Madeleine McCann: McCanns Drop Portuguese Libel Action
MADELEINE McCann Watch: Anorak’s at-a-glance look at Madeleine McCann in the news - Kate and Gerry McCann drop libel case against Portuguese tabloid Tal & Qual…
The Irish Examiner reports that innocent Gerry and Kate McCann have “dropped a libel case against the Portuguese newspaper which first linked them to the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine.
The couple were suing weekly tabloid Tal & Qual over an August 2007 article headlined “Police believe the parents killed Maddie“.
The police no longer believe anything of the sort. The McCanns have been cleared of any wrongdoing. But at the time, they might not have believed it either. The world “believe” is an expression of an opinion. Good policing sticks to facts, so too good reporting.
This week the McCanns withdrew their defamation action after being advised the paper had a strong defence under Portuguese law. It could argue the story was published in good faith, as senior police officers did at the time believe the McCanns may have been implicated.
So now all their energies can be employed looking for their daughter:
The source said the McCanns want to concentrate instead on their €1.16 million case against Goncalo Amaral, the disgraced former head of the Madeleine investigation.
Says T&Q editor Emidio Fernando:
“I had total faith in the source and was certain the police were looking at the couple. It’s not a victory, because I never saw this as a war. I was, as I am today, totally calm about what I wrote.”
When a child goes missing police always look at the parents. The time to stop gawping at the McCanns has long passed. But still they remain by dint of PR and courtroom rows in the public eye.
Such are the facts…
Posted: 20th, August 2009 | In: Madeleine McCann, Media Comments (18) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
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August 22nd, 2009 at 6:49 pm
You remember the old adage AGW, never ask a question unless you know the answer.
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Not quite sure why you’re asking me that one Gandolf. I know little of the Laws of Portugal and have only visited it once or twice. I did tramp around a few of its African colonies watching freedom-fighters and disorganised Portuguese conscript troops at each others throats for an eternity; a life-time ago and I did a lot of running away. Legal niceties weren’t very evident there.
My understanding was the Arguido status was removed for all three and it could easily be re-introduced on them, you, me anyone.
There remains the single most import problem in all this: where is the child? Or where are the remains, if foul-play is a factor?
If the question was asked in the sense of I was once Administrator here, can I reaffirm that is no longer the case and has not been for some time?
August 22nd, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Question AGW, were the fragrant duo cleared, reason I ask is that the final AG/prosecutor statement clearly states their, the arguido’s papers are also archived with the file, why if they are cleared.
August 22nd, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Oh what woven web we weave,when first we set out to diceive!
Once upon a time there was a little princess, this little princess went missing one day and the King and Queen sent out a requesd. All those who have taken little children have to be put on a long list. Soon many of those guilty of other crimes were found, but sady not the guilty party for the disapearence of the little princess.
Soon the King and Queen travelled the globe and every one signed thier petiton and lo and behold who should find the princess but their dear FRIEND and his COLLEAGUE who had given the King and Queen the idea of making a list and who were helping a very inportant man in a far off land to to set up a global list so he could gain favor in the Emperors eyes and become a SENATOR of that list in a big White House, because sadly this man had his owned little princess taken from him and more sadly she had been killed.
So the tale of the little princess had an happy ending for all, Oh and the new Senator and his friends who had been already in business together were made very wealthy men.
August 21st, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Mod: “Until evidence was forthcoming there was no crime, MM is missing”
You mean she really could have woken up and wandered…?
Moderator - we do not debate
August 21st, 2009 at 5:18 pm
“Moderator: Moved by whom?”
You were the one laying down the ground rules to the newbie, as is your right - you’re also the one claiming the moral high ground over other sites. I just want to establish where the line is, so that I can play nice - as no one else here seems to be attracting your attention, I can only assume that you have some sort of problem with me. If that’s the case, then please explain what it is - honesty is the best policy, after all.
Moderator _ The idea is to debate with the posters, not the moderators
August 21st, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Nobody-
You are far too cryptic for me
Speak English Boy
August 21st, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Amber alert and the likes is the call made by the leadng players in these cases, An Iternational set -up of Amber Alert sysytems,masive criminal and peadophile data digital banks.
In the jonbennet ramsey case one will see the perfect blueprint for a massive cover-up with incredable similar pattern and players played out after the crime, look at those who championed Patsy Ramsey the key is there.
By the way I beleive Madeleine is alive and well and will be brought back from those who are looking after her after the digital banks are set up.
August 21st, 2009 at 10:24 am
Fair enough - just like to know where the goalposts are, as they do tend to have a habit of moving.
Moderator: Moved by whom?
August 21st, 2009 at 9:32 am
Oh, I see - nice piece of bahookie-covering. With the T&Q cash cow going belly-up, best not to offer any possible alternatives, just in case - all those press conferences don’t pay for themselves, after all.
Moderator: This site sets the standard for those who imitate. Keep it legal and on subject.
August 21st, 2009 at 8:46 am
“The McCanns have been cleared of any wrongdoing.”
Really - when did that happen? I thought that the case had just been shelved, until new evidence was forthcoming.
“Good policing sticks to facts, so too good reporting.”
What about good blogging?
Moderator - good blogging and a good gossip can lead straight into the libel courts.
The McCanns were cleared of any wrong doing when the arguido status was lifted. Until evidence was forthcoming there was no crime, MM is missing
August 20th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Here’s what that notice says:-
“Due to unresolved issues the forum is disabled until contact is made with Beowulf”
August 20th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
There’s an interview on JM with the ‘Chair of the Madeliene Foundation’
August 20th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
another old non-story this as T & Q put the shutters up sometime last year when the suing was first mentioned. Its been reborn (Iforget the name) with no mention of the mcCanns so good for everyone!
Newer news is the Dark Side is disabled at the mo…… go take a peek at the message..
August 20th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
3rd
August 20th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
ohhh frist!
August 20th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Well surprise, surprise.
Wonder what their reasoning will be to pull out of a law suit against Amaral.
August 20th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Does this decision have anything to do with the fact that the magazine has now gone out of business and so would not have any assets while it is still possible to get money from Goncalo Amaral? I’m, however, not sure that they will open that particular can of worms in Portugal where payments are very low compared to other E.U. states and also where they are going to have to defend themselves against someone who actively wants to have his day in court with the McCanns.