Bridget O’Donnell On Madeleine McCann: Lights, Camera, Action
THE GUARDIAN does not always cover the story of Madeleine McCann on its pages. But today it does. Bridget O’Donnell was on holiday in Praia da Luz at the same time as the McCanns. Mrs O’Donnell works in the media and is allowed to tell her own story.
No interview. No questions. Just her words delivered over six pages .
The picture on the cover of the paper’s G2 supplement is of Madeleine holding tennis balls. It is not the portrait produced by Senor Marty.
Says Bridget O’Donnell: “We lay by the members-only pool staring at the sky. Round and round, the helicopters clacked and roared. Their cameras pointed down at us, mocking the walled and gated enclave. Circles rippled out across the pool. It was the morning after Madeleine went.”
It was a dark and stormy night…
And: “They booked a large table every night in the Tapas. We called them ‘the Doctors’. Sometimes we would sit out on our balcony and their laughter would float up around us. One man was the joker. He had a loud Glaswegian accent. He was Gerry McCann”
“Gerry was outgoing, a wisecracker, but considerate and kind”…
“Then Gerry stood up and began showing Kate his new tennis stroke. She looked at him and smiled. ‘You wouldn’t be interested if I talked about my tennis like that,” Jes said to me. We watched them some more. Kate was calm, still, quietly beautiful; Gerry was confident, proud, silly, strong.
Danielle Steele Vanished - so too has Madeleine McCann
We know him. But: “Privately I was glad we didn’t get their apartment. It was on a corner by the road and people could see in. They were exposed”
A sense of forboding. Dum, dum durdle-durdle, durdle…
“I once worked as a producer in the BBC crime unit. I directed many reconstructions and spent my second pregnancy producing new investigations for Crimewatch”. Her husband is Jeremy Wilkins, the TV producer, spotted by the tabloid press in “MADDIE: THE SECRET WITNESS”
Fact and fiction: “Detectives would call me daily, detailing their cases, and some stories stay with me still, such as the ones about a girl being snatched from her bath, or her bike, or her garden and then held in the passenger seat, or stuffed in the boot. There was always a vehicle, and the first few hours were crucial to the outcome. Afterwards, they would be dumped naked in an alley, or at a petrol station with a £10 note to ‘get a cab back to Mummy’. They would be found within an hour or two. Sometimes”
Knock knock: “The translator had a squint and sweated slightly. He was breathless, perhaps a little excited. We later found out he was Robert Murat. He reminded me of a boy in my class at school who was bullied”
The boy who never had a go on the bouncy castle…
Gerry and Kate are spotted two day after Madeleine has gone missing: “Kate’s back and shoulders, her hands, her mouth had reshaped themselves in to the angular manifestation of a silent scream. I thought I might cry and turned so that she wouldn’t see. Gerry was upright, his lips now drawn into a thin, impenetrable line”
Back home: “’Did you have a good trip?’ asked the cabbie at Gatwick, instantly underlining the conversational dilemma that would occupy the first few weeks: Do we say ‘Yes, thanks’ and move swiftly on? Or divulge the ‘yes-but-no-but’ truth of our ‘Maddy’ experience?”
Or do you tell the Guardian all about it?
Posted: 14th, December 2007 | In: Broadsheets, Madeleine McCann Comments (105) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
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December 30th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Madeleine must have been there, but I couldn’t distinguish her from the others
December 20th, 2007 at 10:11 am
I still reckon a top-cop dun it and screwed up the investigation to cover his tracks.
But, I suppose it’s too simple.
Merry Christmas to you all, Mike.
December 16th, 2007 at 7:17 am
102
Kim Says:
December 15th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
YOu people all need to get a life. I can’t believe the complete trash you write here.
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Why are you a) here b) reading it and c) posting anyway then ?
December 15th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
YOu people all need to get a life. I can’t believe the complete trash you write here.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
O’Donnell on Gerry:
“One man was the joker. He had a loud Glaswegian accent.”,
“Gerry was outgoing, a wisecracker, but considerate and kind”,
“I admired them”.
“Gerry was confident, proud, silly, strong”.
O’Donnell on Madelaine:
“Madeleine must have been there, but I couldn’t distinguish her from the others”
December 15th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
96 Ian
I agree, without doubt.
If Metodo manages to produce a child of some sort, it’s highly unlikely to be Madeleine. And because of Madeleine’s uncertain parentage via IVF, it would be difficult, per se, to confirm or deny her, one way or another. Perhaps it’s an Anastasia situation.
But more likely, Metodo will have been surreptitiously “tipped” by someone directly involved in Madeleine’s disappearance from the get-go, and on Christmas they will find remains, or clothing, indicating she is dead, or has been “moved,” etc. And because it’s Christmas and an oh-so-tragic event, the pro-McCanners will burst with tearful sympathy for the poor McCanns, who’ve already been through so much….
Or, it’s the usual Metodo/McCann bs we’ve constantly experienced.
December 15th, 2007 at 9:35 am
94
Denise Says:
December 15th, 2007 at 3:58 am
I think everyone is holding their breath to see if Madeleine will really be home, I reckon myself she has been found but we won’t find out for couple of days!
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Oh she will be found at some stage, rest assured, but what she will look like after seven months in the water I wouldn’t care to speculate. Ypu could try praying that Christine and for that matter, Angela, are wrong, but I do doubt that very much
December 15th, 2007 at 9:32 am
84
Inspector Gadget Says:
December 14th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
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Sense of humour, some Fava beans and a nice Chianti…..ffffffffffff !!
It never ceases to amaze me that you can go through life, taking people at face value, and then find, usually to your cost, they are related to Myra Hindley - or worse !! Best-Beloved lost many a girlfriend too because M from H “didn’t consider them suitable” , or in other words, she couldn’t control them.It was only when this crusty old freak ( …c’est moi ! ) came along and showed him things (…don’t ask !! ) that the scales fell from his eyes and he realised what had been going on but at least now he has the strength of will to get on with HIS life the way HE wants …..still think I will put her on e-Bay though, despite Gloria Smudd ’s pleadings !! Not sure what to advertise her as yet though….!!
December 15th, 2007 at 9:19 am
http://www.findmadeleine.com
down?
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Mods and Admin
Apparently you have to sort your cookies to access it.
December 15th, 2007 at 8:56 am
94 Denise
Madeleine is dead. You ae forgetting the Cadaver scent and DNA. Dont let these idiots fool you.
Once the child is not found this Christmas, perhaps we wil lhave seen the last of this M3 nonsense.
December 15th, 2007 at 6:09 am
64
Remigius Says:
38 Hideki
“wine opener springs to mind. They clearly had one in their room, because they claim to have drunk some wine before leaving their kids behind to go to the Tapas Bar to drink more wine.Yeah, you could jimmy the shutters with that.”
What I’m wondering is : was there any evidence that someone had TRIED to pry open the shutters? (scratches or whatever). Perhaps Gerry had been interrupted, and/or he had found it more difficult than anticipated. So (hypothetically) the question is whether or not he had begun trying to pry the shutters open. If so, there might be evidence both on the shutters AND on the tool used.
December 15th, 2007 at 3:58 am
I think everyone is holding their breath to see if Madeleine will really be home, I reckon myself she has been found but we won’t find out for couple of days!
December 15th, 2007 at 12:34 am
92 Ciara-Louise Says:
very quiet tonight , none of the usual McCannoraks around, only 91 posts …what’s going on ? Any idea?
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maybe people are stuck in a parallel thread universe
as for me I must grade exams, running out of time
December 14th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
Mods and Admin
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very quiet tonight , none of the usual McCannoraks around, only 91 posts …what’s going on ? Any idea?
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Mods and Admin
It had become routine that we crashed on Friday nights. Probably poeple writing cards , wrapping gifts that sort of thing? housework? which reminds me…..
December 14th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
Is no one around tonight? Where is Stevo??
December 14th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
Une fois encore, le Premier-Ministre britannique, Gordon Brown, s’est servi de sa présence à Lisbonne pour aborder José Socrates, son congénère portugais, à propos de l’affaire McCann. La conversation à eu lieu en marge de la signature du Traité de Lisbonne, ou le Royaume-Uni s’est fait également représenter par David Miliband, ministre des Affaires étrangères.
Le contenu exacte de la conversation n’a pas été révélée mais, une source proche du Premier-Ministre portugais, à confirmée que Gordon Brown à pris l’initiative d’aborder le sujet. “Officiellement, cette conversation sera probablement démentie mais, le fait est la : C’est bien Gordon Brown qui à pris l’initiative d’aborder la question”, confirme la même source rajoutant encore : “Quand iront’ ils comprendre qu’il s’agit d’une affaire qui concerne la police et la justice. La politique n’a rien à y faire”.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
85 Not a logical argument. There is no evidence of abduction. How can the shock of accidentally killing your child or losign her through your negligence be measured in the reaction, especially when these people act so oddly?
Id say they were not acting as if she was still alive, or if they didnt know where she was.
No searching - except on google - jogging, playing tennis….I really am sick of hearing these discussions including unsubstntiated abduction - the McCanns were negligent - fact. They did not act in a way I personally would expect parents hwo had the unthnkable, an abducted child.
December 14th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
My last post was removed last night because I said that the picture of Madeleine at the tennis court was of a much bigger girl than the one in the “last picture” of her with her father and brother- I don’t understand why? Too close to the truth perhaps?
December 14th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
A suggestion to regular Anorakers who have followed this case for a time, for some of us it seems a very long time: how about ending your posts with two figures, % chance some or all of T9 are involved in M’s disappearance, and % chance of case reaching trial, eg at the end of my post 100%, 90%
Would reflect our growing optimism/pessimism about justice in this cruel world
100/90
December 14th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLJ_SKvzUD4&feature=related
Check this out! Gerry telling lies ……never!
December 14th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
On another note about the McCanns demeanor on May 3rd and it’s subsequent change after M went missing:
I can understand if they kept the same uncaring frivolous attitude, but what strikes me as normal, is that they were partying and then M. went missing, their fear and grief were evident (at least to the writer of the above).
So it seems if they were hardened sociopaths (note the if - this is all hypothetical musings), then afterwards they would appear the same hardened uncaring, but as the writer in the guardian noted, Kate was horrified. This adds credence to the theory that M. was abducted.
Now as to their terrible and I mean terrible interviews, I just guess that are hiding something, but what I do not know!
Still I go along with Sherlock Holmes, you eliminate the impossible, and what you have left, however improbable, is what happened….(or words to that effect).
December 14th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
I am simply aghast Ann and others that have like kind in their dynasty. And I thought my mother was a one of a kind, nothing compared to yours Ann - oh but you must be an angel and your beloved a soul made perfect by the fires of hades itself (or should I say herself).
Bet you have a good sense of humor that is the only thing that gets us by in life at times, that and a quart of Vodka.
On to the Metro 3, I am looking forward in great anticipation to MM coming home by Christmas!
December 14th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Think everyone must be out partying tonight. No sign of all the regulars. Heard today that this is likely to be the biggest party night in the UK , lots of work parties going on and I’m sitting on Anorak! Oh, well..C’est la vie!
December 14th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Ennyway… we can all now sleep soundly in our beds now, knowing that good old Metodo 3 are bringing Madeleine home for Christmas and then what will we talk about ??
Going to have to go and collect Resident Grandson from his weight-training session so will leave you all for now….!!
December 14th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
For our sins, we have a six-bedroomed farmhouse which is neatly divided so as to allow Mother-from-Hades to live in the front whilst Best-Beloved, myself and Resident Grandson live in the back. We used to jest and say that if she wasn’t at the foot of the stairs in the morning, we’d know she was OK but we managed to get the Doctor to suggest to her that she would be more comfortable bringing her bed downstairs, as she has had two hip ops. and a new knee, so stairs were a bit of a problem and I caught her trying to go up on two sticks once …sheesh !! .
Prior to us moving in with her, we lived in a 32 foot mobile home in the back yard. Father-in-Law God rest him …lovely, lovely man, died over ten years ago now and Mother-from-Hades lived by herself in that house for four years whilst Best-Beloved, myself and Resident Grandson carried on as best we could in the mobile.
We were expected to maintain, repair and care for the house right down even to changing light bulbs, and keep the garden up to scratch, because of course, she was still doing the odd B & B , and people would say to us, “surely she wants you to you to move in with her now ?” but if anyone ever mentioned it to her she would just say that she was happy with her own company and liked being on her own !! It wasn’t until the roof of the mobile started to leak after eleven years that Best-Beloved went mental and told her we would either move in or move away, for my part I wish we had done the latter….nowt so queer as folk as they say !!!
Funnily enough, there are more of these types about thatn is known, perhaps not quite so extreme but most people don’t say too much in case it is taken as one of those sort of Music Hall Mother-in-Law things ..you know ” Take my Mother-in-Law….pleeeessse !! “”
December 14th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Mods and Admin
I have one like her, the old mare will be 95 next March, they just go on and on and on…..
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I don’t know about your particular “old mare” but what do these old biddies think people must think of them when they say things like ” Oh..you will have to put up with me for a long while yet, all my relations lived into their late 90s and some to 100 +” or in the early days of knowing Best-Beloved Spouse, she used to say things like ” They know better than to upset me, they know I won’t feed them ” It was not well-received when I said - in my innocence - “Oh..they can’t make a sarnie or open a tin of beans then ? ” I wasn’t asked to dinner for many a weekend after that !!
I have a friend of many years standing who has been a Nurse all her working life and she said I should ” ..give her the Big White Meringue”…for the uninititated, this means whack a pillow over her face !!
December 14th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
… refer to her as in private ….
December 14th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Ann, perhaps you should take her to PdL and leave her alone in an unlocked ground floor apartment for a while - you never know! Seriously I do feel sorry for you and I understand how frustrating it must be for you when everyone else thinks she’s a lovely old dear. All I can do is admire you for treating her well for the sake of Best-Beloved. Ref: The Jungle Book, isn’t there a horrid relative out of the Elephant’s Child you can refer to her in private?
December 14th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
74
Gloria Smudd Says:
December 14th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
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Oh bugger !! and I thought I had an “out” there !! You know the worst thing about her ? (….there’s MORE ???? ) she looks like a sweet little grey-haired old lady with a walking-stick and people think she is so NICE…!! Well those who don’t know her do, we of the Inner Circle are better informed..
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Mods and Admin
I have one like her, the old mare will be 95 next March, they just go on and on and on…..
December 14th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
73 Ann -
Selling Harpy-in-Law on E-bay … hmmmm … please don’t, Old Smuddy’s always on there and getting mystery parcels; I don’t want us to end up with her!
December 14th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
You know the old saying “the good die young” ? well poor old B B B-in-Law went at such an early age and he was a scream, how he managed to retain such a strong character with a Mother like her I haven’t a clue but I am dreading the future, Ma-in-Law’s Father was 106 when the old bugger died, one of the most awkward old sods you would ever wish to meet and she is very much like him. We often remark on the similarity so I really don’t care to know what the future might hold for us where she is concerned…could I sell her on E-Bay do you think ???