Madeleine McCann: The Truth Of The Lie, The Missing Pages And Blonde Lawyers
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann
A girl has disappeared. We spent over a year watching the parents via the press. The McCanns have been formally cleared of involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance. But we are still watching them…
IRISH INDEPENDENT: “Maddy’s parents turn to their lawyers as book hits shelves”
Kate and Gerry McCann consulted lawyers yesterday after the publication of extracts from a book by a former senior Portuguese detective containing allegations against them. Goncalo Amaral, former head of the investigation into the disappearance of the couple’s daughter Madeleine, affirms that the young girl died in her family’s holiday flat.
His book, entitled ‘The Truth Of The Lie’, will be published today but excerpts were printed in the Portuguese paper ‘Correio da Manha’ yesterday.
Do we dare repeat what the book says? Is any publicity bad publicity?
The McCann family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: “Mr Amaral will face immediate and swift legal action if he in any way implies, either directly or indirectly, that Kate and Gerry were involved in the disappearance or harming of their daughter.”
SKY NEWS: “Ex-Cop’s Madeleine Book Published”
He criticises the McCanns, their friends, Gordon Brown and the British police.
Many do. Any other key facts?
The book’s publishers remind readers that Mr Amaral was a successful detective and top of his class of police cadets 27 years ago. But they make no mention of the perjury charge he faces over another missing child investigation.
But Sky News does.
THE SUN: “How could he?”
He is now facing perjury charges over an earlier case involving the disappearance of a girl.
The cad. The Sun just sticks to the facts.
But the ex-cop still churned out his 214-page book Maddie — A Verdade da Mentira, which translates as Maddie — The Truth of the Lie.
Isn’t it 224-pages long? We demand to know what happened to the 10 missing pages. We demand the truth! Are there two books?
The £10 book — with an initial print-run of 40,000 — is being published only in Portugal for fear of libelling the couple. In March doctors Kate and Gerry, both 40 and from Rothley, Leics, received £550,000 from Express Newspapers for printing false claims.
The Express. Libel. For shame. The Sun would never get it so utterly wrong, would it?
In any case, the Portuguese police case is over, the papers told us so:
Though the case has been shelved, Portugal’s top cop Almeida Rodrigues insisted yesterday: “We will continue to chase up every credible lead we receive. We will travel to the ends of the Earth if needs be.
DAILY TELEGRAPH: “Kate and Gerry McCann threaten legal action over Madeleine book”
Says Clarence Mitchell: “Amaral is seeking to make money out of Madeleine’s situation and is seeking publicity – it’s quite disgusting,” he said admitting that legal advice had been taken.”
Does Clarence Mitchell get paid to be the McCanns’ spokesman, to speak on behalf of the parents of a missing child? And now the McCanns are no longer suspects, and all too used to dealing with the media, do they need him?
Does he need a new job. Do you have a missing child?
DAILY MAIL: “I took my little grandson to plaiy in the woods. So how on earth did we end up being frogmarched home by police?”
Writes Dorothy Judd, a “pensioner”:
We are in woods bordering a vast park in a suburb of a northern city. Wild and muddy, they are sordid with litter, but nature triumphs with abundant fungi, ivy, brambles and the extraordinary roots of vast trees that Max climbs on…
Earlier, in a supermarket, Max was obscured for a second behind someone else. I felt a panicked ‘What if . . .’ before seeing him again.
Quick, granny, it’s the rozzers:
‘Police!’ says Max, sitting up in astonishment.
I turn around to see a large policeman in a fluorescent jacket approaching across rough ground. He asks what we are doing. ‘This is my grandson, Max. We’re making a den, as you can see. But I was just saying we should be getting back for tea.’
‘You all right, Max?’ he asks. The little boy looks bemused and rather shy. ‘Yes,’ he says quietly, glancing at me inquiringly. The policeman says there have been two reports from people who are worried or suspicious as to what is going on.
‘I’ll have to take down a few details.’ The policeman opens his notebook and asks my name, date of birth, Max’s date of birth and my address. I say I live in London, but am staying with my son and daughter-in-law’s family. Again, he asks: ‘You all right, Max?’
‘Yes,’ the little boy says apprehensively. Perhaps he is picking up my increased heart rate. ‘Why is he asking questions, Granny?’
‘He’s making sure we’re OK, Max. That’s all,’ I say, as nonchalantly as possible. But I don’t feel calm. The officer talks into his walkie-talkie.
‘Well, then, I’d better see you on your way. You know, complete the inquiry. I’m sure it will be all right. I’ll just pass by the house. You said you were going back anyway.’
And then the clincher:
Perhaps I have not moved with the times or fully realised that childhoods before the Seventies were different from the world we inhabit: that the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, CCTV, greater awareness of child abuse, more self-consciousness, have altered the climate.
Yeah, because in the 1940s, the UK was much safer place for children, right?
Changes for the better, in many ways. But increasingly society is losing, especially for our urban children, a sense of freedom, an unstructured and ’safe-enough’ physical environment, with dangers that can be tamed through play and imagination, where worlds - even a kind of magic - can be created.
Well, no. Lots of children are about in the urban sprawl after dark. Some wear hoods to keep out the chill.
TIMES ONLINE: “Lawyer of the Week: Lucy Moorman”
Yayyyy!. Let’s here it for the lawyers.
Lucy Moorman, an in-house barrister at Simons Muirhead & Burton, represented Robert Murat, who sued 11 British newspapers for libel over allegations that he was involved in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Last week the papers apologised in court and announced a record damages payout of £600,000.
Lucy is blonde.
What were the main challenges and the possible implications?
We were presented with three clients with devastated reputations (Michaela Walczuch and Sergey Malinka also recovered six-figure sums), a torrid tabloid media campaign spanning nine months and more than 100 seriously defamatory articles. It required great focus and formidable teamwork to get into a position to present the claims at the High Court. To have achieved such resounding vindication for the clients within just three months is immense.
Lucy is blonde.
Madeleine McCann: No end in sight
July 24th, 2008 at 8:08 am
1 st
July 24th, 2008 at 8:11 am
So the tappas9 were under survelaince before Madeleine went missing according to Amaral
Not just a myth then !
July 24th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Hi coco / Jo
July 24th, 2008 at 8:14 am
X HI!
July 24th, 2008 at 8:14 am
HEY! 4…………..9
July 24th, 2008 at 8:15 am
I want to read the texts, emails, and map the phones now !!!
What page is that on?
July 24th, 2008 at 8:16 am
The book is a book,init? pure fiction…..
I WANT evidence of an abduction NOW
There is not a word over it.Why? has the abduction theory been abducted?
July 24th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Coco,Brandon
I am going to visit the pope,to give him a copy of the New Bible,coming?
We will have free pizzas and pasta a gogo
July 24th, 2008 at 8:20 am
G’Morning All
What a gorgeous day 
If someone in UK posts a quote from the book, but makes it clear it is the authors words, would it libel the author? would the poster be commiting libel?
July 24th, 2008 at 8:21 am
They were involved in Madeleine’s disappearance - they left the door open!!!
I know all the forum mind-readers say that they do feel guilty - but they don’t half hide it well…
July 24th, 2008 at 8:22 am
just_me
Yeah.
But you could paraphrase and make it clear it was unproven and likely to be total balls.
I think.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:22 am
OK thanks Karen.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:23 am
I love the Sun article starting with “How could he?”
“He makes a serious allegation against one of the Tapas Seven, the nickname given to a group of the McCanns’ holiday pals”
tut tut,Mr.Amaral!!!
“How could he not” is a better approach but I am I am biased,twisted, I smell fishy and since I am posting on anorak I am 103% mental….
July 24th, 2008 at 8:24 am
I have to do real-life things for a few hours now.
When I am rested I hope to read on Anorak that most of our thoughts have been real facts during this farce.
I am still concerned about a Milk Tray Man.
The Super-Sardines and the aliens have taken a back-seat in my thoughts.
The chill down my spine whenever I think about this case has never abated.
Today I am reminded of how the PJ thought that M was in some kind of cold storage for a time. I hope the parents don’t know about this.
They would never sleep in they imagined that their child had been refrigerated or kept chilled.
They want to believe that she’s in a palace and being treated like a princess.
Much nicer thought to go to bed with. They’ve got enough anguish.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Just_me
Lets go and ask the pope with a copy of the book of lies
Karen,coming?
July 24th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Well, if K & G are requesting an english version of the book, surely they cant take action for libel in UK.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Only 214 pages, well, this will be worth reading. It is amazing how banned books find their way onto book shelves. This detective must be very sure, or he could risk legal action. This man knows a thing or too.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:28 am
coco
No.They know nothing,dont want to know anything,wont say nothing
As simple as that
Have a good rest and then lets go to the vatican
The catholic bendition is what we need to be enlightened
We must not smell of sardine,tho”
I”ll get the jet ready
Gone for breakfast
July 24th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Maybe the book has a signature at the end
‘ All the above is my opinion, based on the evidence available to me at the time, and subsequent evidence discovered, has not been included in my analysis of the events of May 3rd.’
July 24th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Jo
Of course I would come.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:33 am
The Sun headline should not be seen as a disappointment!
Rejoice!
This is what the unwashed will read and debate. Speaking as an oick I can tell you that this will be on everybody’s lips today.
It’s a bit of reverse psychology. And …… it makes you want to read it!
Just to see all the cruel, heartless, terrible things he has dared to commit to paper.
The Sun knows that Amaral will not have printed anything that he could get into real trouble for. He will substantiate everything to the best of his knowledge - HAVING FUCKING BEEN THERE! I think we should give him the benefit of the doubt - Like a Judge would do with any copper! Unless Milk Tray Men said not to!
July 24th, 2008 at 8:35 am
To be honest - I’ve not really been following the investigation - I was too busy watching how odd the McCanns are and how crap the British press are in response.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Got a new dolly!
It says - ‘Libel! Libel! Where’s my fucking Bible!’ and ‘Get the fucking Pope on that phone right now!
‘Get me a fucking boat! Hire me a car!’ ‘Pass me that cloth you bastard - You made this mess!’
It says other things that I daren’t repeat!
July 24th, 2008 at 8:38 am
lyn Says:
July 24th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Only 214 pages, well, this will be worth reading. It is amazing how banned books find their way onto book shelves. This detective must be very sure, or he could risk legal action. This man knows a thing or too.
******
WHY do you think he was removed from the case,MONTHS later?
WHY are the mccfolls SO worried and angry about him and his book?
The truth and justice for Madeleine will come and NOT necessarily because Amaral wrote a book….you will see,it will come when the time is ripe
July 24th, 2008 at 8:41 am
coco Says:
July 24th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Got a new dolly!
It says - ‘Libel! Libel! Where’s my fucking Bible!’ and ‘Get the fucking Pope on that phone right now!
‘Get me a fucking boat! Hire me a car!’ ‘Pass me that cloth you bastard - You made this mess!’
It says other things that I daren’t repeat!
******
Very nice name for a doll!
We mustnt forget to take some Dollies to the pope.He will surely appreciate a doll called “Poppy” ,holding a miniature bible with some pages marked and torn to make it look more real ,wouldnt he?
BBL
July 24th, 2008 at 8:41 am
JO! You have become almost Guru-like in your sooth-saying! Are you a Saint? Are you St Jo? lol
July 24th, 2008 at 8:43 am
coco - ‘Libel! Libel! Where’s my fucking Bible!’ —- pmsl brilliant!!!
July 24th, 2008 at 8:43 am
The Pope Doll can be called Benendictine and he can have a side-kick called Cinzano! lol Really terrible drinks in the 70s! lol But got you talking to God on the big white telephone.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Karren
I”ll send the jet for you.Will have to make a detours via SA to pick Julie tho”
Bransy said there was no problem.He”s got good deal with petrol and all.He had a chat with Bin Laden who gave his “go ahead”
Gone for a munch before it turns out to be lunch time and I am caught by my boss deliring on anorak.
I will leave no book unturned
BBL
July 24th, 2008 at 8:45 am
wish Amaral had called the book ‘no page unturned’