Facebook for Ben 2012... Help Find Ben.

Please help Kerry and the search for Ben by joining the Facebook for Ben day on 14th February 2012.  Following the amazing response of the Tweet 4 Ben day on Twitter, this is another great way to raise awareness and I have to commend Kerry and her group, they're doing an absolutely fantastic job.

The online campaigns by Kerry Needham and the McCanns are like chalk and cheese.  I can't make the comparison between Ben Needham and Madeleine McCann because... well, in many ways there is no comparison.

Kerry campaigns for the search for her son.  The McCanns campaign for money.

Please join and share with your friends, in this case I do believe Ben is 'findable' and deserves to be reunited with his Mum.

Facebook for Ben 2012

Find Ben on Twitter

Official Help Find Ben Website

Concordia - Condolences

I would like to express my sincerest condolences to all those who have lost family members and friends on the Costa Cordonia. Whilst the survivors have suffered unimaginable terror, hope remains that those still missing will be found quickly.

Costa Cruises were quick to lay blame solely on the rogue master of the ship - suggesting that he'd taken a bad decision by steering the vessel many nautical miles off course, sailing too close to the island and abandoning ship.  Something which was "unauthorised, unapproved and unknown to Costa".

However, Lloyd's Lists tracking information shows that in August 2011 the Cordonia sailed even closer to the island of Giglio to mark the night of the Shooting Stars Festival, without incident.  The route deviation was apparently authorised by Costa Cruises.

Italian Costa Cruises have surprisingly chosen Clarence Mitchell as their official spokesperson which, depending on his role, may pose a problem considering the many differing nationalities of passengers.  Unless Mr Mitchell happens to be multi-lingual.  

I am not defending the captain in any shape or form - after seeing and hearing the news over the last few days, I am appalled.  However, with headlines such as 'Captain 'fell' into lifeboat', in depth detail and the coastguard recording freely and quickly available to the media, it could be construed that Mr Mitchell is already on the job... and not simply in his capacity as spokesperson?  Deja vu?  Mr Mitchell said "...there is a criminal investigation going on and we're not going to say anything that's going to compromise that or the captain's case."  Too late - Costa Cruises had already publicly washed their hands of the captain, and laid the blame firmly on his shoulders.

Clearly he is representing Costa Cruises alone and not the captain.

Is there a case for corporate manslaughter?  I'm not sure if even Michael Clayton could 'fix' this one, although I know who I'd rather be seeing on the news...

The Dwindling Fund...

After publication of the latest accounts, it appears that the McCanns have frittered away millions of pounds from their private company. Funds are down to £125,000, sapped up like water in a hungry sponge. It may read that way on paper, however are the media failing to report the monies earned from Kate McCann's version of the truth - the book, Madeleine.  Sitting nicely in the bank... gathering interest and destined to show in next years accounts?

And what if it was dwindling?  I'm sure with relative ease, the McCanns could save a mint by losing the lawyers, PR companies and come up with some novel way to search for their daughter like normal people would do.  They like to raise awareness but how about selling some of their own assets, remortgaging their home or even doing a mammoth car booty.  Even buying their strawberries from Rothley Market would be advisable compared to M&S prices.


That's if they really need all that money.  The McCanns and the press project a feeling of guilt onto the general public if they fail to donate. They aren't entitled to other people's money to keep their own company afloat.  How do you think Kerry Needham has survived over the last two decades?

Anyway, how about something really simple during those long weekends and school holidays.  Borrow a camper van, tour those lawless villages and get knocking on some doors.  Simple, beautiful country and lovely weather.  They could even take the bikes.  You never know (ahem) Madeleine might answer the door...  errr, I'm sorry... the McCanns don't do personal search, do they?  They prefer to leave the dirty work to other people. And dirty it is... whatever situation Madeleine finds herself and wherever her head rests right now is solely down to them.


Really all of that doesn't matter, because a further £3.5m has been thrown in the McCanns direction in the shape of the Metropolitan Police "investigative review".  So right now, there are law enforcement agencies investigating and searching for Madeleine.  No need for fund raising, begging or petitioning.  It would also be wholly irresponsible and a complete waste of money to still be employing Dave Edgar whilst the review is ongoing.  This effectively makes him and his salary redundant. What a saving!

The fund is now foundation.  Yes, after five years even good marketing ploys need rebranded.  What next?... Madeleine's name?

**Foundation... bad move to rename in this manner - the lowest of the low and something which is below ground.

Back to basics, with foundations based on child neglect.

**Not to be confused with Tony Bennett's Madeleine Foundation... and I'm sure both parties would agree.  Imagine the forthcoming confusion.......

Boozy Tapas Nights...

Apart from the French book* news, it's been a pretty quiet week, so I've been having a look the witness statements from the investigation over on the Maddie Case Files.  I came across the statement of Ricardo Alexandre da Luz Oliveira, the waiter assigned to the Tapas group table most nights.

Now I'm certainly not naive, but I think after 4+ years you tend to become a bit forgetful of certain things.  Thanks to the night of 3rd May and the timeline that's been forced upon us, you tend to drift towards that hour and a half in the restaurant, with possibly anxious parents, away from their children, gobbling down their food.

However, they weren't anxious and neither were they there for an hour and a half.

Restaurants tend to have two or three sittings per night, especially if in demand. And the Tapas Bar was in demand.  This group took up seating for nine for the whole evening, every evening causing holidaymakers like the McKenzie family to be refused a table, forcing them to get takeaway to eat in the apartment. Thankfully, Mr McKenzie had the common sense to wait in the apartment with his child whilst his wife collected their food from the very same restaurant.  Yes, as well as offering a free creche service to diners, the Tapas Bar also provided takeaway.

Some holidaymakers were fortunate enough to book a table... the Carpenters dined with their children, the Wilkins dined whilst their children were looked after in the restaurant's free creche... the Tapas group must've thought they were utter fools, dining with their children?...

We know that the McCanns enjoyed that bottle of Montana Sauvignon Blanc before leaving the apartment and according to Ricardo the group were in no rush to eat, waiting on all members to arrive before ordering.  Before they all arrived, some would have cocktails.  On seating, 4 bottles of wine would be placed on the table and during the meal, another 4 would be depositied which would be completely consumed.  Ricardo remembers serving Almond Bitters to all and after three courses, the group would stay at their table until after 11pm and be at the bar until it closed at midnight.  This group were normally the last to leave.

Drink, drink, drink and the last to leave when the place closed!  Sounds like an absolutely spanking piss up and really good fun, doesn't it?  It would be if there weren't children and babies involved.

Gerry McCann says that all this was within the realms of responsible parenting.  I say it is absolutely not.  Parenting is a responsibility for life, there is no escape. This whole group tried to.  Apparently.

~oOo~

You can view the witness statements from the official Portuguese police investigation on the Maddie Case Files.

*Belle Famille by Arthur Dreyfus is the tale of little Madec Macand, and a story which has eery similarities to the missing Madeleleine case.  Should make an interesting read and hopefully translated extracts will be provided by Anna Andress when available.  At the moment, available to buy on Amazon France.

The Remit of Operation Grange

Operation Grange

On 12 May 2011 the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) announced that, at the request of the Home Secretary, it had agreed to bring its particular expertise to the Madeleine McCann case.

The then Commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, considered the request and took the decision that on balance it was the right thing to do. This was subject to funding being made available by the Home Office, as this case is beyond the MPS's jurisdiction.

The Portuguese authorities retain the lead.

While the MPS will not provide a running commentary on its involvement, known as Operation Grange, it is felt appropriate to make the remit available to the public and it is available in the related publications.

Taken from the Metropolitan Police website

Below is the remit of Operation Grange, which is available to the public and can be downloaded from the Metropolitan Police website.

There is some speculation over the word 'abduction'.  I'm not going spin or mess about with the phrase... it just seems to be a sloppy oversight and perhaps something which should be corrected on the original public remit.  All other references to Madeleine's disappearance are just that... a disappearance.  It would be a travesty for this child if the police followed the blinkered approach of abduction and nothing else. Something I find very hard to believe they would do.

What I do find interesting is that the remit refers to not just a review of the case but an "investigative review".

Whilst ordinarily a review has no investigative remit whatsoever - the scale and extent of this enquiry cannot permit for such an approach.  It will take too long to progress to any action stage if activity is given wholly and solely to a review process.

This can only be good news for Madeleine... not only is the case being reviewed but appears to be being investigated with a timescale. And with the Portuguese police retaining the lead, hopefully our Boys in Blue will find that missing piece of the jigsaw that will allow the official case to be reopened.

Everyone seems to be whistle blowing these days... if you have any information that could help the investigative review, please contact the Met -

Major Investigation Team 5

Homicide and Serious Crime Command

Belgravia Police station 

202-206 Buckingham Palace Rd 

London SW1W 9SX

operation.grange@met.police.uk