Madeleine McCann: The Benchmark For Missing Children
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann
THE SUN: “How could she just vanish?”
The Sun is speaking of Shannon Matthews.
The absence of any clues is not for the want of looking. In contrast to the bungling by Portuguese police in the early days of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, the hunt for Shannon by West Yorkshire police has been textbook.
Even if the child has not been found, neither in Yorkshire, nor in Portugal.
CNN: “’Underworld’ tip leads to new Maddie hunt”
The search at the Barragem do Arade reservoir, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Praia da Luz, is the initiative of Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia, who told CNN he has never spoken to the McCanns but has sent them two letters and without receiving a reply.
Correia said they have found four strings, each with different lengths, and a sock. He said the items have been turned over to the McCanns’ detectives.
A missing sock has been found. Such is the news.
THE SCOTSMAN: “So what is a mum to do?”
EVERY so often, circumstances conspire to hold up before us that most reviled of creatures: the bad mother. We love a bad mother…
Last year it was Kate McCann, doctor, wife, mother-of-three, whose crime was to have supper at a tapas bar while someone stole her three-year-old daughter from her bed in the most child-friendly of Portuguese resorts.
Now it’s Fiona MacKeown’s turn. On the McCann scale of public opprobrium she ought to come off worse – and it may yet prove that she does, because this story is still young.
DAILY TELEGRAPH: “’Why I, as a parent, refuse to condemn Scarlett Keeling’s mother’”
We’ve had two shocking examples of this recently: 15-year-old Scarlett Keeling, who was raped and murdered on a beach in Goa, and Shannon Matthews, the nine-year-old who has been missing for more than three weeks in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.
In both cases, initial sympathy for their grieving mothers turned to blame, just as it did after Madeleine McCann disappeared. Their mothers stand accused of being too pleasure-seeking (in Scarlett’s case) or feckless (in Shannon’s) to keep their children safe. I won’t join in.
INDEPENDENT: “Missing children and the media: The wrong kind of family?”
Shannon’s disappearance has brought inevitable comparisons with that of Madeleine McCann. So far, national newspapers have published 168 stories about Shannon’s disappearance, including seven in The Independent. In the first 21 days after Madeleine’s disappearance from a resort in Portugal, some 539 articles were produced, of which 22 were published by this newspaper.
In the same period, the reward fund for Madeleine’s safe return stood at £2.6m. Contributors included Sir Richard Branson, J K Rowling and Wayne Rooney…
Mrs Bushby perhaps spoke for many when she insisted that whether it is Shannon Matthews or Madeleine McCann who has gone missing, no difference should be drawn. She said: “We’re not giving up. No way. Two children have gone missing, that’s the point. Everyone feels the same when that happens: rich, pauper, whatever. It’s the kid we’re looking for isn’t it? Not the mothers.”
March 13th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Actually I htink a difference should be drawn. Shannon was not under 4 and not left alone in a foreign country.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:17 am
More fuss about the poor parenting of parents of a 15 year old in India and a 9 year old (Shannon is 9 isnt she?) than there has eve been voiced in the papers about the McCanns and their under 4 and two year olds!!!
Yet the McCanns seek to ‘reach settlements’ with UK papers! Incredible.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Difference? So you think it’s ok to neglect a 9 year old in her home country do you
March 13th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Sue and be damned, Part II
‘Last week, it was confirmed the McCanns had made formal complaints to Express Newspapers over a series of what Mitchell claimed were “wildly and grossly defamatory” articles in the group’s titles’ coverage of Madeleine and were considering taking legal action. They have instructed London law firm Carter Ruck, which specialises in high profile libel cases, to push for a settlement.’ - Report.
Carter Ruck can push for a settlement, the Express lawyers will pull. The intention of the latter is to finesse a suit. The latter know they will be paid, whatever the outcome, the former may not. Will there will be an out-of-court settlement, where there is no libel? ‘Wildly and grossly defamatory’ doesn’t quite cut it. Oftentimes, the exercise of justice yields the truth. Defamation is in the eye of the beholder: it may not be in the eye of the Court. A defence for defamation, is truth.
Carter Ruck know their clients could not pay their mortgage six months ago, and cannot possibly fund a ‘high-profile libel case’ on half a year’s salary, with prospects uncertain. Many legal actions are considered, few are taken. Last summer in PDL, Carter Ruck’s clients were adamant they would sue a Portuguese newspaper for libel. They did not do so. Carter Ruck know that, beyond a certain amount of legal chaffering, their clients’ funds will not extend. And so do the defendant’s lawyers.
Carter Ruck know that any monies placed on account to the credit of their clients the plaintiffs to fund an action need to have an assured, legal provenance, i.e. no ‘fund’ money, no secret backers’ money, just McCann money, untainted and above aboard. Are the McCanns to sell their house, to fund this action? Are they to borrow? What is their realistic equity? What is a realistic estimate of their costs, if they lose this action, which they must? Should not all this wasted money and energy be devoted to finding Madeleine?
Carter Ruck know that legal ethics forbid advice to the McCanns which might encourage futile and pernicious litigation. As Mitchell is not the plaintiff, under what assumed capacity does he represent the plaintiffs to Carter Ruck? Do the plaintiffs themselves confirm the articles were defamatory, ‘wildly and grossly’? Do the plaintiffs understand that truth is never defamatory? Do the plaintiffs understand what truth is?
Carter Ruck know that any libel action launched by the McCanns may not be completed by them in person, as they may at any time be unavoidably detained elsewhere, thus detracting from the prospects of a successful outcome to their libel action.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Re-posted with corrections (sorry, got mad and typed too quickly!).
More fuss and media words about the poor parenting of parents of a 15 year old in India and 9 year old (Shannon is 9 isnt she?) than has ever been voiced in the papers about the McCanns and their under 4 and two year olds!!!
Yet the McCanns seek to ‘reach settlements’ with UK papers!
Incredible.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:24 am
I love the way leaving 3 under 5s on their own in an unlocked apartment is being equated with letting a 15 year old live with a friend, and a 9 year old walk home from school.
The press are desperate to use the Shannon case and the Goa case to make the McCann’s look like victims but in Shannon’s case it’s normal to walk home from school at that age - and it was just bad judgement to leave the 15 year old alone (I’m not sure how illegal it could be).
But the twins were 2, Madeleine was 3 - and the door was unlocked. Very, very stupid.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:24 am
yampster, I drew no conclusion, but simply pointed out the difference in treatment.
The McCnns have admitted they neglected a 4 year old and two to year olds, yet the papers have used more words regarding neglect in Shannons case in the relatively brief time she has been missing than ever have been used in the same way regarding the McCanns.
If you cannot see that, then your not very perceptive.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:24 am
I wonder if the generous lawyer is going to give the sock ythey found to mummy mccann for a wash….
March 13th, 2008 at 11:29 am
6 Karen
Absolutely. I do not approve of the way the 15 year old was allowed drugs and piercings and sexual relations (illegal sexual relations). My own children are not allowed such freedoms for their own protection.
I suspect I would not approve of the way Shannon was being brought up.
I merely point out that it appears the McCanns, who in my eyes committed the most outrageous neglect, are not being treated in the same way - because presumably they have some ‘connections’. They should be treated much more harshly because of their station in live - not more leniently!
March 13th, 2008 at 11:30 am
In life (must calm down!
)
March 13th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Yampster
It isn’t neglect. I walked home at 9. If you live in a bad area, it might be unwise - but I haven’t heard of any other children being kidnapped in Dewsbury recently. It’s usually safe because all the kids are leaving at the same time and everyone can see each other.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Ian
It’s irritating - but maybe we should just accept it. The McCanns have Media friends and even if they’re found guilty and sent to prison - they’re still not going to get a bad press.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:33 am
The Shannon and Scarlett case is not in the same league of bad parenting
The Mc Canns are the M&S of bad parenting
( As a very wise 36 yo once said
)
March 13th, 2008 at 11:36 am
12
Karen
Extremely irritating yes.
I am now wondering if they will ever be charged and if ever charged I am not sure the media is going to be that soft on them.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:37 am
brandon flours, 129.
I would be surprised if Express Newspapers lightly allowed themselves to become a milch-cow for mcscamfund.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Eringena
Yes I agree
Just one of Clarries ideas for a distraction methinks
March 13th, 2008 at 11:40 am
BBL
March 13th, 2008 at 11:42 am
11
Karen
Sorry, should I have put a
on the end of it
Are you an american?
March 13th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Could it be posswible that the sueing of the express group is simply a warning to all the media in case they are actually charged??a way to ask to minimise the footage???
March 13th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Ympster
Not American - Scottish.
Be fair though - that sentence was too deadpan to pick it up as satiric without a
March 13th, 2008 at 11:46 am
6
karen
well put, Karen.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:46 am
KATE’N GERRY BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE
Press complaints commission sees no reason for action…
Mediapolis: Kate and Gerry McCann The Times
The Times, March 13 2008
Talk of Kate and Gerry McCann suing Richard Desmond’s Daily Express and other newspapers is, for the moment, wide of the mark. Although nobody is prepared to comment, apparently talk of a demand of £1 million in compensation for alleged defamation is inaccurate. Indeed, no sums of money have been demanded or offered by either side. The couple want an apology, amid concerns about a series of what they say have been misleading headlines on as many as 40 stories in the tabloid, so money may not enter into it - but a writ is not ruled out. Interestingly, however, they clearly believe that the Press Complaints Commission was not able to help. Instead, the advice used by the McCanns comes from the Carter-Ruck law firm - and if they succeed against Mr Desmond’s titles, other newspapers could be targeted. If money does change hands, it will be destined for the Find Madeleine fund.
Friday 14 March 2008
316
March 13th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Wow there are some angry nasty towards Mccanns with no proof!!! ha whta a load of …
March 13th, 2008 at 11:51 am
22 which means the McCanns mortgage as we all know!
Disgraceful.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Welcome back Kris.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Kris
The door was unlocked. So, stuff it up your arse.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:53 am
23
kris
There is? Where?
March 13th, 2008 at 11:53 am
23
kris Says:
March 13th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Wow there are some angry nasty towards Mccanns with no proof!!! ha whta a load of …
have you got keyboard dyslexia?
March 13th, 2008 at 11:55 am
From Liverpool Echo
KATE’N GERRY ARE ONCE AGAIN SHOWING WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE:
They snub a missing children mach while hunting down mo’ money from the papers.
Madeleine McCann: Parents back missing people demo
MAR 13 2008
RELATIVES of Madeleine McCann joined a march in support of families of missing people yesterday.
The young girl’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, were unable to attend the demonstration in central London but voiced their support for its aims.
Two mothers whose sons vanished a decade apart organised the event to lobby the Government for funding to help those left behind.
Meanwhile Mr McCann has spoken of the couple’s sorrow at the news that the remains of a missing five-year-old Spanish girl have been discovered.
The body of Mari Luz Cortes was found last week floating in an estuary near Huelva in southern Spain.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Eringena, and your point is………..you obviously never saw the link posted last night where the Express group have been “advised ” to refrain from writing about the McCanns, I would think their legal people basically said, dont fuck with Carter-Ruck they aint no amatuers. The McCanns dont need to prove anything, people seem to have a hard time getting their heads around that.