Madeleine McCann And McGuckin: Max Clifford, Robert Murat And Portugal Is No Spain
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann, with special guests the McGuckins.
British media massed in Portugal for the one-year anniversary of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are filling in the blanks by watching the telly. Eamon and Antoinette McGuckin flicker into life. Now read on…
THE GUARDIAN: “Holiday couple insist they were not drunk”
Friends in their village in County Derry, Northern Ireland, said the McGuckins had been the victims of “media paranoia” generated by the first anniversary of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance.
You can never be too careful. There could have been three more Maddies.
Their children - aged one, two and six - were temporarily taken from them last weekend by the Portuguese authorities. The McGuckins said they were saddened and traumatised by the furore.
Portugal – bring the kids and get away from the kids.
DAILY MIRROR: Watching the parents. And what do we know about them?
“The couple live in a £450,000 house in Maghera, Northern Ireland.” Such are the facts.
DAILY MAIL: “’We were ill, not drunk’, claim Portugal holiday couple who had children seized”
Last night, a statement released by the McGuckins failed to state how much or what had been drunk, only that it was not “an excessive amount”.
Semantics. Well, Mr McGuckin is a “former bank manager”.
The incident has caused outrage in Portugal, where the year-long investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance has already raised questions over standards of British parenting.
Let’s bomb Portugal, or at least give our young offenders a free holiday there.
BELFAST TELEGRAPH: “Did Derry duo pay for McCanns’ mistake?”
Lindy McDowell plays tabloid bingo and wonders…
And here we come to the crux of the matter. Two words — Madeleine McCann.
Was she there?
Coming as it did in the same weekend that marked the first anniversary of the little girl’s disappearance, the story was always going to make front page news.
And the opinion pages, it would always make the opinion pages, Lindy.
And fitting as it does the current Portuguese perception that parents from the UK are neglectful and selfish, the McGuckins were not going to win much sympathy from the authorities.
Me, I’d just like to hear their side of the story. I can’t help feeling that if this couple had chosen, say, a resort in Spain, we would never have heard a word about it all.
Yeah, you can pissed out of your head in Spain, allegedly, and the Spanish just step over you. Those are people you can trust.
Which brings us back to the question about the furore this week — was it really about the family from Upperlands? Or Madeleine McCann?
Well, we’d say it was about the McGuckins. But most things are about Madeleine McCann so it’s more likely about her and those “sardine mumching“ Portuguese scum.
THE SCOTSMAN: “Holiday parents deny being too drunk to look after children”
The incident happened just 45 miles from Praia da Luz, where Madeleine McCann went missing from her family’s holiday apartment just over a year ago while her parents dined nearby.
Maybe they were drinking to forget?
IRISH INDEPENDENT: “Holiday parents insist: ‘We did not drink excessively’”
In a lengthy statement, released through friend and SDLP councillor Kate Lagan, the couple said that on Friday night last - the night it was alleged they were drinking during happy hour at a local bar — they left their apartment in an Algarve holiday resort at 7pm and went to a play park with their children for a half an hour.
The McGuckins have friends in politics. And a media handler. It’s the in thing.
MIDULSTER TODAY: “Max Clifford ‘more than happy to meet with McGuckins’”
PR guru Max Clifford, the man who represents Robert Murat?
He says that he’s happy to meet with the McGuckins. “It’s a good story and it’s important that they get their side of it out there,” he says.
Madeleine McCann: A child of our time
Posted: 8th, May 2008 | In: Broadsheets, Madeleine McCann, Tabloids Comments (669) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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May 9th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Morning all.
644 - Maravilha, I don’t know you, nor your experiences of life, nor how many couples you know who unfortunatually lost a child, but I wouldn’t generalise like you did. I happen to know also a few couples who lost a child [and a couple who's had many miscarriages] none of them divorced. And mrT and I also walk hand in hand very often as a few other couples we know too.
653 - Coolandcalm, I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your cat. Cats become a [very dominant] part of the family, isn’t it? You must feel sad but also relieved to know what happened to him/her.
655 - Gandy, the missus has a look at the dark place, isn’t it? And if I’m not mistaken, you posted a while ago a link to the sargents website? Blackwatch posted an interesting article about the 3/4/5/ whatever a*ses website. Bit like Ian, but not quit so.
And Chenier’s supplier of feathers to accompany the tar, reappeared
It seems they can’t live with not without Anorak! Is it true love?
May 9th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Good morning.
LOL.
It was me, i confess.
I said it here a couple of times “you can kiss my lily white irish arse”
May 9th, 2008 at 9:39 am
New thread
May 9th, 2008 at 9:38 am
662
firestar
Just try and put it behind you.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:34 am
663
Matt. Says:
May 9th, 2008 at 9:32 am
662…firestar
Allow me to add my congratulations to Firestars’ posterior; a commendably unbiased organ…
May 9th, 2008 at 9:32 am
662…firestar
An admirable attitude.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:30 am
i’ve never really put much thought into where my arse originated.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:29 am
i don’t know about fritzl taking lessons from hitler, gordon brown seems to have learned a few.
———
In a move that echoes President Bush’s post-9/11 Patriot Act, UK police forces are asking librarians and booksellers for the reading records of those they see as suspicious.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:22 am
577…The Real Stig
577
The Real Stig Says:
May 8th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
558 AyeRight Says:
“Or maybe because you said it in another post (”lilly white Irish butt” sticks in my mind for some reason)”
The Irish don’t say ‘butt’
*************************************
Many people use words to describe anatomical parts which
originated in the U S of A…..Irish, English, Scottish, Welsh.
Individual choice no matter what Nationality really.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Good morning all.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Morning all
I dreamt the PJ knew where and how her body was kept
Very vivid dream,unpleasant.I woke up in a sweat.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:11 am
655………… The mcCanns didn’t say they didn’t have a buggy on holiday with them… they said they didn’t take one to the Millenium when they ate there and had to walk back carrying three children…..
May 9th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Good morning everyone.
I have found this video. Have a look at the double buggy just next to the stairs, looks pretty much like Sean and Amelie in it. That would mean they had a buggy with them on holiday.
http://uk.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=54749
May 9th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Alipio Ribeiro again states that this case may never be solved, why does he repeat this, as the former head of the PJ we would expect him to be up to speed with the case developments.
http://clix.expresso.pt/gen.pl?p=stories&op=view&fokey=ex.stories/315774
May 9th, 2008 at 8:45 am
cool and calm, very sorry to hear of the loss of your much loved cat. I do understand how sad that makes you feel. Some animals have a particularly enduring place in our hearts.
May 9th, 2008 at 8:08 am
PeterMac….. but he didn’t leave his post to work for the McCanns… he left to work for Brian Kennedy (far more cash in the private sector) and Kennedy seconded him to the McCanns. If/when madeleine is found then Clarence will go to work for Kennedy full time.
Maravilha….. Lots of married couples I know walk hand in hand. Mr C&C and I do all the time. And we left the mcCanns age-group behind long ago.
I notice that Ian snuck in again last night as AyeRight. (IMO of course!!) Just can’t stay away despite slagging off Anorak and calling AGW every name in the book! So funny………
No i shouldn’t be here, yes I’m going again very shortly. Due to sad loss of beloved cat I am distracted so am not working till monday. Hence free screen time.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:47 am
605 wtf
603 nemesis
“Still doesnt add up though does it? EDIT
Why would [Clarrie] give up his permanent job in the government for a couple he supposedly hardly knew, when if he believed Maddie was still alive, could have been a very temporary post indeed! ”
This has intrigued me from the start. So many actions point to an almost inevitable conclusion that the McCs KNOW that M would not and will not be found.
All the planning for the 100 days, 6 months, balloon launches, anniversary parties, and so on take time. That time has to be before the event, and sometimes a long time before the event. The time spent planning and organising the events is time spent Not looking for Maddie.
The documentary film is another good example. Film crews have been following them for months as they went about not looking for Maddie. Why ? One phone call from M3 could have ruined the whole thing.
Clarrie could have resigned his post and found himself unemployed within hours by the same phone call. But he clearly knows and knew that will not and would not happen.
Woh would give up a permanent job in a government department, good salary and an excellent final salary pension scheme, with the possibility of a minor honour just before retirement, to take on an unattractive whining couple from the sticks who have mislaid one of their children in a foreign country ?
Like many aspects of this saga, as you rightly say “Still doesn’t add up though does it?”
May 9th, 2008 at 7:41 am
643 Maravilha Says:
” Don’t you all think the McCanns’marriage is too perfect?
Hand in hand all the time. ”
Jealous?
May 9th, 2008 at 1:51 am
475 Garth
long time, no see
still cavorting in skirts?
May 9th, 2008 at 1:45 am
512 - chenier
Damn!
You swine, you swine, you absolute swine.
Is that enough or would you like some more exclamation marks?
–
I am sure you are right C in your sentiments, but don’t cast apersions on swine.
I work with swine, the authentic ones, and I love them.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:29 am
I absolutely agree with you, but why, I wonder have the pj not brought them in before now? They should have all the evidence by now, and if there is not enough to convict them, they should concentrate on looking elsewhere and remove the supect status
May 9th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Annie, 645
It is possible that Gerry feels responsible for the eventual accident that happened to Madeleine.
I even believe he feels that way.
“If I would have helped Kate that afternoon, if I would have being there, if I would have given more attention to Kate, if I would not have being too busy with myself…”
Possibly the 3 children were too much for her on that evening, she could have lost her temper.
She is a nervous type(I think) very thin.
This would be understandable if they would not have asked for money from innocent people who believed them.
Contradictions in their stories show they know a lot more than they are telling
That’s what I don’t accept at all.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:38 am
They are as false as a cart load of monkeys - hand in hand . when they were on their hols Gerry was off to tennis - apparently. Seems strange to me - this lot were on holiday together (the tapas 7,8,9 or however many) but they didnt seem to see much of each other in the day, did they? It might have been expected that Kate and the kids would have socialised with the other mums and their kids while the golfing and tennis men did their thing…no reports of anything like it? Kids shoved in the creche and off they go……….. Kates mum seems like a nice soul. I am sure she would have stayed at Rothley Manor babysitting while the McCs had a “adult” holiday?? I for the life of me cannot understand why any couple would go on a family holiday and see so little of their family
May 9th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Films?
Doctor at Large
May 9th, 2008 at 12:25 am
Why this concentration on Kate?
Was the PJ clear about suspecting Kate, did they ever say something officially ?
Or not yet?
Among all couples I know who unfortunately lost a child, I observed that their marriage went in trouble and most of them got divorced,
Even if it was a death caused by a car, motorcycle accident, etc.
Don’t you all think the McCanns’marriage is too perfect?
Hand in hand all the time.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Films :
The Greatest Story Ever Sold
The Incredibles
Rumours & Lies
Clarrie’s Web
OHMS
May 9th, 2008 at 12:08 am
nite Sam and everyone - I, being a retired layabout who can stay up as late as I want, and get up as late as I want to - will shuffle off to another anorak with a little bit of life at midnight - lol
May 8th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
627 Val,
going to an Anglican church has nothing to do with the Vatican or to the Pope.
probably the McCanns are avoiding people from their church who will recognize them at once and with whom the couple had contact before May3rd,007.
They are running miles and miles from everybody they met before, I think.
Speaking about Madeleine’s spirit showing up during the night:
I think Kate is feeling guilty of something, that is why she sees her spirit, maybe accusing her of having being neglect.
May 8th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
633
annie1 Says:
am way to tired to look at pictures properly, night night
May 8th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
636
Christine Says:
May 8th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
good night chriostine, i’m going soon too.
May 8th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
634
Christine Says:
May 8th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
‘In the last photo look at the flimsey hair, then, at the much bigger girl - her teeth are much bigger. The picture of Madeleine McCann in the ‘alledged ‘ last photo is a much much younger child.’
i don’t think the photos are all that wrong, the relatives would notice.