|
Revelations Maddie's mother's notes prove Goncalo
Amaral right
The
English prime minister called the couple directly and the
British diplomacy took care of the travelling
"To
increase the political pressure". The phrase, by Kate
McCann, written among the notes that were found in her house
and which the Polνcia Judiciaria (PJ) had apprehended, is
clear about the manner in which Maddie's parents intended to
manage their daughter's disappearance, bringing it into the
press' first pages and turning it into a case with political
outlines.
On the
morning of the 23rd of May 2007 (twenty days after Maddie's
disappearance), before they left for the Sanctuary of
Fatima, Kate and Gerry left Gordon Brown a message. Maddie's
mother describes it as a form of "raising the political
pressure" and reveals that the present Prime Minister at
that date, he was not in functions but had already been
confirmed as Tony Blair's successor answered her only
three hours later. He spoke with Gerry, was "very
sympathetic and gave strength", tells Kate, who describes
the visit to the catholic sanctuary as overwhelming, potent
and emotional.
On the
same day in the afternoon, Gordon Brown called Maddie's
parents again. Kate's notebooks do not report the
conversation but one is able to understand that the purpose
was to create political pressure, forcing the PJ to act
swiftly.
Today, at
more than a year's distance from the child's disappearance
and after the case has been archived, Kate's notes expose
the pressures that were reported by the former coordinator
of the case, Gonηalo Amaral, who from the moment when he was
removed from the investigation, realised that the process
would not produce an accusation.
With an
investigation that was initially inclined towards the
abduction theory, partly forced by the McCanns, the evidence
of the pressures by the couple also explains the British
press' posture in the coverage of the case, mainly from the
moment when Madeleine's parents went from victims to
suspects and arguidos. With the British prime minister
himself supporting the McCanns, through direct and frequent
phone calls that are revealed by Kate, it became almost
impossible for the English government to help an
investigation that had indicated the parents as guilty.
Apart
from the contacts with Gordon Brown, Kate's notebooks reveal
other important allies. From the hiring of Clarence
Mitchell, who at that point in time worked for the
government, as an assistant, until the conversations with
the wife of Tony Blair, the former British Prime Minister.
Mitchell
actually had a pivotal role in the propaganda machine that
was built by the McCanns within a few days, and which
counted on the great help from the British diplomacy in all
the trips that were carried out by Kate and Gerry.
The first
and most media-exposed [trip] to Rome, to be received by
Pope Benedict XVI was suggested by the assistant, on the
27th of May, after speaking to Francis Campbell, the British
ambassador at the Vatican. "Rome is already preparing
itself", Kate wrote, anticipating that visit as what would
become the "main" news on that day. One day later, the visit
and the audience with the Pope were already confirmed, with
a program that was prepared in a detailed manner.
On the
30th of May, after leaving the British consulate in Rome,
Kate and Gerry, accompanied by the ambassador, made a
strategic stop "for the photographers to catch an image
looking at the Basilica", and continued towards the Vatican,
where they spent a few minutes with Benedict XVI. A moment
that was described as very emotional, positive and
important, and that summoned "loads of" journalists and
photographers, which is definitely a concern that is always
present with the couple.
After
Rome, Madrid, Berlin and Morocco followed, trips with the
purpose of publicising Madeleine's face and which always
relied on passages through consulates or receptions by
British ambassadors and political representatives of the
corresponding countries.
According
to Kate's notes, the days started or ended with meetings,
phone calls and emails. Cherie Blair, the wife of Tony
Blair, Gordon Brown's predecessor, was one of Kate's
contacts, as demonstrated by the reports of the 17th of
July. Before Kate gives Sky News an interview, she speaks
with Cherie, who agrees to make a 20 second videoclip about
Maddie for the English channel. On that same day, Blair
himself pledges assistance and makes himself available for
whatever is needed.
Kate's
notes:
"Left a
message for Gordon Brown to call us in order to increase the
political pressure" Kate McCann, 23rd of May
"Gordon
Brown called and spoke with Gerry very sympathetic and
gave strength. Somewhat emotive feeling afterwards" Kate
McCann, 23rd of May
"Clarence
spoke to us about a possible visit to the Vatican. Rome is
already preparing itself. Francis Campbell was spoken to"
Kate McCann, 27th of May
.
The
ambassador's solidarity
On the
4th [of May], only hours after the alert of Madeleine's
disappearance was given, Kate wrote in her notes that the
English ambassador, John Buck, had been in the apartment
offering them his solidarity. She also noted the presence of
two employees from the consulate and stressed the strong
presence of the media on location. "There is news appearing
in the United Kingdom", Maddie's mother remembered, also
noting the "worrying" and "boring" presence of Yvone, the
English social security technician who tried to understand
whether there was anything in the family's life that might
explain the child's absence.
It should
be referred that on that very same day, the ambassador met
with senior officials from the PJ to understand the outlines
of the case.
..
The news
Abduction
theory On the first days after Maddie's disappearance, on
the 3rd of May 2007, the abduction theory was the only one
that was mentioned in the news. "Give back our Madeleine",
the parents appealed, not admitting any other possibility.
Visit to
Fatima Twenty days after Maddie's disappearance, the
McCann couple went to pray at the Sanctuary of Fatima. But
before that, they called Gordon Brown in order to increase
the political pressure.
Brown's
pressure Only five days after the McCanns' contact with
the British prime minister, Gordon Brown's pressures on
Portugal because of the Maddie case were already known.
McCanns
at the Vatican - The trip to the Vatican and the audience
with Pope Benedict XVI were suggested by advisor Clarence
Mitchell, who mobilised British diplomacy in order to take
the McCanns to Rome. |
