The purpose of
this site is for information and a record of Gerry McCann's Blog
Archives. As most people will appreciate GM deleted all past blogs
from the official website. Hopefully this Archive will be helpful to
anyone who is interested in Justice for Madeleine Beth McCann. Many
Thanks, Pamalam
Note: This site does not belong to the McCanns. It belongs to Pamalam. If
you wish to contact the McCanns directly, please use
the contact/email details
campaign@findmadeleine.com
The summer of 1990 was a
particularly hot one, even by Algarve standards. I had sold a
lot of the household possessions emanating from a broken
relationship, in order to finance the kindling for a NEW one, by
accompanying a young lady to Albufeira for a weeks sojourn. Cold
'Sagres; Frango and huge surfer waves rolling in on 'Fisherman's
Beach' are just a few of the most enduring memories I have of
that holiday.
Alas, on a personal level, true love spectacularly failed to
blossom on that occasion. However, what DID bloom was a deep and
rewarding love affair with the country of Portugal and its
people, some of whom I deem very close and consider as my
family, that not only lasts to this day but is an important part
of my life. Of course, I am not unique in falling for its
charms; several million of my fellow countrymen visit Portugal
every year, especially the Algarve.
Since that hot summer I have returned to Portugal many times and
visited many places there, and have always been struck by the
genuine warmth, integrity, courtesy and generosity of the
Portuguese, qualities that I consider to be generic to the race
as a whole. I have always admired the respect that they reserve
for their elderly and the dignity that they bestow upon them,
together with the discipline and respect which they
instinctively instil in their young. These are qualities that
are often lamented in my own country, the social consequences of
which are plain to see by all who choose to inspect the European
tables for youth crime, drugs and teenage pregnancies, to name
but just a few of the maladies that effect British society.
So when the tragedy that unfolded, concerning a young child
named Madeleine McCann, in Praia da Luz on the 3rd May 2007, I
was drawn to this case with perhaps a slightly greater initial
interest and concern than my fellow countryman. Here was a child
from my own nation, missing from a country that I love and which
I consider to be my second home.
My own personal concerns and interests in this case have never
particularly related to whether the McCann's are innocent or
guilty, but rather, why we have a British Press and Government
that appears hell bent on TELLING us that the McCann's are
inarguably innocent, and doing so in a manner that I consider
threatens to seriously taint the very alliance that has existed
between our countries for 630 years.
By virtue of the secrecy laws that encapsulate the Portuguese
judicial system, this was always only ever going to be a case
presented entirely by the media with little or next to no
'official' input, making it impossible to distinguish between
what could be factual, fabrication or just plain speculation.
From an early stage in the proceedings, however, apparent doubts
and suspicions surrounding the McCann's began to surface in the
Portuguese press and media, claiming to be citing
Pol'ia Judici'ia sources.
Some of these suspicions were picked up on and reprinted in the
British newspapers but only ALWAYS with the added clarification
that the stories were 'scurrilous lies', 'outrageous
allegations' or 'ludicrous claims' and NEVER without
the statement from sources/friends close to the McCann's,
asserting that it was all hurtful and unhelpful speculation.
Thus, it became an endless cycle of reports and allegations
emanating from the Portuguese media, being repeated, ridiculed
and rejected by the British media. Of course, we all accept that
newspapers, especially the more 'salacious' variety, are prone
to occasionally, shall we say, slightly 'modify', exaggerate or
perhaps even over elaborate certain stories in order to make
them more interesting, readable and saleable. That said,
particularly in matters and stories of this nature and gravity,
I have always held the belief that the media, especially the
Broadsheet variety, would fairly rigorously adhere to the basic
principles of professional journalism and at least ensure that
their reports are as factually based as was possible. I also
believe that to be the tenet that any free speaking Democratic
Foreign media organisation would operate by. Consequently, I
considered the assertion by anyone that EVERY single report
being made in the Portuguese press was a LIE to be preposterous.
What ensued was something of a most bizarre and unprecedented
state of affairs, to witness on one side, the Portuguese
reporting on the possible complicity of Kate and Gerry McCann in
the disappearance of their daughter, with the British Press on
the other side not only refuting those claims, but stating that
what was being reported was being fabricated. Then, when it
became increasingly implausible that the Portuguese media were
fabricating what was being reported, the British media decided
it must be the Portuguese Authorities themselves who were doing
the fabricating!.
Of course, in the absence of any true judicial process it should
be rightly deemed heartless to speculate about the loss of a
child, particularly if one is to try and imagine how any parent
would feel if placed in the same situation. However, what then
happened over the ensuing weeks and months was, I believe,
unique in the annals of any other case in history and I
personally believe that it will form the material for many Media
based vocational courses for years to come.
What started as simple rebuking and contending amongst the
British press and media quickly grew into a mass, concerted 'war
of attrition' against firstly, the Portuguese press and media,
followed by the Portuguese Police, its Government and then,
finally, its people.
'Useless Porto Plod!', 'Bumbling Portuguese Cops' and 'Lazy,
Boozy Porto Police' were just some of the headlines that
informed the avid, British public of the progress of this case.
Serious and reputable Journalists came out in force to support
the McCann's in their ordeal with a reverence that bordered on
Canonising in the true sense of the word. Penny Wark of the
'TIMES' treated them with a fawning manner reminiscent of the
way the late Diana, Princess of Wales was revered. Every other
Broadsheet columnist of note penned pretty much the same story;
Madeleine was ABDUCTED, the Portuguese police are ineffective
and the parents are living Saints.
Perhaps the worst and most offensive article written appeared in
the 'Daily Mirror'. Under the Header 'OH, UP YOURS, SENOR?, Tony
Parsons resorts to appalling xenophobic comments and outrageous
abuse. He refers to the 'stupid, cruel Portuguese police',
adding 'I have never much cared for the convention of calling
cops "pigs" or "filth", but I am happy to make an exception'. He
goes on to say that the PJ are 'fitting up', the McCann's and
advises the Portuguese Ambassador Antonio Santana Carlos to?
keep your stupid, sardine-munching mouth shut?. On a Editorial
note, I feel his comments would have had more gravitas had he
utilised the correct, Portuguese 'SENHOR' in his title, rather
than creating even greater, unquestionable outrage by
implementing the SPANISH Senor! On a more serious level, I would
have to suggest that, had similar comments been made by a
journalist, concerning any other race or subject, then I feel
the full weight of the Authorities, (acting under the austere
legislation surrounding Race Relations and the plethora of new
'Race Hate? crimes that exist in the UK), would have been
dispatched to address the offender forthwith.
Indeed, the disgusting words that were printed by the Daily
Mirror appear even more hard to believe when you consider that
the UK is famous for its 'political correctness?, considered
absurd by most people conversant with it, and especially by
those that have faced intervention by the police for
inadvertently breaching some obscure legislation relating to it.
I positively shudder with shame when I imagine the good and
decent people of Portugal, whom Parsons referred to as
?Bumpkins', especially those who took time off from their work
places and normal lives to search the ground on their hands on
knees, looking for clues regarding the missing girl, using their
bare hands.
When Gerry McCann attended the Edinburgh festival in August, on
the invite of BBC 'News night' presenter Kirsty Walk, to address
TV executives on the Media role in the search for his daughter,
I considered this to be a most extraordinary turn of events and
indicative of just how much power the McCann's yielded in
controlling how this case was being reported and thus,
potentially, perceived.
At the same time, The Daytime TV news schedules were, (and still
are), often dominated by the case, with 'friends' and family
members of the McCann's lining up to praise them. Minor
celebrities too, do not hesitate in telling us how the poor
McCann's are being treated despicably by the Portuguese press.
Richard Madeley who, with his wife Judy Finnigan host a popular
TV program, vilified and abused members of an internet Forum who
voiced possible suspicions surrounding the McCann's, calling
them ?scum?.
Another daytime 'Queen' of the 'GMTV'news programme and tabloid
columnist, Fiona Phillips, displays a regular sycophancy towards
the McCann's that positively nauseates, and flies in the face of
EVERY journalistic trait. Surprisingly, it has recently been
revealed that Phillips was offered a ministerial job by Gordon
Brown, also suggesting she was also offered a peerage.
Fortunately for British politics, the Prime Minister couldn't
match the '400,000 she currently receives for her 'journalistic?
qualities.
Vanessa Feltz, tabloid columnist, 'social commentator' and
former chat show ?queen' expressed disgust at what she called
'McCann Baiting', lambasting the deplorable Portuguese Press,
and their British counterparts who reprinted their stories.
These are just a few of the well known faces of British TV that
have unquestionably helped to forge opinions amongst the general
public, or at least, those members who have neither the interest
in formulating their own opinions, or where they have, allowing
this constant media barrage to change them.
More worryingly, and with startling regularity, the newspapers
and TV stations here have given column inches and time to fill
by retired, notable British Police Detectives, including CID
detective Mark Williams-Thomas, (who, by happy coincidence now
runs a company dealing with media handling and advice for high
profile cases), who became a regular partner alongside Sky
News's Martin Brunt; Mike Hames, the ex-commander who set up
Scotland Yard's paedophilia unit; John Stalker, former Deputy
Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police and the wonderfully
titled Baron Stevens of Kirkwhelpington, formerly John Stevens,
former Head of the Metropolitan Police, now International
Security Advisor to the Prime Minister Gordon Brown. ALL
renowned, respected, successful high flying career Police
Officers whose stupendous collective powers of detection, pretty
much came to the same conclusions, albeit to varying degrees,
even though they do not, presumably, have the benefit of any
more evidence than any one else outside the Pol'ia Judici'ia
NAMELY, that Madeleine McCann was abducted and that the
Portuguese Police are incompetent. Other high ranking ex-police
have stated that the likelihood was the Portuguese were framing
the McCann's.
But the real and, in my opinion, truly damaging bias was
reserved for the mainstream television channels. Both the BBC
and SKY news, in particular, have displayed a most obvious and
uncomfortable loyalty to the McCann's, in regular news reporting
devoid of any impartiality, the presenters frequently making
derogatory comments to each other concerning the Portuguese
claims. It was a common occurrence for the studio link to engage
in derogatory 'banter' with the at the scene reporter,
invariably Martin Brunt in Praia da Luz when he was giving his
latest report about the Portuguese police and their progress in
the case, or when commenting on some of the stories appearing in
the press there. Kay Burley, a predominant Sky News ?anchor?,
would frequently roll her eyes, shake her head or ?tut? in
disgust and ridicule at Brunt's' revelations, peppering her
responses with asides such as 'Poor Kate' or ?How much more can
the poor parents bear??
However, what I consider to be the most despicable, incredulous
and unprofessional piece of reporting occurred on the 7th
September when Kate McCann was made an official Arguido. Both
Sky and the BBC, reported throughout the whole day, that Kate
had been offered a ?deal? whereby she would receive a reduced
prison sentence if she confessed to the accidental killing and
subsequent disposal of Madeleine. It would have taken all of 15
minutes for the back room researchers to establish that, for the
interviewing police to make such an offer was an impossibility
under the constraints of the Portuguese Judicial system. There
was no offer of a plea bargain. It had all been "a
misunderstanding", the McCann lawyer, Carlos Pinto de Abreu,
explained the following day. The quoted ?source? of this scoop,
was Gerry McCann's sister Philomena, who revelled in the
limelight whilst explaining to all and sundry that this
information had been revealed to her over a telephone call with
Kate, subsequent to her interrogation.
To this day, this shameful piece of fabricated 'news' is still
on virtually every online edition of most British newspaper
archives. The truth, however, relating to this
?misunderstanding?, isn't.
Then, on the 10th September, Martin Brunt sombrely stated to Sky
News viewers that amongst other samples, a FULL,
non-transferable DNA match to Madeleine had been unearthed from
the rear boot of the car hired by the McCann's. By this time,
GERRY McCann had also been made an Arguido and combined with
these new ?developments? there was a curious 'pause' in the
Press and Media, a kind of 'shell?'shock that resulted in the
media doing nothing more than reporting the facts, such as they
were. The McCann's were suspects, and they were back home .
The huge thong of reporters that had awaited there arrival at
the airport asked no questions, appearing to me, almost
subservient, as Gerry read out a carefully scripted passage,
declaring his and Kate's innocence.
Almost seamlessly, the 'Pro McCann' media wagon was back on the
road. As more and more information started to surface and be
reported on the mainstream TV news, concerning such unpalatable
topics as ?Body fluid samples?, 'Cadaver dogs' and 'blood
spots', not only did I expect the ludicrous, servile reporting
to cease, but I expected the UK Journalists to give at least a
modicum of consideration to the possibility of the McCann's
complicity in their daughters appearance. After all,
'speculative' Portuguese sources weren't responsible for the
apparent evidence in the possession of the Portuguese
Authorities.
The Cadaver dogs, that had purportedly detected the 'Scent of
Death' were BRITISH, with an impressive track record in the
fields of evidence recovery. The DNA samples, recovered from the
apartment and the boot of the McCann's hire car had been, and
were continuing to be, analysed by the Birmingham FSS, the
'vanguard of forensic science technology that has an unrivalled
reputation for the integrity, impartiality and accuracy of its
findings?. It was also revealed that BRITISH police who had
assisted the Portuguese in the investigation, also apparently
concurred with the PJ that Madeleine had probably died on May
3rd.
It crossed my mind at this stage that a huge and collective
sense of astonished embarrassment was potentially about to
unfold. Here was a nice 'middle class' couple, both
Professionals, highly regarded and respectable people who had
accrued a huge wave of worldwide public support in the initial
stages, (not to mention around '1.3 Million in donations, around
'2.5 Million in pledged reward money for information leading to
the safe recovery of Madeleine and other undisclosed amounts and
contributions, including a private jet to enable the McCann's to
more effectively spread their campaign); who had kissed the
Papal ring after receiving his personal blessing, met European
and other World leaders, accepted an invitation to the
Whitehouse, been interviewed on a number of European and
American TV stations and had actively taken part in initial
discussions designed to launch a new 'Madeleine's Law', aimed at
formulating a European database of known Paedophiles. Not to
mention cosy, telephone chats with British Prime Minister Gordon
Brown who has frequently been known to not only pledge support,
but actively become involved in the investigation itself.
At the VERY least, the circumstances now surrounding the
McCann's, I surmised, would result in a perceptible retreat by
the media that would put an end to what I considered to be the
celebrity status to which they had been appointed. In fact, I
rather thought that the press would now exact a tortuous revenge
and would seek to print anything that was derogatory towards the
McCann's, at least to the degree of abuse and invasion of
privacy that had been showered earlier on the other Arguido in
this case, Robert Murat.
Of course, my country is, and always has been instrumental in
maintaining that most basic of human rights, the right of
'Innocent until Proven Guilty', and I personally believed that
never to be more appropriate than in this case. I considered it
would be neither suitable nor fair for the Media to comment,
speculate or assume anything until a fair and judicial process
had been undertaken. Certainly, the tales, theories and
assumptions being made and propagated on internet Forums had no
place in the realms of anyone's National press.
However, to my mind, what occurred with the British media,
subsequent to this Arguido status being applied to the McCann's,
was every bit as offensive, preposterous, irrational and
groundless as the most wildest Conspiracy Theory ANYWHERE on the
net. The McCann's arguido status seemed to actually harden the
resolve of the entire British media, and Kay Burley was back to
her acerbic best, making sniggering asides to Martin Brunt when
he reported on the Pol'ia Judici'ia officially handing over the
4,000 pages of prosecution evidence to Judge Frias. Burley
feigned mock surprise, stating that she couldn't believe that
the Police would miss out on such a 'photo opportunity' to
present the pile of boxed documents for the cameras, implying
that perhaps the documents weren't quite as substantial and
plentiful as was being reported.
Tabloids and Broadsheets alike began producing countless
articles explaining how and why Portugal is a haven for
paedophiles, especially the Algarve. Column inches were given
over to explain how Portugal's 'elite', including Government
officials had once been involved in a Lisbon Paedophile ring
centering around an orphanage. A Portuguese Investigation into
paedophilia, involving a nationwide operation, including the
seizing of 150 computers was reported in the UK Press as being
an integral part of the McCann case, suggesting that the
operation was effected to establish whether any indecent images
of Madeleine McCann existed, even though Operation Predator was
nothing whatsoever to do with the events that occurred in Praia
da Luz. The Daily Mail's Roger Graef explained that Portugal has
'more Paedophile's than it cares to admit'. He goes on to
explain that the Portuguese have 'an odd attitude towards
underage sex.' erroneously stating the permitted minimum for
same age couples.
And just in case we're not getting the picture, 'Dispatches' a
Channel 4 Investigative Documentary entitled 'Searching for
Madeleine' is endorsed by David Canter a 'Criminal Psychologist?
who explains how the alleyways around the Ocean Club apartment
where Madeleine went missing, ?provide an ideal rat-run that
would be well known to local criminals?. He goes on to point out
that the most convincing arguments he had heard for an abduction
by a local came from his colleague at Liverpool University,
Professor Kevin Browne, (who advises many international agencies
including the WHO and UNICEF on child protection) He,
apparently, made clear that this quiet village could harbour a
number of child abusers who had been released into the community
rather than convicted, (adding that Portugal convicts a much
smaller proportion of child abusers than some other <unnamed>
European countries). The Documentary entirely ignores the
findings of the Cadaver dogs and completely brushes over the DNA
evidence without any elaboration. It gives no consideration
whatsoever to the fact that the McCann's are official Arguidos
in the disappearance of their daughter.
SKY News has its own, SPECIAL Investigation: 'Madeleine: The
Search For The Truth', which actually searches for no such
thing, but does imply that the Portuguese are so inefficient
that apparently a British 'expert' in child abduction declined
offers for his help in the matter as he didn't want to 'risk his
reputation', given the ?mess? made by the Portuguese. Yet
another British ex-detective gets his chance to solve the
mystery, and concluded that the Portuguese police appear to be
?trying to make a situation fit round a theory so all these bits
lock together in order to show them to be guilty?. He goes on to
conclude that ?one is left with the only other solution??? which
I'm not going to quote verbatim here, suffice to say that it
involves ?1 or 2 men?, abuse and an unpleasant ending.
Unfortunately, the documentary didn't appear to have sufficient
time to include the evidence, nor the reasons for the detective
arriving at this conclusion.
ITV took an even more pro-active stance in defending our Kate
and Gerry, with ?Tonight with Trevor McDonald: The McCann's,
Questions of Evidence?. They interviewed Allan Jamieson, a 'top
British forensic scientist', who proceeded to rubbish reports
that suggested hair recovered from the McCann's hire car showed
evidence of containing traces of sedatives, and had been derived
from a corpse. The documentary also featured the irrepressible
Mark Williams-Thomas, the former CID Detective and SKY News
regular, mentioned previously, and who has been one of the most
violent critics of the Portuguese Police investigation of
Madeleine McCann's case. He appeared as a 'child protection
expert' Mr. Williams also concluded that Madeleine was abducted.
Unfortunately, what he failed to mention in this Documentary was
that, although his company WT Associates Ltd. is A 'Child
Protection and Risk Management Consultancy?, this company also
lists amongst its services, 'MEDIA MANAGEMENT, providing media
handling and advice for high profile cases', and also 'Design or
review organisations media crisis policy'. More importantly, he
forgot to mention what he subsequently declared to a Portuguese
journalist: that he was ?involved with advising the McCann's,
although he did later issue a retraction of this, declaring that
'there are no conflicts of interest?.
Of course, the social commentators, columnists and media people,
especially those that have actively and openly supported the
McCann's, are wont to say that this case is an appalling 'Trial
by Media'. My own, personal, response to that is that the case
for the DEFENSE definitely has been by media!
With the appointment of former British Government Director of
Media Monitoring Clarence Mitchell as the McCann's spokesman in
mid September, (although it's difficult to establish exactly
when and how he turned up on the scene in the first instance),
it was very quickly made clear in the press that, indeed the
Portuguese Authorities and Police had got the case all wrong!
Madeleine wasn't dead at all.
Almost immediately, she was spotted in the Moroccan city of
Marrakesh by two unrelated witnesses. A further sighting was
reported by another Spanish woman, who is convinced she saw
Madeleine in the town of Zaio being led by a Moroccan woman in
Muslim dress across a street. In yet ANOTHER sighting, in Zinat,
the witness not only photographed Madeleine, but took the
precaution of only forwarding the photograph to ?lawyers working
for the McCann's, thus avoiding those ?incompetent? Portuguese
police. The photograph, taken by a Spanish holiday maker, was
very widely published. (Proving, if nothing else that the
Spanish are surely the most observant, attentive and productive
witnesses in the World). Alas, barely 24 hours later, the girl
in the photograph was identified as local five-year-old Bushra
Binhisa, the daughter of an olive farmer.
Clarence Mitchell commented that the discovery was
'disappointing news'. Presumably not least because it remained
in the papers for all of a day, and subsequently might reinforce
the notion in some peoples? minds that it couldn't possibly have
been Madeleine in the first place.
Still, help was at hand in the form of a NEW suspect to the
'abduction?, 24 hours later. This time, a mysterious Englishman,
'stairwell lurker' observed by an Ocean Club employee to be
?hiding? in a stairwell beneath the McCann's holiday apartment.
The employee, who did not want to be named, exclusively told the
Mirror: "I'll never forget him?. Alas, everyone else did. Not
least because there appeared little to suggest he existed in the
first place.
Never mind, another day, another witness. According to the Daily
Mail, A nanny who worked at the resort where Madeleine McCann
disappeared told detectives she saw a man lurking outside the
family's apartment. Or rather, she saw a man's shoe. Which
quickly receded when she questioned it. Lurking in the bushes.
Oh, and it was in 2006, a YEAR before the McCann's came to Praia
da Luz. Still, the nanny thought that the sighting was on a
Thursday, the same day of the week when Madeleine would
subsequently go missing. Presumably the Portuguese didn't place
great significance on this sighting. Which would explain why she
went to ' 3', the Private Detectives hired by the McCann's to do
the job the Portuguese obviously weren't doing for them. What
significance this alleged sighting of an unidentified man has on
the McCann case soon becomes clear. According to the nanny, when
the man ran out from the shadows, he ?bore a striking
resemblance? to the man allegedly seen by Jane Tanner on May 3rd
2007, the ?abductor?, walking away from the family's apartment
carrying a child in his arms. In case readers of the Mail were
experiencing incredulity and confusion, Clarence Mitchell was on
hand to make a clarifying statement:? This nanny's evidence
backs up what we have always said, that Madeleine was taken from
her bed by an abductor?
The next suspect appeared courtesy of Royal approval. A ?tip
off?, sent by e-mail to the official website of Heir Apparent
Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales. The email insisted that
three-year-old Madeleine was kidnapped from the Mark Warner
Ocean Club holiday resort in Portugal by a disgruntled
ex-employee. The informant named a maid who was sacked from the
apartment complex in Praia da Luz and claimed she snatched the
child in a 'crazed revenge plot'.
Clearly this plot was not quite as 'crazed' as the story itself,
as, like all the others, it quickly faded into oblivion.
Throughout these 'new' sightings, witnesses, suspects and
suppositions, the PJ remained resolute. As they always had done,
directly or indirectly they were stating the same, unadulterated
points. That they believed Madeleine to be dead and that her
parents were in some way responsible. The case appeared to me to
be stalemate. The Police by this time were still asserting that
they were awaiting further Forensic results from the Birmingham
FSS, together with 'Regoratory letters' permitting them to
further question members of the now infamous 'Tapas 7', and
probably Kate and Gerry McCann also.
Criminal history is littered with cases where the alleged
culprit has dispensed with their Defence Lawyer. The McCann's
went one better. They dispensed with the Police. And instated
their own??
On paper, Metodo 3, the 'elite Spanish Agency' appear ill suited
to the task of finding Madeleine McCann, irrespective of whether
she is alive or not. They seem to me to be a glorified Debt
Collection Agency with positively NO experience of finding
missing persons. Still, in late October they are the latest
recruits to 'Team McCann', and have their own, unique 24 hour
'hotline' for anyone with any information regarding Madeleine.
Or at least, presumably, anyone who had information that for
reasons not stated had not already been imparted to the PJ.
Which surely can't possibly be anyone. Can it?
Alas, within a day or two of its inception, 3 have received '275
calls with many relating to Morocco?. How they relate or differ
to the previous Moroccan sightings isn't explained, but
investigators are ?reported to be particularly interested in
three calls that gave details of a girl matching Madeleine's
description with a middle-class Moroccan woman aged about 60?.
Around the same time, Metado 3 release a sketch of a man
allegedly seen walking away from the Ocean Club resort carrying
a child, as 'witnessed' by McCann party member Jane Tanner. It
doesn't explain why this sketch of the abductor differs wildly
from the description originally given by Tanner, but given that
the Portuguese didn't place much significance on the original
sighting anyway, perhaps they didn't feel any explanation
necessary. Still, Gerry McCann is happy with it. He writes in
his blog: ?We believe this child was Madeleine . . . Someone
else may be aware of a man matching this description who has
behaved suspiciously at any time since the beginning of May.'
The Moroccan tip offs seem to be paying off, as Metado's 'elite?
announced that they were 'closing in' on a farm where Madeleine
was being held captive in a lawless Moroccan mountain range
notorious for drugs and child trafficking. TEN witness sightings
had led them here! Unfortunately, we can only conclude that the
lawless child traffickers and drug dealers sneaked out of the
back door, because the next big news to develop was by way of
that friend to the media, Philomena McCann, who states that 3,
have 'extended their search to Saudi Arabia'!! Philomena
explains that Metado believe that Madeleine 'may have been
snatched by a millionaire paedophile' from Saudi Arabia.' They
are searching everywhere for her and Saudi Arabia is the latest
destination - we don't know why'. Perhaps Metado's expense
account will hold a clue.
However, before our intrepid heroes can unpack their suitcases a
NEW sighting has been made . In Medjugorje in BOSNIA!! The
witness, an Irishman, (Bosnia presumably not a popular Spanish
tourist destination), says 'I got very close to her, right up
beside them and was about to speak to the child when the man put
his hand over her mouth and shoved her into the car'. And, for
added effect, ?"But my blood ran cold when I heard her cry, 'I
want my daddy'." Which either explains something about the
astuteness of Irishmen or the multi-lingual capabilities of 3
year old Bosnians because in as short a time as it took to
identify the Moroccan girl as NOT being Madeleine McCann, the
latest sighting is revealed to be 3 year old local, Tea Dedic.
Of this, and other 'sightings' the Portuguese police refuse to
comment. Presumably they are still bent over double with mirth.
I feel it surely only a question of time before some
entrepreneur starts selling 'T' shirts for blonde haired
children worldwide, emblazoned 'RELAX, I'm NOT Madeleine!'
As I write this, a few weeks before Christmas, I have scanned
the leaders of much of the British tabloid Press. The Star,
'Simply the Best', explains that 3 have narrowed their search
down to a 'hit list' of ten paedophiles. It adds that the ' 3
agency are blitzing locations in Europe and Africa to find the
known sex offenders?. I can only presume that whoever is footing
the bill for this ?elite Spanish Agency? is hoping that they're
not expecting a Christmas bonus.
The Sunday Express tells us 'A MAN who looks like Robert Murat
tried to climb into the apartment where Madeleine McCann went
missing at a time when another child was alone inside'. My
suspicions on this are aroused when I see that the 'witness' is
a NANNY who worked at the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz!! And that
the incident happened 6 Months before the McCann's came to the
Algarve! Whether it occurred on a Thursday or not was not made
clear.
As in the previous six and a half Months, not one paper,
periodical or TV programme gives the slightest consideration to
the possibility of the McCann's involvement in the disappearance
of their daughter. EXCEPT???????????..
A rather curious documentary that was aired a few days ago.
?Panorama?, the flagship for so many years of the BBC's Current
Affairs programmes, and rightly deemed by many in the past to be
the epitome of excellence when it comes to Investigative
Journalism. Their contribution to this case resulted in a
documentary 'Madeleine McCann - separating fact from fiction'.
Except it didn't do so. Nor did it explain which was which. It
gave a lot of time to an interview with Jane Tanner, without
questioning her on the wide ranging discrepancies both in her
testament, and that of other witnesses there at the time,
therefore allowing her to reiterate that she 'saw' Madeleine
being abducted. The programme also included lots of 'private'
home footage of the McCann's in the aftermath of losing
Madeleine, said to have NEVER been intended for public viewing,
except its obvious staging and choreography suggested otherwise.
Friend and 'Cameraman' John Corner was also permitted to make a
'Camcorder? snippet towards the end of the programme,
accompanied by Gerry McCann at the site of the Ocean Club,
showing and explaining how and where the 'abduction' most likely
took place. Nothing new here then. EXCEPT?????.. Some rather
curious incidental music that punctuated various scenes in the
documentary, firstly the theme tune from ?Twin Peaks?, an
American award winning serial drama that was hugely popular in
the UK, about a young girl who was murdered by her father and
whose plastic-wrapped body is found on a river bank and
secondly, 'HEROIN' by the 'Velvet Underground'. A rather popular
theory doing the rounds of the internet to accompany the PJ's
'sedation' claims. There was also some shots of Pampas grass,
which I am reliably informed by those more conversant in such
matters, is the plant of choice of 'Swingers' as a means of
advertising their adventurous lifestyles to like minded couples.
Appropriate given that the documentary also featured former
Chief Inspector with the Portuguese Police,
Jose Barra da Costa and his claim on Portuguese television that
the McCann's rather enjoyed such practises.
Subliminal messages from the BBC' Wild imagination? Maybe.
Perhaps someone at the BBC simply wanted to break the Pro-McCann
mould. David Mills, the producer of the Panorama Documentary in
question, quit the project before it was transmitted, citing the
fact that the programme to be screened did not fit the script
that he originally presented. An obvious supporter of the
McCann's, he states in his written complaint, ?the programme
drips innuendos against the McCann's, it does not put a single
challenging question to anyone in the Portuguese Police?.
Suffice to say that he believes the PJ to be incompetent, and
that Madeleine was abducted.
?You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the
people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people
all of the time?. At least, according to Abraham Lincoln.
However, it seems to me that the British Government and the
press rather favours a quotation made by George W. Bush: 'You
CAN fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones
you want to concentrate on.'
Because anyone who could possibly be fooled into believing that
a paltry, inconsequential Spanish detective agency is on the
threshold of, not only arresting the culprits involved in
abducting Madeleine McCann, (as is now reported in the press on
a daily basis), but also presumably recovering the girl herself
given that are ?100% Certain? that she is alive; are truly,
FOOLS.
But the real question is WHO is doing the fooling?. And WHY?.
Are we really supposed to believe that every single editor,
producer, commentator, ex-policeman, celebrity and journalist
are all singing from the same song sheet, citing opinions,
notions and editorial policies that are completely free from
external influences?. Are we really expected to believe and
share their opinions and conclude that, indeed, not only are the
Pol'ia Judici'ia incompetent, bumbling and inadequate, but also
that they are deliberately framing the McCann's for crimes that
they didn't commit' Are we really duty bound and morally obliged
to accept that, not only are the McCann's entirely innocent of
any wrong doing whatsoever, but that the whole country of
Portugal, its Police, authorities and its people are all
scheming, lying, fabricating third world inhabitants, as some of
our more ?colourful? commentators have opined'.
Because if that is the case, then those expectations are not
going to be fully met. Not by a long shot. Throughout history,
the role of the media has played an integral part in influence
peoples lives and opinions, especially in times of conflict.
Herman Goering once said, 'it's always a simple matter to drag
the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist
dictatorship, a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice
or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of
the leaders. That is easy'
What Goering did not have was the benefit of hindsight, because
if he had foreseen the INTERNET, he might have not being quite
so adamant with his statements.
In August of this year, the COI, the UK government's
communications agency, was reported to be working on a way to
monitor what people say about policy on blogs and internet
forums. As well they might. There are innumerable Forums, Blogs
and discussions on the internet concerning Madeleine McCann.
Some of them are pretty ridiculous, providing armchair
detectives with a means to voice their theories, a bit like a
virtual 'Cluedo'. (?It was Mr. O'Brien in 5a, at 20.45, with the
sedatives?). However, the majority DO appear to concur that the
case is NOT as is being reported in the Press.
On September 10th a BBC Radio 5 phone-in on the McCann's had to
be abandoned after a flood of critical calls. The station was
apparently deluged and surprised because of the unexpected
degree of anti-McCann feeling voiced by callers. Some newspapers
reported this ?abandonment? as having been as a result of
callers rebuking the BBC because of holding a debate about a
couple who are part of a continuing legal process. That didn't
stop innumerable OTHER Radio programmes from subsequently
conducting such phone-ins. None ever had to be abandoned
however. Any anti-McCann sentiments were dealt with in an
entirely different manner. Such callers were simply
disconnected, even for asking whether it was acceptable for the
McCann's to leave their children alone while they dined in a
Restaurant nearby.
And the Leicester Mercury, the journal serving the home Town of
the McCann's who had previously raised money for the ?Find
Madeleine? fund, had to withdraw a website opinion page that was
bombarded with comments deemed unsuitable.
In November, I wrote a letter to the former leader and Home
Secretary of the UK Conservative Party, Michael Howard. In the
letter, I explained that I was concerned that conflict and
potentially irreparable damage was being caused between the two
countries concerned, Britain and Portugal, much of which appears
to have been effected by the Press and Government of this
country. I further questioned the use of the British Government
Media Monitoring Unit Director, Clarence Mitchell, as not only a
spokesman but as an apparent mentor of sorts; resigning from his
Government job and allying himself with the McCann's when they
were made Arguidos. I suggested this to be somewhat an
unprecedented and unusual state of affairs.
I also explained my concerns that Gordon Brown had not only
personally intervened in the case by persuading the Portuguese
authorities to permit the McCann's to make an appeal for
information concerning the 'abductor', as 'witnessed' by Jane
Tanner, (even though the Portuguese placed NO significance or,
more likely, credibility in this ?sighting'), but that some
factions of the credible Portuguese Press were suggesting that
?Government Pressure? was being brought to bear on the case.
Certainly, I considered it inappropriate and unusual for Gordon
Brown to have made the personal communications and offered the
assistance that he did to the McCann's. Clarence Mitchell
himself had already confirmed that he, via the Prime Minister,
had been instrumental in not only co-ordinating the visit to the
Vatican, but also visits to other world leaders and dignitaries.
My letter concluded that I felt it essential that the Prime
Minister clarified his position and involvement with regards to
the McCann's case.
The response I received was a positive, if not unexpected one,
advising me that the letter would be forwarded to the Prime
Minister for his comments, which would be communicated to me if
and when he made them.
I published my letter on an Internet Forum, inviting any like
minded individuals to either use it as a template or to modify
it for their own purposes and forward it to their own local,
Members of Parliament. A lady from Bristol did just that, and
the response that it elicited made headline news, both here and
in Portugal.
Piers Merchant, assistant to Member of the European Parliament
Roger Knapmann wrote an astonishing and despicable letter that
firstly warned the author to be 'careful' of what she writes,
referring to the laws of Libel. It then goes on to state,
somewhat pompously, that ?One of the first duties of the British
government is to support its citizens abroad. It is therefore
entirely correct that the government should do this in the case
of Kate and Gerry McCann'. He then sensationally declares, 'The
Portuguese police and judicial system is known to be suspect.
Elements of the police are corrupt and indeed in this case the
senior detective involved has been charged with corruption?
He continues; 'The Portuguese judicial system does not assume
innocence before guilt in the way the British system does and
operates an interrogatory process in which people are denounced
as suspects without any proof?. Merchant explains why this
shocking state of affairs is so: ?It is important to realise
that Portugal has no real history of citizen's rights and
liberties or democracy. From the 1920s to the mid 1970's
Portugal was ruled by a fascist dictatorship, first under
Salazar and then Caetano. Political opposition was repressed and
the police and judicial system was used to achieve this. A
stable multi-party democracy only came into existence in the
late
1970's and is still very young. Many of the police were trained
under fascism and the institutions still bear the impact of this
long period of dictatorship.?
The letter concludes by stating, 'In all the circumstances it is
entirely right that British citizens should be protected against
an unreliable foreign system. In any event
I think you can rest assured that the British police and
intelligence services have long had a better grip on the facts
of this case than the Portuguese police?.
A simpler synopsis is as follows: The Portuguese Police are
incompetent, they are trying to frame the McCann's and Kate and
Gerry are innocent.
Of course, Knapmann and/or Merchant tried to suggest that the
email had been modified or altered in some way. I have the
original email's together with their headers and I am entirely
satisfied that the response is both genuine and was how it was
written. Conversely, it would take all of a minute to establish
beyond all doubts the exact response that was made by Merchant,
but it requires his computer or his Web Based server to be
examined. To date, he has elected not to permit such an
examination.
The only positive aspect of this particular debacle was that
Prime Minister Gordon Brown was made to deny giving Gerry McCann
VIP treatment over his missing daughter. One of the very few
occasions when he was forced to make a statement on the case. Of
course, given that there isn't another recorded example in
history where some poor unfortunate, let alone the official
suspects in a missing child case, have been afforded the
privileges, opportunities, attention, Ministerial guidance and
support shown by the Government and press of this country, it
rather makes a mockery of his statement.
As to what really happened at the Ocean Club resort on or around
that day in May, perhaps we shall never learn. How this sad case
will conclude, IF it ever concludes at all, remains to be seen.
Madeleine McCann's disappearance has become, perhaps, the most
famous and mysterious missing person case of all time. But it
needn't have been. For both the British Police and the Pol'ia
Judici'ia are rightly regarded as being amongst the finest
crime fighting units in the world.
Whatever crimes that took place involving Madeleine may forever
go unsolved.
Whatever crimes that threaten to alienate and divide two
countries, whose shared beliefs, mutual respect and loyalty is,
since
1373 the oldest alliance in the world, must NOT be allowed to
remain unsolved; for the sake of both countries, for Madeleine
McCann and for us all.
