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 2:35 pm
still nothing new then, apart from confirmation that murat was indeed a translator at the time. thanks for the translation marie n.
October 7th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
brandon flours Says:
October 7th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
As like in a dress accessory ?
October 7th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
The photo reminds me of one of my charges mothers years ago, when she stood on the doorstep and asked me if her daughter ‘ suited her ‘
October 7th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
brandon flours Says:
October 7th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Monochrome scanners….Strewth.
October 7th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I think the pj just copied them
October 7th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
brandon flours Says:
October 7th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Good thinking !!! : )
Re Holiday snap….couldn’t they afford a colour film ?
October 7th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
holiday snap of payne on mugshot thread
October 7th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
matt
which is why I didnt ask yahoo
October 7th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
brandon flours Says:
October 7th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of CEOP, was asked a similar question on the BBC’s Hardtalk Programme recently.
He said that once they enter those sites they are a potential danger to children.
He added that those who enter those sites do not do so accidently.
October 7th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I have to wonder about Fiona and Diane in all this.
Whether he is innocent or not, you would not let it just sit there. I would be pretty peeved that he didnt get the chance to exhonerate himself if anything.
Just out of curiousity, as I dont know, do paedophiles who watch child porn, get the same sentences that commit physical sexual abuse ?
October 7th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Maybe someone “in the know” tipped Lori the wink - “look, I shouldn’t be telling you this, but…”
October 7th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
PeterMac Says:
October 7th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Kate did indicate that when he arrived, she had just got out of the shower and had to
grab a bath-towel to cover herself before opening the door.
October 7th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
As usual, I forgot to write from Enfants Kidnappés, translated by Marie Nicholas at the bottom. Sorry mods!
I wish I could stay with you to comment it, but have to go, unfortunately.
October 7th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
thatpoorpriest:
and brandon flours:
“petermac
have you read the statements from the majorca2 ?
where are these statements please?”
Not yet, as I don’t know where to look.
Is this the same info that we get from googling KM Mallorca Yvonne etc ? But if that has been put into a police statement and released to the world it should provoke someone to do something, even if its only Clarrie
October 7th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Leicestershire Constabulary
On May O6 2007 the Portuguese PJ receives a document from their British colleagues saying that :
Lori Campbell, who works for the Sunday Mirror as a journalist, contacted the Leicestershire police to inform them on the following facts :
Lori spoke with an interpreter who helps the Portuguese authorities in the investigation about the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. He introduced himself under the nickname of “ROB” and gave no relevant information about himself. Lorie found “ROB” suspect because he gave contradictory statements to different people. He appeared worried when the Mirror’s photographer took a photo of him. “ROB” said to Lori that he was now going through a difficult divorce in the UK, and that he had a daughter aged 3 -exactly like Madeleine- from whom he was separated for the time being. He gave a “show” in front of the reporters when on the phone with his daughter, and Lori found he overdid it when he gave such a show while speaking on the phone with his daughter. What “ROB” said arouse Lori’s suspicions.
The Portuguese authorities can contact Lori who is still in Portugal, in order to get more details and to identify the said “ROB”. She can be joined on (phone)n°……. ….
What can be deduced from it :
Seing such a document, the first question we can ask ourselves is why this journalist, then in Portugal, and being in contact with the police of the country, informs the police from another country (in this case UK) about facts relating to an investigation which the UK isn’ in charge of. Has this journalist from the Mirror so little awareness of the regular procedures in the matter ?
Going through the UK police to tell about her suspicions results into administrative complication, and causes a huge loss of time.
It means:
1- Talking or sending a fax to the UK police (rather than to the Portuguese police there on the spot).
2 - Administrative processes then have to be put into motion in the UK.
3 - They have to send a document to Portugal (where the journalist is) to add to the file.
4 - The document has to be translated by a professional translater to be acknowledged in the file.
Good thing Robert Murat wasn’t holding Madeleine in captivity, as Lorie was giving him all the necessary time to disappear!!!
With hindsight, some will say it can be seen as an attempt to manipulate the investigation. An attempt to divert attention. An attempt to slow the investigation down. Truly, such theories are defendable, all the more because the case holds more than one other instance of manipulation. All the more again if we realise that Robert Murat was chosen as an interpreter by the Portuguese police onadvice from the British consulate!! Could he have been framed?
Some others will say that Lori didn’t want to arise Robert Murat’s suspicions, when he was too much engaged with the Portuguese police, and that she would rather address herself directly to the UK police. Such a theory is difficult to defend. Had she contacted the Portuguese police directly, she would have been heard by them without Robert Murat being present, and the PJ could have interrogated Murat straight away, or placed him under unconspicuous watch. Instead, Robert Murat was able to go on translating some numerous auditions.
from Enfants Kidnappés, translated by Marie Nicholas
—
M&A
Artemis
October 7th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Matt.
“So a Mr Payne last saw Madeleine at 5.00 pm.
In one of his statements.
And the very same Mr Payne last saw Madeleine at 6.40 pm in another of his statements.
In the 5.00pm view he didn’t know what anyone was wearing.
In the 6.40pm he saw Kate wrapped in only a towel and Madeleine was in pink
jam-jams. ” EDIT
I wonder how he knew that was all she was wearing ? Another sudden gust of wind ? Highly polished marble floor ?
October 7th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Abraham Zapruder Says:
October 7th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
There are some doubts about the creche matters.
October 7th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Link to the above translation
Forgot to post it….
Bbl xxxxxx
http://www.kidnapping.be/maddie/maddie.html
October 7th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
What we can deduce
The first question is,facing this document,is to know why this journalist presente in Portugal,in contact with the PJ,referes to a foreign police(here,the UK) about facts which do not concern them? hasnt the Mirror journalist any knowledge of the proceedings in the matter at hand?
The fact to go to the british police to talk about suspicions,involves a fussy administrative work and a considerable loss of time
In fact:
1- It is necessary to talk about it to the UK police-or send a fax which is necessary to type first-(instead of speaking directly to the PJ which is there)
2- The administrative engine in the UK must start
3 - It is necessary to send back to portugal (where is the journalist) a document to the PV
4 - The document must be translated by a professional to be effective in the files
Luckily,Robert Murat did not hold Madeleine because Lori was giving him all the time to disappear!!!
Stepping back,some could say there is a manipulation of the oinvestigation.An attempt to focus in an other direction.An attempt to slow down the investigation.
Surely,these theories can be defended because one more manipulation does not change anything.On top we can add that it is from the recommendation of the british consulate that Robert Murat was chosen as an interpretor by the PJ.
Has he been the victime of a trap?
Others will say Lori was scared to wake up Robert Murat suspicions,as he was very involved with the PJ.This theory is cannot be defended easily.
If Lori had contacted the portuguese police directly,she would have been heard without Robert Murat presence and the PJ would have questionned Murat or put him under discreet check.
Instead,Murat carried on with his translations in many auditions
DASHING off now…..
JUSTICE for Madeleine
October 7th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Watcher, just the GP and social worker so far as I am aware.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Matt, so the DP visit to 5A has now moved to 5 pm?
Wasn’t Maddy still in the creche at that time??
October 7th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Ah yes, Lori Campbell, I remember her well.
Robert Murat offering his service as a translator (on the tenuous ground that he is bilingual), then not wanting his picture in the Mirror (surely EVERYONE wants their picture in the Mirror), then speaking to his daughter on his mobile (now what kind of a father does that?), and other “suspicious” activities.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
07 octobre 2007
Leicestershire Constabulary
The 06 of may 2007,the PJ receives a document from their british colleagues in which Lori Campbell,journalist of the Sunday Mirrir has contacted the LP to inform them of the following:
Lori talked with an interpretor who is helping the PJ with the investigation of Madeleine Mccann
He is introduced under the name “Rob” and she did not give any information about him.
Lori found him suspect because he gave contradictory informations to various people.
He was rather worried when he realised the Mirror took a picture of him.
“ROB” has then said to Lori he was going right now through a difficult divorce in the UK and that he has 3 years old daughter like Madeleine.
He made a show in front of the reporters when he was talking to his daughter on the phone.What he was saying over the phone woke up Loris suspicions.
The portuguese authorities can get in touch with Lori who is still in portugal to get more informations and identify “ROB”
She can be reach at nº……
There is a very good analysis of the article but I cant translate it: no time
I am running very late with my work load today
PLEASE,Marie N come and finish the translation
http://www.kidnapping.be/maddie/maddie.html
October 7th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
New article on Enfants Kidnppés. I’ll translate it (very fast as I am very busy these days. So maybe the translation will not be in my best English). See you later.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
2 more cases of mysterious disappearance, scrutinised by 2 polices forces in France (Antoine) & Argentina (Sofia)
Both cases offer similarities with Madeleines case
A suivre……..and rather bad news for the children
Interesting article on EK but in french…not time to translate,hopefully Marie N will come in or it will be on newsfrommybigdesk later on today
Lots of stuff on spanish net.Idem no time to translate
October 7th, 2008 at 11:56 am
So a Mr Payne last saw Madeleine at 5.00 pm.
In one of his statements.
And the very same Mr Payne last saw Madeleine at 6.40 pm in another of his statements.
In the 5.00pm view he didn’t know what anyone was wearing.
In the 6.40pm he saw Kate wrapped in only a towel and Madeleine was in pink
jam-jams.
And his wife Fiona, in one statement said that she had never been in the 5a
apartment.
And in another statement of her’s she says that she was in the 5a apartment
with her husband.
Such baaaaad memories these Dr’s have….et al.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:47 am
I have never said the entire tapas group are innocent, only Kate and Gerry and even that would be subject to review of sufficient evidence was forthcoming.
But I’ve been looking for something on he who cannot be named and all I can find are statements by two female people.
I would be grateful if someone would point me in the direction of that information, if it is more than what I have circumspectly mentioned above.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Whatever happened to Operation Ore?!
There’s got to be a twist, as the (Pete Townsend) song says.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:41 am
I wonder if Enfants Kidnappes will ever post the Majorca stuff, that would be interesting!!
October 7th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Its amazing even through that gerry seems to be smelling of roses