Madeleine McCann: Clarence Mitchell Speaks, Make Madeleine History And Breastfeeding
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann.
DAILY MAIL pages 10 and 11: “Madeleine cried for 18 hours a day. Kate tells of the special bond forged in the painful days of early childhood.”
Kate McCann is speaking with Portuguese magazine Flash!. This interview took place before Kate McCann was named as a suspect in Madeline’s disappearance. Kate says the first six months with Madeleine were “very difficult”. Madeleine had colic. “I had to carry her around permanently,” says Kate.
What does it mean, this interview that has “emerged”? That what you tell magazines can be taken out of context and used in evidence against you, or something else?
THE TIMES page 9: “McCanns go straight to the top in search for powerful backers.”
Gordon Brown is being kept abreast of the investigation on Kate and Gerry McCann, possibly by reading the British press and watching the news bulletins.
(Is any MP still wearing a yellow ribbon?)
The McCanns have a new spokesman. He’s called Clarence Mitchell. He resigned as head of the Government’s Media Monitoring unit to take this new post.
Mr Mitchell once offered: “There’s a whole level of debate taking place online which simply didn’t exist before and departments feel they need to be fully engaged in that.”
Look out for Kate’s blog.
DAILY MIRROR front page: “THE TIDE TURNS.”
“McCanns WON’T be ordered back to Portugal says Judge”
“Gordon Brown briefed on the case”
“New spokesman will declare Gerry and Kate innocent today”
Clarence Mitchell says: “They have nothing whatever to do with Madeleine’s disappearance.” And as the McCann’s new spokesman he should know.
Pages 4 and 5: “RAY OF HOPE.”
Madeleine has not been found but Kate and Gerry McCann will not have to fly back to Portugal for more questioning.
On the downside sales of the “Look for Madeleine” wristband are not going well in Portugal. In “LOCALS REJECTS ‘FIND HER’ BRACELETS,” this year’s Make Poverty History band is being turned down at a car boot sales in Praia da Luz.
Says one ex-pat: “It’s as if they want to forget something so horrible happened.” Or buy something less with their money?
Says another: “We can’t understand how they can carry on jogging after losing Madeleine. Gerry went to a hairdressers a few weeks after she disappeared and continued tennis lessons. The Portuguese feel they should b hysterical.” But not the British, who understand reserve…
THE SUN front page: “MADDIE COPS SLAPPED DOWN. KATE BACKED BY JUDGE. Mum won’t be hauled back to Portugal.”
Judge Pedro Anjos Frias rejected Portuguese police calls for the McCanns to return. “He is thought to have ruled the case to flimsy to justify the move.” Or, to put it another way, he has not received sufficient evidence to be convinced of the need for a trial.
Pages 4 and 5: “COPS CASE COLLAPSING.”
And: “McCanns tell Brown: We have solid defence.” Gordon Brown’s reaction to this news is not known.
THE INDEPENDENT page 32: Thomas Sutcliffe says the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has been “yoked by journalists to another kind of story – the primal faction of fairytale”. Here “the beautiful child is swallowed by something that has emerged from the dark”.
It is, is it not, every child’s worst nightmare.
Page 4: “Kate McCann ‘will not be reinterviewed in Portugal’.”
DAILY EXPRESS front page: “MADELEINE POLICE CASE FALLS APART.”
“Judge refuses to recall the McCanns”
“Impossible to detect sedatives in hair”
“But slurs against the parents continue”
Slurs?
Pages 8 and 9: “My struggles to control Madeleine – BY KATE MCCANN.”
As told to Flash! magazine. The twins arrive. “The worst thing is that she started to demand lots of attention, especially when I was breastfeeding them.”
DAILY STAR front page: “MADDIE ALL SEVEN McCANN PALS IN FRAME.” The seven dwarves, to continue Mr Sutcliffe’s analogy?
“Cops set to name them as suspects.”
Pages 6 and 7: “BRIT PALS ALL SUSPECTS.”
The Tapas 9 are in the frame. This will put the lid – the tapas – on the case. Right?
“Maddie cops jet to UK as group face grilling” – Portuguese police are “planning” to come to the UK to continue the investigation. British police will conduct interviews.
DAILY TELEGRAPH page 8: “McCanns to be interviewed by British police.”
Kate and Gerry are also keen to reach Gordon Brown. A source tell the paper: “The McCanns do not expect help or influence to be exerted on their behalf but want to get messages to the very top that they are innocent.”
Does Brown read the Telegraph?
THE GUARDIAN page 35: “Never mind the high street: Branson sells his Virgin Megastores.”
No mention of Madeleine McCann, granted, but this news one day after Branson pledged to help the parents clear their names looks like interesting timing?
September 18th, 2007 at 8:26 am
It was an odds on certainty that the McCanns would not be called back for questioning, because there is simply no evidence to warrant it.
However that said, there is still the issue of the 40 questions that the Ice maiden still has not answered.
Why?
If a person is innocent they would answer any questions put to them in order to allow the police to advance the investigation. Surely the McCanns are educated enough to know that by stalling they make themselves look suspect, and delay other avenues the police could be looking into.
September 18th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Woo Hoo first at last
September 18th, 2007 at 8:28 am
Congratulations on coming first
September 18th, 2007 at 8:35 am
It would be interesting to know what these 40 questions are. What’s also interesting is that in the UK if you remain tight lipped it is nowadays seen as a sign of guilt. I wouldn’t be permitted the right to silence, and if I didn’t answer a question it would be brought up in court and the jury would take a dim view of my action no doubt.
Is it just me but doesn’t Gerry McCann’s voice and face just make you want to smack the sh@t out of him?
September 18th, 2007 at 8:39 am
Did anyone see the trevor mc donald programme last night?
I thought it was a fair sided show based on facts
what a load of one sided mc cann bias
Why is itv so pro mc canns?
September 18th, 2007 at 8:45 am
5
I watched it and ti tell you the truth had I not been working and some distance from the TV I’d probably be out this morning replacing it having put my foot straight through it in disgust. Not only is this whole thing now questioning the integrity of the PJ but it’s now calling into question techniques the UK Police use. How come once upon a time they’d have happily accepted cadaver dog evidence but now it’s all being questioned as to it’s admissibility in court? If these two f@@kers get away with this we might as well all turn our backs on any legal process and adopt Wild Frontier 1888 Vigilante style approaches to administering justice, usually a lynching. Please form an orderly queue.
September 18th, 2007 at 8:45 am
are they allowed to speak to anyone if they are arguidos, I thought they HAD TO keep quiet. why do they keep going to Gordon Brown, is he a friend maybe
September 18th, 2007 at 8:46 am
The show was not pro McCann at all. It looked at the evidence and did what any decent defence counsel would do. Created doubt.
I am not pro McCann but I believe in justice, and the evidence that has been leaked does not prove their guilt in any way.
September 18th, 2007 at 8:47 am
I think since the weekend there is new focus and impetus behind the McCann PR machine. Bringing in a PR heavyweight with political connections and the meeting between Team McCann and the top six newspaper editors evidently did the trick….they have their marching orders.
The Portuguese judiciary seems to have lost the initiative and spends its time defending itself as the guilty party.
This will get swept under the carpet….”perception is reality”.
September 18th, 2007 at 8:49 am
Judge Dread, I’m not so sure it would necessarily always be in the best interest of a suspect to answer all questions even if they are innocent. It depends on the question and what the police intend to do with the answer.