A McCann of Worms...

We all knew it was a huge can of worms.  But the news over the last few days is showing what a mixed up state of affairs the missing Madeleine McCann case is proving to be.  At the start of the week, I was really hopeful that the case would be reopened in Portugal, now I find myself disheartened and fearful that the real truth may never be known.

It all started with BBC Panorama and its claim that the News International, The Sun newspaper and the McCanns pressured the Prime Minister to instigate the review...

Downing Street sources have revealed to the programme that influence was being exerted on Number 10 by News International and by The Sun newspaper, as well as by the McCanns.  Within 24 hours of the front page appeal Mr Cameron announced a review could be paid for out of a contingency fund run by the Home Office, reserved for special cases.

Bizarre...

Also from BBC's Panorama, we have DCI Andy Redwood claiming that...

We are working on the basis of two possibilities here. One is that Madeleine is still alive; and the second that she is sadly dead.  Our drive on both scenarios is of equal measure.

The British media sensationally interpretted this as...

Police reveal Madeleine may still be alive

The Mirror

Madeleine McCann : She is alive

Express

195 Leads and she is still alive

Scotsman

In a complete turnaround, the Portuguese authorities denied all knowledge of new leads and quickly rebutted Scotland Yard's claims with...

There are no new elements at the moment that would allow for the reopening of the inquiry.  We have received no formal request for the reopening of the inquiry.

On the day that the McCanns and Isabel Duarte finally returned 7500 copies of Goncalo Amaral's book 'Truth of the Lie' to their rightful owner, publisher Guerra & Pas as ordered...

Goncalo Amaral appeared on Portuguese television and claimed that...

The British police wanted to impose the theory of abduction and the innocence of the parents.

Even more bizarre is DCI Redwood's apparent sole reason for the belief of abduction hinges on the parents and friends timeline...

Evidence that she is alive stems from the forensic view of the timeline, that there was the opportunity for her to be taken. Investigations show there do appear to be gaps. 

Forensic view of the timeline?  This timeline?...

I'm all for a chink of hope, but it beggars belief that Scotland Yard and the media have appeared to dismiss the findings of the British cadaver dog brought onto the case at the recommendation of our very own British police.  A skilled dog who marked the scent of death in apartment 5a and the McCanns' hire car.  And on Mrs McCann's clothing, a child's t-shirt and Madeleine's favourite toy, Cuddlecat.  How can the scent of death simply be glossed over  and ignored when it was found on McCann related items only and nowhere else in Praia de Luz?  So what if the forensics were degraded and contaminated, it's the scent of death for goodness sake.

A battle of words, court cases and desire for power and money seems to have dominated this case.  Most importantly, at the core of all of this is Madeleine, who seems almost forgotten in the crossfire.  She doesn't deserve the fate she has been dealt or all this PR crap being bandied in the media.  The truth has to be know.

That Doggone Maddie McCann Review...

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Force have today released a statement via the officer in charge, DCI Andy Redwood about the current progress of the investigative review into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

The team, consisting of 30 odd officers have approached the investigation with an open mind and are working on two possibilities - one that Madeleine is alive and secondly that she is sadly dead.  Work of the team involves close collaboration with a senior investigating officer from the Policia Judiciara and the object is to bring closure to the case, starting with the reopening of the investigation in Portugal.

In accordance with the former line of enquiry, the Met have released an age progressed picture of what Madeleine might look like if she was nine years old...

Please remember there are lots of little girls worldwide who look very similar to this idea of a girl and it would be a very bad idea to accost or grab any child in public.  Many lives have been disrupted by wrongful accusations in the past 5 years.  Children and parents have been extremely traumatised and in one Moroccan episode, a father pitifully thrust his daughter's birth certificate into the faces of parasitic news crews.  Another child grappled with was a boy.  So... please contact the local police in the first instance and watch from afar if you are crazy enough to think that the child in front of you may be a nine year old Madeleline.  Especially if she's really only five, six or seven years old.

Maybe one day some crackpot will get it right and it will be Madeleline. However after reading and watching the cadaver dogs involved in the McCann case, I have very serious doubts that this will ever happen. Amongst the many niggles that I still have, I wonder why the team running Operation Grange seem to have overlooked the fact that a British cadaver dog alerted to the scent of death in apartment 5a, in the hire car, on Kate McCann's clothing, on Sean's t-shirt and Madeleine's apparent favourite cuddly toy, Cuddlecat.  All subject to strict test conditions where several cars and items were analysed.  The dogs alerted only to McCann related items, nothing else.

Are the Met dismissing their own £500 a day cadaver dogs?  If so, what about all the other cases where these dogs have alerted to the scent of death.  Such as the Suzanne Pilley and Kate Prout murder cases.  Both perpetrators of these heinous murders were convicted without a body being discovered and are thankfully behind bars.

DCI Redwood says the team are only one quarter of the way through the extensive pile of information pooled by them.  Perhaps they just haven't reached the dog chapter yet...

And if they can perhaps explain away the scent of death then I may come around.  In the meantime... here's hoping Scotland Yard can encourage something the parents have never shown an interest in... the reopening of the case in Portugal.

The new farce of Maddie...

Days ago it was Lehja vu, today it's Mayja vu.

Despite what would be Madeleine's ninth birthday in two weeks, today's papers show what she might look like at the age of (eighty) eight.  The latest image was created by a crack computer team that (apparently) helps police forces across the States find missing people.

Crack team?  Or just on crack?

Using forensic age-progression techniques also employed by the FBI, they believe Maddie would by now have lost the wide-eyed, chubby-cheeked appearance when she vanished without a trace.

And be the image of Theresa May.

Police are expected to release their own age-progressed image this week as they renew attempts to solve the case.

Well that's another one to look forward to.

This case turned into a farce long ago, today they've gone a step too far.

Maddie in Malaga... another hoax sighting?

What a shame that the latest 'sighting' of Madeleine appears to be another hoax.  I have deja vu... or should that be Lehja vu?  In quotes and reports echoing many previous sightings, we have in the Express what we can assume is Clarence Mitchell on and off the record...

I'm sure it's news to both the Judicial Police and Scotland Yard that the 'hermetic Spanish police' have total autonomy in this particular inquiry and that these officers may stray onto their 'patch' without informing them!  These so-called hermetic Spanish plods must also be climbing the walls that their plans and procedures are in the public domain.  Oh, that source was paid to blab, and blab he does.

However, in all of the above, the crux of the matter is not what Mr Mitchell offers us, but what the official investigative teams have to say...

A spokesman from Scotland Yard declined to comment.

A spokesman for Spain's National police also refused to comment.

Nothing... we can probably assume for the reasons below...

Renascenca 17/4/12

Metro 18/4/12

A categoric denial from the Portuguese and the Spanish authorities... where are these false reports originating?  With the fifth anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance fast approaching and a new paperback to plug, many have said that this apparent hoax was expected.  A complete waste of everybody's time.  Perhaps we should go back to school and read again 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf'.  The culprit/s should be found and punished and hope that the police meant business when they stated that the source and route of the initial report was being investigated.

The questions put to Kate McCann...

Below are the questions put to Kate McCann during her interrogation by the Portuguese police in September 2007.  She refused to answer all questions but the last.  Many people excuse Kate's silence on the advice of her lawyer, however Mr McCann did answer questions put to him. 

1. On 3 May 2007 at around 2200, when you entered the apartment what did you see and do, where did you look, and what did you touch?
2. Did you look inside the wardrobe in the bedroom? She said she wouldn't answer.
3. (Shown two photographs of the wardrobe) Can you describe its contents?
4. Why had the curtain behind the sofa in front of the side window (a photograph of which was shown to her), been disturbed? Had someone passed behind this sofa?
5. How much time did you spend searching in the apartment after realising that your daughter Madeleine had disappeared?
6. Why did you say from the start that Madeleine had been abducted?
7. Assuming that Madeleine had been abducted, why did you leave the twins alone at home to go to the Tapas to raise the alarm, not least because the supposed abductor could still be in the apartment?
8. Why did you not ask the twins at that moment what had happened to their sister, or why did you not ask them later?
9. When you raised the alarm in the Tapas what specific words were used?
10. What happened after raising the alarm at the Tapas?
11. Did you have a mobile phone with you at that moment?
12. Why did you go to warn your friends instead of shouting from the balcony?
13. Who contacted the authorities?
14. Who took part in the searches?
15. Did someone outside the group learn, in the moments that followed, of Madeleine's disappearance?
16. Did any neighbour offer you help after the alarm was raised about the disappearance?
17. What did the expression "we let her down" mean?
18. Did Jane tell you that she had seen a man carrying a child that night?
19. How were the authorities contacted and which police force was alerted?
20. During the searches after police arrived, in which places were Madeleine searched for, and in what way?
21. Why did the twins not wake up during the search or when they went upstairs?
22. Whom did you telephone after the discovery?
23. Did you call Sky News?
24. Did you know of any danger of calling the media alerting them of the abduction, since this could influence the abductor?
25. Did you request the presence of a priest?
26. In what way was the face of Madeleine, in photographs or by other means, released?
27. Is it true that during the search you remained seated on Madeleine's bed in your room without moving?
28. What was your behaviour like during that night?
29. Did you manage to sleep?
30. Before the trip to Portugal did you make a comment about a bad feeling or premonition about it?
31. What was Madeleine's behaviour like?
32. Did Madeleine suffer from any infirmity or take medication?
33. What was Madeleine's relationship like with her brother and sister, friends and fellow pupils?
34. Regarding your professional life, in how many hospitals and in which ones did you work?
35. What was your speciality as a doctor?
36. Do you work shifts in emergency wards or other departments?
37. Do you work in the daytime?
38. Why did you stop working at a certain point?
39. Is it true or not that the twins have difficulty falling asleep, that they are restless and that this upsets you?
40. Is it true or not that at certain times you felt desperate at your children's attitude and that this upsets you a lot?
41. Is it true or not that in England you went so far as thinking about handing over Madeleine to a relative to look after?
42. At home (in England) did you give medication to your children and what kind of medication?
43. (Various films had been shown to her of the inspection by forensic dogs, where one can see their signalling indications of the scent of a human corpse and traces of human blood as well as the comments by the expert overseeing the exercise.) Having seen the film and after the scent of a corpse was signalled in her bedroom near the wardrobe, and behind the sofa by the window in the sitting room, Kate McCann said she could not explain anything more than she already had.
44. She was asked about the sniffer dog that signalled human blood behind the above-mentioned sofa. She said she could not explain anything more than she already had.
45. She was asked about the scent of corpse which was signalled in the vehicle she hired about a month after the disappearance, with number plate 59-DA-27. She said she could not explain anything more than she already had.
46. When the presence of human blood was signalled in the boot of the same vehicle Kate McCann said she could not explain anything more than she already had.
47. Confronted with the result of the sample of Madeleine's DNA, whose analysis was carried out by a British laboratory, found behind the sofa and in the boot of the vehicle, as previously described, Kate McCann said she could not explain anything more than she already had.
48. Did you have any responsibility or involvement in the disappearance of your daughter Madeleine?
49. Are you aware that the fact of your not answering the questions put to you jeopardise the investigation that was aimed at finding out what happened to your daughter, she answered: "Yes, if the investigation thinks that."
50. Do you have anything to add? She said: "No."
51. Her lawyer was asked to comment. He said he had nothing to state or request.

Please note... you do not need to have been physically in Portimao police station with Kate McCann to have knowledge of the above questions. You do not need to have been a tiny fly on the wall to know that she did not answer any of them.  This information is well known and has been freely available online for many years - it is still available to view on many news websites, click here to view on BBC News.

If you didn't know this, why not?  Maybe reading the translated official police investigation files would be a good start... McCann PJ Files.

Why?..

The following points are taken from a post I saved from the old 3As forum before it went down.  I can't give credit to the poster as it was so long ago. Please comment if you can remember.  These questions remain unanswered, and I have many more to add to the list - I'm sure you do too.

~o0o~

When the McCann’s fled Portugal in September 2007, the British Police assisting the Portuguese enquiry left also. Madeleine was still missing, supposedly abducted. So why did the British Police quit the search the day after they were both made official suspects?

Since that day in September 2007, not one legitimate Police force has been actively looking for Madeleine, why?

Why were the Tapas 9 so keen to control the early stages of the investigation by writing out all of their timelines on Madeleine’s sticker book, before the Police had even arrived on the scene?

Why did the McCann’s with their limitless amounts of money coming in from generous donations, hire people who specialised in fraud and bomb disposal and who had no 'missing person' experience?

Why did the McCann’s ignore crucial Police advice by publicising Madeleine’s distinctive mark on her eye, which would almost certainly have guaranteed her immediate death and disposal? 

Why did the McCann’s make Madeleine a Ward of Court after she had vanished? Was it to prevent any details of her medical records and other information from being made public for 75 years?

Why was it necessary to hire such a large team of lawyers when Madeleine first vanished, which also included Pinochet’s infamous extradition lawyer?

Why did Kate McCann refuse to answer all of the questions put to her?

Why did the McCann’s claim to know instantly that Madeleine had been abducted, yet waited 40 minutes before first contacting the Police?

Why did the McCann’s want the investigation shelved? It was within their legal rights to ask for the enquiry to remain open, which they turned down? Why? 

Why did 3 UK Detectives deliver several files of information to the McCann’s home, shortly after they got back to the UK whilst they were still suspects?

Why did the cadaver and blood sniffer dogs Eddie and Keela, only indicate to their apartment and their car? I believe 7 properties and 10 cars were searched in total that day, but only the McCann’s apartment and car tested positive.

Why did the Home Office refuse to hand over to the Portuguese investigators details of the McCann’s bank details, credit cards and medical records? These are one of the first things any Police force obtain at the start of an investigation. So why were they refused assistance?

The British Authorities later informed the Portuguese Police that the McCann’s did not own any credit or debit cards? So how did Gerry manage to pay for his holiday?

Why were the McCann’s and their Tapas friends never seriously interrogated? Instead, during their Rogatory interviews the British Police assisted them with some of their answers, which can be clearly seen in their statements.

Why did Gerry delete all the phone calls from his mobile on the 2nd of May, the day before Madeleine disappeared and also one received from Kate on 3rd May at 23.17 p.m., just over an hour after she had raised the alarm? Neither went to search for Madeleine, so why did Kate need to call him? Where did he go?

Why did Gerry have to fly home to obtain something with Madeleine’s DNA on? Did he actually supply an accurate representation of Madeleine’s DNA to the Police? Why was there no DNA of Madeleine’s found in the apartment the night she vanished?, an apartment which she had lived in for 5 days? Not one strand of hair was found there belonging to the McCann twins either. It’s like the apartment had been scrubbed clean.

Why is the case filed under Homicide, Simulating a Crime & Hiding a Cadaver and not abduction?

How did the scent of cadaver from a dead body get on Madeleine’s Cuddlecat, a child’s red T shirt, Kate’s black/white cheque trousers and her white sleeveless top? Why only these items?

Why did Gerry have to move the position of the sofa in the lounge? The exact same sofa which was identified by the blood dog Keela, as containing minute traces of blood in 3 different positions on the back panel. The exact same sofa that Eddie the cadaver dog also identified the scent of cadaver behind. Is this just a coincidence, or is this evidence of staging?

Why did the British Government intervene and support them on an unprecedented level from day one?

Why did the British Government feel the need to appoint a spokesman Clarence Mitchell, to speak in public for the McCann’s and is still assisting them today? Has the British tax payer been paying for his services all this time?

Why are the British papers only interested in reporting on the abduction line, when there is not one shred of evidence to support this theory? In 2008, one third of the official police files was made available to the general public. Facts that every newspaper could have easily been printed without any fear of litigation. So why have they ignored all of this information?

Why was Kate so annoyed at being asked to attend the Police station in the early days to identify a little girl caught on CCTV, that was believed to be Madeleine?

Why would the McCann’s leave Madeleine in an unlocked apartment knowing she had a tendency to wake up and wander frequently at night?

Why did the British Secret Service immediately put the McCann’s under telephone surveillance and not inform the Portuguese Police?

Why would SOCA (the Serious Organised Crime Agency) get involved with a missing child?

Why did the British Police withhold a statement for at least 6 months from the Portuguese Investigators involving David Payne and Gerry McCann, over lewd allegations of paedophile behaviour as witnessed by another Doctor friend of theirs on a previous holiday?

Why was Gerry in possession of sensitive Police manuals only used by Special Police Services and Government Agencies? Who gave them to him and why?

Why did the McCann’s want Leicestershire Police heading up the investigation and not Scotland Yard? They wanted the help from the Government, but not the top Police Force, why?

~o0o~

Memories of a 4-year old...

I've tried hard to write something positive regarding this case.  The only thing I can come up with is that Madeleine appeared to be loved and cared for in the majority of the photographs we've seen of her. However, I just cant get past the itinerary that the McCann children followed on that fateful 'family holiday'.

It made me think of my own family holidays and in particular the Isle of Man, the 70s when I was the same age as Madeleine.  This was a family family holiday, my parents were most definitely there to enjoy themselves - they had worked hard and earned that break.

I was never left with anyone.  I was never left alone.  My parents holiday was my holiday too.

I remember the clippetty clop and horse smell as we travelled in the horse-drawn tram along the prom, the sunlight shimmering on the pebbles as we rowed our boat in the crystal clear sea.  Every day we collected shells and trawled the beach.  I remember laughing at my acrophobic Mother as she struggled to get past the first flight of steps up to the Laxey Wheel and screaming at my Father as I took my first horrifying donkey ride.  Eager anticipation as I looked out the window of the electric railway, as we travelled all the way to the tea-room at the top of Snaefell... and the customers shouting in unison SHUT THE DOOR as I opened it to see Manannan's cloak of mist and several sheep trying to get inside.  I remember dragging my parents again and again to the rock shop, to see the masters at work creating... sticks of rock, then insisting on visiting the bakers next door for the biggest scones ever with the plumpest yummiest raisins.  The whole place was magical and colourful... full of fairies, enchanted bridges, beautiful gardens, painted walls and gnomes peering out everywhere I looked.  To this day I still say good morning Fairies whenever I pass under a archway of trees.

And every night as I was tucked into bed, I didn't say I had the best day ever.  I said can we do it all again tomorrow.  Four year olds don't appreciate what they've had... they just want more, more, more.

To a much lesser extent, the holiday did have its disastrous moments. Thanks to stupid 4-year old me...

I was sitting at my parent's feet, making sandcastles when I saw the sunlight glint against the broken bottle.  I got up to look - I knew it was very dangerous and definitely shouldn't have been there. But I wondered just what it would feel like to stand on it...  I circled twice before plucking up the courage to put my foot down.  Luckily my Father was there to scoop me up in his arms and as he ran towards the policeman in white directing traffic, I could hear my hysterical Mother in the background. Blood everywhere... I've still got the scar.  I remember marvelling at the policeman's white gloves but I can't remember being told off, maybe I blocked that part out... as a child does.  I do remember raised voices about the dirty animal who left the bottle there in the first place...

No creche, no high tea with strangers, no time alone.  A proper family holiday.  Despite being under the watchful eye of my parents, I still got into trouble.  Four year old children have no real sense of danger, no boundaries and an absolute dogged determination.  Is there any question to why people wonder what a child could get up to being left to their own devices.  And how anyone could call it responsible parenting? I'm thankful to my parents for such great memories, I wonder what the McCann children think of theirs.

Pat Brown's Search for Madeleine McCann

Two women put pen to paper.  Same subject, same audience.

The women in question are criminal profiler Pat Brown and maternally bankrupt Kate McCann.  They are both writing about a missing child, Madeleline McCann.

Whilst Ms Brown's book promises 50% of sales will be donated to her own Madeleine search fund, the royalties from Mrs McCann's book will go to their own private search for Madeleine.  It will be added to the golden pot of the McCanns private limited company, Madeleine's fund as soon as the advance payment for the book has cleared.

Despite being something which is advertised as a totally transparent fund to search for a missing child, the Madeleine Fund : Leaving No Stone Unturned is really a mystery and the actual 'search' has always been a gaping black void to the outsider.  With the amount of well wishing donations received, it is only fair that regular updates should be provided.  There have been none.  We only hear of a name... Edgar. Bizarre sightings and McCann court actions are the only news we hear. The McCanns never physically searched Praia de Luz like any normal parent would and they've never searched since.

On the other hand and true to her word, Pat Brown has flown out on a two week visit to Portugal.  She will travel to Praia de Luz and spend the time using her professional expertise as a criminal profiler to analyse the case in situ.

Pat Brown is doing what we would dearly love to do, and something that Mr and Mrs McCann have asked... search for Madeleine.  She really does not deserve the abuse she has been subjected to by supporters of the McCanns.  I wish her every success on her trip and hope she really does turn up that missing piece of the infamous jigsaw.  If she doesn't discover anything, well at least she tried...

Two women put pen to paper.

Same subject.

Same audience.

Different aim.

*****

Pat Brown on what she hopes to accomplish in Portugal.

Follow Pat on Twitter and Facebook for regular updates.

*****

The McCann Writ...

I've just been going over parts of the McCann writ against Goncalo Amaral during a quiet moment, and you have to wonder if it's really just another version of the truth.  If their behaviour and appearance are anything to go by, their claims are beyond bizarre.

In the 36 page writ, the McCanns describe Sr Amaral as a 'self-obsessed, manipulative money-grabber with no morals.'  Isn't that libellous in itself?..  Just aswell he's countersuing them... in the fairness of things.

They also say accusations left them "totally destroyed" and caused them "irreparable" damage.  The McCanns give a harrowing insight into the day-to-day life in their household as they struggle to cope without Madeleine!

The writ outlines how the couple both suffer from "permanent anxiety, insomnia, lack of appetite, irritability and an indefinable fear". It also says Kate McCann is "steeped in a deep and serious depression".

Amsterdam 2011

What they are demanding...

£430,000 damages for Madeleine which will be used to continue the search for her.

£215,000 for each parent for the emotional distress the book has caused them.  They say they suffer 'permanent anxiety, insomnia, lack of appetite, irritability and an indefinable fear'.  The writ also says Kate McCann is 'steeped in a deep and serious depression'.

£86,000 for each of their twins Sean and Amelie, who could hear any allegations when they are at school.

I wonder how they came to such figures?  To equate that they, as neglectful parents are worth the same amount as their innocent child comes as no surprise though.

Goncalo Amaral's book and documentary, The Truth of the Lie, were based on the official investigation files (as verified in court by three separate judges)... any legal certificates or documentation required from the file will require the reopening of the same.  Let's hope this is positive news and the case can be reopened.

Marinho Pinto to Testify...

The chairman of the lawyer´s association Marinho Pinto will testify for the couple McCann against Gonçalo Amaral, in the civil process that Madeleine´s parents moved against the former coordinator of the directorate of PJ in Portimao, Correio da Manhã has learned.

Marinho Pinto offered himself to testify in person, against the former coordinator at the trial that was scheduled to start next week but was postponed by the judge who granted the request of the McCanns to be heard several English witnesses through video conference.

Marinho Pinto was the author of the Expresso article which highlighted the trial of Leonor Cipriano and revealed the so called photographs of abuse.  In an unprecedented move, Pinto constituted himself as assistente in the process, which allowed him not to testify or reveal his source of the photos.

In 2010, Marcos Correia publicly supported Pinto in his run for post of Chairman of the Lawyers Order.  And also in 2010, Pinto supported Isabel Duarte.  What familiar faces can we look forward to attending the Amaral v Correia/ACED trial in February, I wonder.

Pinto's daughter, Barbara worked for McCann lawyer Rogerio Alves. Alves, if you recall opposed the reopening of the enquiry after Wikileaks revealed a telegram between British and US ambassadors, discussing that the British police had presented the evidence that had led to the McCanns being made arguidos.

Getting confused by all these names and lawyers?  Well they're all there, and more... in that big can of worms.

Onto the 'several witnesses'... we can speculate all we want but I doubt it will be anyone mentioned in the police files or from Scotland Yard - not whilst their investigative review is active.

Could they be...

Family

Friends

Work colleagues

The McCanns' family and friends are well accustomed to making video appearances.  The McCann children are also mentioned on the writ - maybe the twins will be next to appear for that extra added oooooomph. Respect for the childrens' privacy in a closed court?  Va va voom...

Perhaps we'll have witnesses similar to those from the Leveson enquiry. Witnesses who stated under oath that their articles came from Portuguese contacts within the police.  Or maybe CEOP have discovered just why Jim Gamble made the unprecedented move of having operatives on the ground in Praia de Luz within 2 days.  CEOP was set up in 2006 to help find and convict paedophiles... When the Government took over in 2010, Jim Gamble resigned taking this little nugget of mystery with him.

The McCanns postponed the case... one has to wonder just why they are stalling at this late date.  And just how strong was their case without these additional witnesses.

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

Trials and Tribulations...

Liars and fantasists... there have been a fair few over the years. So many that one could be tempted to write a bewk about them... Or has that already been done?

Here's another one...

Leonor Cipriano, accused of an incestuous relationship with her brother, murdering her 8 year old daughter, Joana and disposing of her body by feeding her to the pigs. Absolutely barbaric. Alongside her lover/brother, she was found guilty and sentenced to 16 years in prison. She later claimed she was tortured into confessing, but police said Cipriano tried to commit suicide by throwing herself off a staircase.

The trial commenced... 5 officers stood accused of torture. As co-ordinator of the PJ in Faro at that time, Goncalo Amaral was also made arguido.

Although the judges considered that Cipriano had been beaten, it could not be established by whom. We all know that child rapists and murderers do not fare well in prison, and I can imagine a long line of prisoners vying for their own piece of Cipriano pie.

With no witnesses to the alleged torture acts, the final ruling ended up being based on the reports from forensic experts, which were not founded on a physical examination of Cipriano, but rather on photographs that had been published years earlier by Expresso, and whose authenticity is still questioned.

Three inspectors, Leonel Marques, Pereira Cristovao and Paulo Marques Bom, were all acquitted and cleared of torture.

Senor Amaral was cleared of a charge of failing to report a crime but found guilty of perjury because he upheld, under oath the version that he had been given by his subordinates, that Cipriano had been injured when she tried to commit suicide.  This was considered to be a false testimony because the facts that Sr Amaral testified to, could not be proved.  His defence was that he could not have given another version of the facts because this was what the inspectors who witnessed the episode, reported to him.

António Nunes Cardoso's report merely described the manner in which Cipriano fell on the stairs. Upon considering that she had been beaten by someone, this automatically removed the value of Cardoso's report.  He was found guilty of falsifying documents and given a two-and-a-half year suspended jail sentence.

The jurors and the collective of judges at the Court of Faro considered that Cipriano's deposition had "no credibility". According to judge Henrique Pavão, she changed her version several times and lightly accused persons of aggressing her, based on a list of names that she carried into the court room. "She lied about the identification of the aggressors and she lied about other crucial aspects," the judge mentioned.

Concerning the photographs that were taken of Leonor, which were included in the process, the collective considered that they were "of weak quality" and that therefore, "it was not possible to conclude safely about what really happened".

Which leads us onto the recent news that Cipriano's lawyer, Marcos Aragão Correia and Pedro Antonio, president of ACED will be tried in early February for the alleged defamation of Goncalo Amaral. At issue is a document dated 8^th April 2008 and entitled “Report on Torture Leonor Cipriano”. The section below appears to be the offending passage...

"At the request of prosecutors, Leonor Cipriano tried to identify the inspectors that tortured her. In her mind, she was transported to Evora in 2006 to try to recognize some of the torturers from the six inspectors. Unfortunately, given the lapse of time, and with a bag over her head many times when attacked, and the possibility of not being on-site recognition of all offenders, Leonor was only able to say with absolute certainty, Gonçalo Amaral, the then coordinator of the DIC of Portimão, was present during interrogation, watching the torture with ease, because every time she uncovered her eyes and was beaten, he was there, walking from one side to another, without ever attempting to stop the torture carried out by his subordinates."

Marcos Aragão Correia

Senor Amaral is suing each arguido for €3000. A rather low sum, you may say... however we all know that taking such action in Portugal is all about writing the wrongs and not for monetary gain. Perhaps the reason that the McCanns never sued the Portuguese press, yet settled out of court with the British media for later printing the very same newspaper reports.  Remind me just who the money-grubbers are...

Season's Greetings

~oOo~

Wishing you all a warm and wonderful festive season.

Your visits and comments have been greatly appreciated throughout the year.

Merry Christmas from Me, Myself, Moi...

All the very best for 2012.

~oOo~