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
anaheim flash xx
Jo
You are a star x
*****
I certainely deserve at least 2 for my spelling “mistaikes”, far too fast typing AND a too quick “submit comment” without reading my post
October 7th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Jo, I sympathise with all of your opinions, and I read your posts and know that you are passionate about this case, but do you HONESTLY think that there will ever be anymore information coming to light which will bring this case back to the table? There has been virtually no news coverage of the Mc.s in recent weeks, they are taking a back seat, not even making regular appeals for information, which in our eyes is, of course suspect. There has been a very calculated campaign of action by the McCamp - they milked the public for as much as they possibly could and when the donations started to dry up, so did they. So, Jo, please tell me that you really do know that this is not the end of the investigations and your enthusiasm is more than just that - please tell me that you have information which will encourage us to believe that someday the truth will out, if the truth is out there.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Châtelaine
Yes, time to look at the tea leaves at the bottom of the cup or bring out the ouija board. They are more likely to reveal the ‘answer’ than the contents of the files.
October 7th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
The Real Stig Says:
October 7th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Jo said:y eradicati
“The thesis of abduction has been totally dropped since the beginning and for the reasons we ALL know….the rest is STILL very very much in the focus”
Yes, we all know why there has not been much focus on abduction:
*****
I AGREE
NOT much on any abdy¡uction because there was NO abduction….or lets put it like this: there was the abduction of a lifeless body…yes
October 7th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Stig, it sooner reminds me of a situation where there are 10 medical specialists standing around the bed of a very sick person and they’re at a loss. Then one of them suggests to get a GP to have a look at him…
October 7th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Jo said:y eradicati
“The thesis of abduction has been totally dropped since the beginning and for the reasons we ALL know….the rest is STILL very very much in the focus”
Yes, we all know why there has not been much focus on abduction:
1) The crime scene was severely compromised by the PJ and others, possibly eradicating any evidence, had there been any.
2) What evidence that was found - unaccounted for DNA and fingerprints - was looked into but led to a dead end, so nothing further could be done with it.
3) The person leading the investigation apparently had a bit of a bias as to what he thought happened and concentrated the efforts of the investigation on trying to validate that bias.
The ‘rest’ is only ’still in focus’ to the myopic individuals who believe they can succeed where better qualified people have failed.
October 7th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Jo
You are a star x
October 7th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Gone out for dindin
Bbl xxxx
October 7th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
sam Says:
October 7th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
jo, an unedited version is on joana morais site, july 21 08.
****
Thank you,Sam I know very well where to find what I need
I just wanted the 2 dick head poster to paste the link especially the one name garth who NEVER ever posts any link
On top of that arseputin is posting exactely word for word what I wanted
“…… the eventual carrying out of the crimes of abduction, homicide, exposure or abandonment of a child and concealment of a corpse….”
The thesis of abduction has been totally dropped since the beginning and for the reasons we ALL know….the rest is STILL very very much in the focus
October 7th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Rasputin
This has nothing to do with MM, but the ‘edited’ bit caught my eye; you may recall my commenting, very rudely, on the Report by the Inspector General into the SEC’s actions on Bear Stearn.
Being very rude was perfectly fair, since the Report itself was very rude about the SEC’s failure to do its’ job.
Ten days later it transpires that the Report itself had been edited with an iron hand to take out 136 separate references to many of the most damaging comments about just how badly Cox and the SEC failed to do their jobs.
And just how abysmally bad Bear Stearn’s mortgage traders were; according to Bloomberg :
‘An unedited version of the 137-page study posted to Grassley’s Web site Sept. 26 showed that Bear Stearns traders used pricing models for mortgage securities that ‘rarely mentioned” default risk.’
I shall now return you to normal service…
October 7th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Edited transcript of the judgment
Edited judgment from the Tribunal da Relação de Évora in the investigation of Madeleine McCann
(PA)
Madeleine McCann went missing in the Algarve
David Brown
Judge: Ribeiro Cardoso
1. In the case files pending in the Public Prosecution Services in which they are investigating the disappearance of M.M. and the eventual carrying out of the crimes of abduction, homicide, exposure or abandonment of a child and concealment of a corpse, the prosecutor in charge of the case under investigation.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Did I see the word abduction leadind the possibilities at that time, surely not.
October 7th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
jo, an unedited version is on joana morais site, july 21 08.
October 7th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
http://tinyurl.com/4psvze
October 7th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
……. and fat and balding….
October 7th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Says:
October 7th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Can you two extremely clever trainspotters find a link for the Evora Court Ruling?
——————-
“In the United Kingdom, people who wear anoraks in their social life are often stereotyped as trainspotters or persons with unimaginative and dull pastimes/hobbies”.
hmm…….
October 7th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
In British slang an anorak is a person, typically a man, who has unfathomable interest in arcane, detailed information regarded as boring by the rest of the population, and who feels compelled to talk at length about this information to anyone within earshot.
Are you a man jo?
October 7th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
So WHY have they been prime suspects and in fact STILL are?
They still are and are scared to speak up if they were not
Bye bye…good work is achieved from where I am
October 7th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Can you two extremely clever trainspotters find a link for the Evora Court Ruling?
October 7th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Rasputin Says:
October 7th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
No wonder the poster base hase dwindled when we have idiots that think there is fun in the predicament of a missing child, a gashead and a bird brain, sad individuals.
——————-
Yeap Rasputin - that pretty much sums it up!
October 7th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Fat and Balding
suits you
October 7th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
jo, do keep up there are no suspects, Amaral’s nemisis may be approaching in a Portuguese court very soon, he really did try to be clever with the wrong people, Rebelo and his team.