Are the Parents Guilty…What Say You?
By Beverly Hicks Burch
Within the past week there has been a stunning turn in the case of the missing British tyke Madeleine McCann who went missing this past May from a resort in Portugal while on holiday with her family. At that time Maddie’s parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, both doctors in Great Britian claimed they left their three small young children alone, Maddie age three and twin siblings age two, while they went to dine with friends.
Gerry and Kate’s plan was to check on the kids every 30 minutes to make sure they were okay. Supposedly when Kate went to check on them at one of her check-in times, little three year old Maddie had vanished into thin air and has been missing since May 2007.
The McCann family then launched a full scale global media “Bring Maddie Home” campaign. They jetted all over Europe and the USA, held an audience with the new Pope, and enlisted the likes of British Celebs like footballer David “Becks” Beckham and Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling in this campaign. They vowed not to leave Portugal until Maddie was found. (A time or two I wondered how two doctors could continue living in a foreign country, in a known resort area, taking leisurely morning jogs and continue to miss their incomes.)
Gerry McCann started his own blog with a PayPal donation button. On his blog Gerry boasted that so far the “Bring Maddie Home” campaign had raised ₤1,036,104. 17. That’s roughly $2.1 million US dollars at today’s exchange rate. Not bad for a couple of doctors who labored in a country that paid it medical specialist in 2002 the US equivalent of about $122,600. Both of the McCanns are GP’s so you might assume their individual income could be less than a specialist.
From the beginning I personally had a problem that two such bright people would leave these children alone…I mean to be a doctor you have to be pretty bright, right? I would personally find it difficult to trust the diagnostic abilities of two adults that deduced it was proper to leave three children alone in a hotel room unattended while they went off and frolicked with friends for dinner. Something just seemed “hinky” from the get go, but everyone can have a lapse of judgment from time to time…and this is what the McCanns have claimed since the disappearance of Maddie.
Well, now according to immerging reports, the police in Portugal are prepared to arrest Kate McCann on charges similar to US charges of manslaughter. If and when Gerry McCann will be charged is unclear. Furthermore, reports seem to indicate that the Portugal police have been working with British authorities in gathering, examining and extrapolating the evidence. It seems the police in Portugal have suspected Kate McCann from the get go.
In August the Portuguese police began leaking to the press that the parents were possible suspects. Of course, they have denied the allegations. Now, in early September the results of the evidence are in and based on what they have they questioned both parents and offered Kate McCann a plea bargain. They offered her a two year sentence for the accidental killing and disposal of her daughter’s body.
Police believe that Kate sedated Maddie for some reason and this killed her and Kate panic and Kate and Gerry plotted to hide Maddie’s little body then dispose of it when the “heat” was off of them so to speak. The police have conflicting stories between the McCanns stories and those of the couples they dined with in addition to forensic evidence. British sniffer dogs were called in to go over the holiday room of the McCann’s along with ultraviolet light. The dogs found blood in the room on a wall at a very low height. Blood has also been indicated to have been found in a car trunk the family rented 25 days after Maddie was reported missing and sniffer dogs detected the presence of on Maddie on Kate’s clothes after the tyke was missing. The DNA of the blood has been matched to Maddie. Evidently authorities in both Portugal and Great Britain feel the evidence is fairly damning for Kate and possibly Gerry McCann.
What do I think? Do I feel a parent could kill their innocent baby? Personally it goes against everything in me…it screams against the heart and soul within me and it should of mankind as a whole. But, do I think it can happen? Unfortunately, yes…it has already happened one time too many when we see the Susan Smiths and the Andrea Yates of the world. There are far too many people that deal their children harm and there are people that commit the ultimate child abuse…murder. Sadly, the human mind and the human heart can be capable of hugely inhumane, evil acts.
What say I about the McCanns? I can only let the evidence and the letter of the law take care of little Maddie now. My instincts tell me her parents are careless, reckless, immature people at best and heartless, cruel beasts at worst and it should be judged if they are able to hold safe the two precious lives they have left…Maddie’s siblings. It’s the least we can do for Maddie now…what say you?
© 2007 Beverly Hicks Burch All Rights Reserved.
Filed under: Child Welfare, Children, Current events, Madeleine McCann, Murder | Tagged: Child Welfare, Children, Current events, Madeleine McCann, Murder
Well Beveryly, I don’t think anyone can make comment let alone write them on a blog about has happened to this lovely little girl. The only evidence that the public have heard is through the media. We in Australia have heard that the DNA was an 80% match. I think for the sake of this little girl only documented facts should be published and the rubbish and garbage I have heard or read in the media. The comments from people in this case, the Ramsey case and many others certainly really concerns me about the jury system. The perceptions that people have on what people look like and what they have and don’t have certainly makes me quite ill. Whatever happened to fairness, justice and integrity. Its gone. Your comments on the parents are not acceptable, you do not know these people, you have prejudged them on hearsay. I think your description of them is over the top. The Portugal police certainly have some questions that need to be answered, they should be the ones that the media are after. The fact that they have come up with this evidence so long after the disappearance is outrageous. They have been found wanting in their investigation techniques and maybe they need to have Fox cable connected to the police station and watch the CI channel to get some tips.
Leave the parents alone, whilst there are examples of the Susan Smith and Andrea Yates, I do not think this case is in anyway comparable. The Portugal police force seem to have forgotten and so have the press that there are people out there who abduct young children, I would like to compare to statistics to the child sex offenders to parents, mothers in particular who kill their children. My personal opinion is that these parents had nothing to do with their daughter’s disappearance and until its been proven otherwise, I will continue to think that way. I suggest that for the sake of little Madeline we should not condemn her parents without all the facts.
Rhonda,
Thank you for taking the time to stop by and comment.
I know this is a sensitive case, but unfortunately, sweet little Maddie is not the only child in the world to go missing and unfound. I don’t mean to be cruel, but, there are so many cases of lost children who need just as much help being found as Maddie. Would there be as much media coverage if this child was uncomely, black, yellow or even an aborigine from your country? I think not. For example, do you know who Ethan Patz is? He is a little 6 year old fellow who disappeared off the streets of New York City in 1979 on the way to school one morning. Where are the world wide news stories about him? My point? All children…each and every child deserves such attention and respect and search…our children are that valuable!
As far as Gerry and Kate McCann, once again I stand by what I say and I am not alone. If you will re-read what I wrote, you will see that I did not accuse then of killing their Maddie. What I do say is that to leave three small children under the age of five alone just so you can go off and frolic and have fun is selfish and idiotic! I’m not the only one saying this…most of the world is…most clear thinking people that is. Even their high powered friends are backing away until some questions are answered.
To follow your logic, as you said there are so many child molesters and perverts out there to be concerned about and looked at, I would say why in the name of God would parents leave three small children defenseless against the threat of being snatched by a predator?! To do so is pure negligence! In the US parents that do so and neglect their children in such an egregious manner can face legal prosecution. Let’s compare statistics of dunder-headed parents who leave their children alone and available for sex offends to snatch and kill…how bout we do that? I’d say at least we could place Gerry and Kate McCann on that statistical list.
There was some strange behavior on their part from the get go. First, it took them approx. 40 minutes to call the police. Why? That in and of itself begins to hamper the police investigation. It would appear that any parent with a missing child would want the police there as FAST as they could get there…the faster the better. If it was my son, it couldn’t be fast enough. Then why did they drug…excuse me…sedate Maddie? I understand this is a common European practice! Once again something I don’t understand…my kid is bothering me, or inconvenient so I’ll knock him or her out for a bit. Give me a break! Hum…let’s follow that logic…I don’t want my kid to see something, so I’ll just poke his eyes out…it’s easier for ME that way…sheesh!
Yes, sometimes labs and police can get things wrong. A good example would be your country’s handling of the Lindy Chamberlain story. But, fortunately, more times than not, as science lends creed to better investigative tools and techniques police departments and countries, including Portugal, have less of a chance of creating such a mess. One thing scientist, CSI forensic specialist, lawyers, judges, police and other officials will tell you is that the TV hit “forensic” shows have caused a great problem in the legal system. Why? Well, they’ve created a lot of “Sunday morning” or “arm-chair quarterbacks” as we say here in the US…people who now think they know everything about forensic…but, actually know absolutely nothing. These shows make is look easy AND fast…they condense tests that take weeks and months into minutes and/or a one hour show for our viewing entertainment.
You see let’s exam the DNA/only 80% match theory. Well, Rhonda, let’s look at it another way. You’ve been feeling really bad. You go to the doctor and he checks you out and then he looks you in the face and says, “Rhonda, I’m sorry you have cancer and it’s 80% sure you’ll be dead before 2008.” I think in Las Vegas terms they would call you a “Dean Man/Woman Walking”…it would be pretty much that sure of a thing…but still a slim outside chance…
Rhonda, when it’s all said and done, we ALL hope and pray that Maddie’s parents would not be heartless animals and kill that baby. I hope that. Do I have problems with them, yes. Time may tell us and may not tell us. In the end we all need to protect the children…
Thanks again for stopping by,
Bev
If a child dies or disappears under circumstances that are anything other than lock-stock-an-barrel clear, the parents — statistically — should be the #1 suspects. Similarly, if a woman dies/disappears, the husband/boyfriend/ex-husband/ex-boyfriend (if there is one) should — statistically — be the #1 suspect.
The press is slow on this. Susan Smith was painted as an absolute saint, CLEARLY the victim of the generic black/male/teen she told everyone about. Then they found the bodies and she was depicted as the absolute model of evil.
No one is as perfect as Smith was made out (at first) to be. No one is as evil as she has since been depicted. Some people make stupid mistakes. Some are mentally ill. Some compound their stupidity or illness with attempts to cover-up the results of their illness/stupidity.
None of this forgives or in any way excuses what they have done, but it’s a far better explanation than saying they are “evil”.
Murder (in all its forms), physical/sexual/emotional abuse, hatred, etc. are all repugnant to me. But they are individual actions, not a metaphysical/universal force that’s “out there”. It’s inside each and every one of us in some form and to some degree.
Putting all the ugliness in the world into a little box labeled “evil” is lying to ourselves and setting us up to pay for that lie in the future.
Thank you stopping by and the time you took to contribute to the discussion.
Yes, in normal circumstances, in the commission of a crime, those closest to the victim are looked at first. Whether that was really done in Portugal can only be speculated. The police now claim that Kate McCann has always been under their blanket of suspicion.
Hopefully, the disappearance of a child will never be considered “normal” or acceptable. We can hope that when all is said and done, the McCanns will be exonerated in the disappearance of the daughter in this highly unusual case. They can never be exonerated of the careless nature of care with which they attended to their three small children. You just don’t leave children that age alone to fend for themselves…it’s not an evil action, but it’s certainly reckless, careless and selfish. There are just too many predators “out there” for children that age to have to deal with alone.
I agree there are many motives for murder…greed, hatred, perversion, fear and a Pandora’s Box that contains a plethora we could only dream about. I wish I could believe that evil didn’t exist in the world. But, when I know of the existence of the Hitlers, Stalins and Pol Pots in the world the image is ingrained into humanity. It’s only reinforced further when 29 year old Alysha Green of Haltom City, TX rounded her 2 year old, 4 year and 6 year old daughters up this past weekend. She lured them into a closet, doused them with gasoline and then set them on fire. These babies were heard screaming “Mommy, why did you do this to me?” To use the words of an educated, trained psychologist interview about the case…”there is no excuse for this kind of evil”.
Again, thank your contribution.
While it is sad and disturbing that this little girl is missing – I am not without my suspicions.
On the official find Maddie web site you can buy merchandise ranging from $1 to $10 – I thought that they were being funded by some of the wealthiest people in the world? I did read that they don’t intend to spend donations on the legal fight – what DO they intend to spend the money on then?
In my heart, I believe the family know much more about what happened then they are saying. Do I think they killed her? I don’t know – but they are ultimately responsible for what happened to her. I can not imagine that any parent would think it was ok to leave three children under the age of four alone in a hotel room, whether the intended to check on them every half hour or not.
Thanks for stopping and contributing.
Like you, I have wondered what all that money is for…I had heard it was for legal representation…then not…then for the search of Maddie. How and what are they doing to contribute to the search? They have really accumulated A LOT of money…even by doctor standards.
Do I think they killed their daughter? I can’t make that call…I still need more hard evidence, but I think there is a lot wrong with this case. There are a lot of questions about the parents. And they should have NEVER…NEVER…NEVER…left those babies alone!
Again, thanks for your comments.
With all the facts around the case, they look very guilty to me, and they should be considered as prime suspects.
I couldn’t agree with you more about the lack of intelligence demonstrated by the parents in sedating and leaving a baby on their own.
The fact they are making money off this makes me feel quite sick.
I have three boys, age three, five and nine. I would NEVER consider leaving them alone when being as young as the McCann’s children and no parents in their right mind would.
I also agree the McCann’s are very suspicious. According to British papers, Mr. McCann makes $150,000/year. His wife is also a doctor and if her salary’s even half of his, that’s $225,000/year combined. Both educated, middle-aged professionals with advanced degrees that could afford a deluxe vacation resort…but decided not to pay a baby sitter?? Who BOTH thought it okay to leave 3 babies alone in an unlocked room for hours. And it’s now come out that they did it for at least 4 nights in a row!! I can’t imagine even one of them thinking that made sense, let alone both of them! And they STILL don’t admit it was a mistake. They will only admit to it being “naive.” Abduction aside, didn’t they think about the kids falling out of bed, getting up and wandering outside, or crying for their parents, for whatever reason? It truly boggles the mind.
I had my son at 17, single, on welfare, and no high school diploma. I never once left him alone until he was in middle school. Not to say I was perfect by any means, but not THAT stupid!
And all the trips, PR stunts, focus on themselves, etc. Neglectful, sociopathic narcissists at the very least.
That is my point exactly. At the very least there was a lot that could have happened to three toddlers left alone in a hotel room. Falling, illness, choking, fevevr and assuming they are innocent of harming Maddie…then, abduction.
I’ve always wondered why and abductor would take one small child when three were so readily available? Just a thought…
Dear Beverly
Over the Christmas period, I received a copy of What really happened to Madeleine McCann? 60 reasons which suggest that she was not abducted with Appendix outlining British government involvement in the case written by Tony Bennett MA for The Medeliene Foundation,
After reading the booklet I purchased 100 of them, and have been distributing them in Nottingham and Leicester with my wife on my Triumph Bonneville America motorcycle. We have visited the Police HQ in Leicester and the McCanns home village of Rothley.
The Madeleine Foundation is NOTHING to do with Kate and Gerry McCann the parents of Madeleine McCann.
Presently more than 600 are being paid for by the general public and being sent to every Member of Parliament.
Grenville Green
Nuthall, Nottingham ENGLAND
Dear Beverley,
Not very good with IT so I hope this video link works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdzr2YnL8F4&eurl=http://www.the3arguidos.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=29440&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
According to the McCanns spokesman, Clarence Mitchell in a talk he gave in the OXFORD Student Union Friday 6th March. Some countries are sympathetic to the McCanns and others are not..
Q- Does AUSTRALIA believe Madeleine was abducted?
Grenville Green
Nuthall Nottingham ENGLAND
Grenville,
Thanks for the new information. I’ve wondered if there has been anything new on little Maddie’s case. It’s such a shame this much time has passed and there’s been no real closure on the case.
I still feel something went terribly awry within the family that night…even if it was just the fact that such young children were left alone…that’s a crime in itself.
As far as Australia’s leaning toward the case, I really can’t say one way or the other. One reader from that country left some rather pointed, personal and nasty comments directed at ME because she felt I was too tough on the parents. That was one reader..how the rest of Australia feels, I don’t know.
I would say in the US people here feel something went wrong and the parents have some responsibility in what happened…again if for nothing else in setting things in motion by leaving such young children unsupervised.
Thanks again for your comments,
Bev
Bev,
Thank you for your reply .
UNITED STATES
I would say in the US people here feel something went wrong and the parents have some responsibility in what happened…again if for nothing else in setting things in motion by leaving such young children unsupervised.
AUSTRALIA
Mike Hitchen is based in Australia. He isn’t terribly sympathetic towards Kate and Gerry McCann.
http://ionglobaltrends.blogspot.com/search/label/Madeleine%20McCann.
UK
Tony Bennett M.A asks “What really happened to Madeleine McCann?” 60 reasons which suggest that she was not abducted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdzr2YnL8F4&eurl=http://www.the3arguidos.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=29440&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
Anyone trying to make sense out of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann can find find out the thoughts of others for and against on “The 3 Arguidos” Where The Truth Flows Freely
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2GtGy0zXC0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orl6vXPJAww
Regards
Grenville
This little girls disapperance is very tragic, whether it was at the hands of her parents or a pervert.
What is very disturbing is the massive amount of attention this case has generated.
Look, thousands of kids die every day from preventable disease and malnutrition ,if these deaths got even a fraction of the attention that the Mccann case has generated the world would be a far better place.
Granted the world would be a better place if there wasn’t disease, abuse and hunger for people…of any age.
What is ultimately tragic and seems to rile most civilized people is the sense of betrayal a young innocent child must feel…especially the horror of a death at the hands of someone who is suppose to love and protect you above all others…and that would be your parents. We have just had a case in the States in the last few days where a young father strangled with his bare hands his wife and TWO beautiful young sons.
Is there a caring, civilized, humane and loving person alive today that can not sense this is the ultimate betrayal. In other word, imagine how YOU would have felt if your last moments on Earth had been spent knowing your death was at the hands of a parent you loved? Maybe caring parents understand this the best.
Regardless, I do appreciate you stopping by and taking time to comment.
Bev
The people of Rothley have receieved a wake up call with the delivery of these leaflets..Read the police files and Mrs Fenns statement. She heard Madeleine screaming and crying Daddy,Daddy from 10.30 until 11.45..on the night 1st May….This proves there were no checks. For those that do not know Mrs Fenn , she lives in the apartment above 5a. She heard Kate screaming on the night of the 3rd…”We have let her down, Gerry we have let her down.” Mrs Fenn looked over her balcony to see what was wrong..Mccann said a child is missing.(.not my daughter .)..a child…Mrs.Fenn said “Shall I call the police” Kate said they have already been called”…Kate lied….
People of Rothley who gave to the fund should realise if the Mccanns are involved in the disappearance of Maddie and their statements to police are very odd and do not fit the times they state, should also realise that the fund is fraudulent and that they have been robbed by the two nice doctors of Rothley.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving an informative update.
I’ve always thought there was just something odd to say the least about this baby girl’s disappearance!
I hope and pray the truth comes out some day so her little soul will get justice…in the mean time I pray for Peace for her blessed little soul.
The parents SHOULD really be looked at folks…just remember…how would you have reacted if it had been your baby?
http://joana-morais.blogspot.com/
For more information on the police files no better place..
My Big Desk….AnnaEsse…
Anna has spent hours translating Goncalos book into english. There you will read about David Payne and the alleged suspicions against him by two friends given in police statements. These allegations were held back from the PJ while they were conducting their investigation. Why? you may ask….a very good question’ nobody knows…The DVDs regarding witness statements were given to the British Press…not one of them has printed these statements…again Why? The statements are not gossip or hearsay they are factual and the british public should be told about them.
Here is a snippet from Goncalos book with regards to the investigation and the fund. The book if and when you read it is based on the investigation…facts…and not as some try to portray a bitter cop who has it in for the mccanns. It shows a man with passion and concern for the mccanns as he expresses his understanding for their lost child and shares in their grief. He is also a detective searching for the truth.
Quote
FRAUD OR ABUSE OF TRUST?
During a more relaxed moment at one of these meetings, I come out with an ill-judged comment. Inopportune or undiplomatic, but this is my reasoning: thinking about the kinds of crime that may have been committed if the McCanns were involved in their daughter’s disappearance, something occurs to me. If they were involved in one way or another, then a crime of fraud or abuse of trust is a possibility concerning the fund that was set up to finance the search for Madeleine. Donations have reached nearly 3 million Euros.
If such a crime exists, Portugal would not have jurisdiction to investigate and try it. The fund being legally registered in England, it would be our English colleagues who would deal with the case. Our English colleagues then realise a hard reality: the strong possibility that they would have a crime to investigate in their own country, with the McCAnn couple as the main suspects: a prospect that does not seem to appeal to them. I notice a sudden pallor in the faces of those British people present.
http://goncaloamaraltruthofthelie.blogspot.com/
Link to the book in English…
This is the police statement from a very worried doctor a friend ‘of the Mccanns and Paynes…Why was this information by british police not handed over to PJ…
Bamasteelmagnolia.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
This is information available to the public. I hope you will allow it to remain on your blog. if not I understand…People that support the Mccanns ask about where are the facts. Well here is a fact and this Doctor was very concerned…PJ should have been given this information to help with their investigation.
Last Name: Gaspar Forenames: Katherina
Date of Testimony: 16/05/2007 Number of Pages: 8
I give this declaration in relation to the McCANN family who are currently in Portugal. The McCANN family is composed of Gerry McCANN, his wife, Kate McCANN and their three children, Madeleine, of 4 years old, and Sean and Amelie, who are twins and of 2 years of old.
As is profusely divulged in the news, Madeleine is not with her family, at present, and has been missing for the last two weeks.
I will begin by explaining that I am married to Savio Gaspar and that we have two daughters. Exxxx of almost 3 years old and Ixxxx which is now 1 year old. I have been married to Savio for 11 years. I am a general practitioner as is my husband. I met my husband when we were (page 1) working together in Exeter, around 14 years ago.
In order to explain how we know the McCANN family, I would like to state that my husband knows Kate as they both attended Dundee University between 1987 and 1992. At that time, Kate name was Kate HEALY. I met Kate and Gerry at the occasion of their wedding, in 1998, in Liverpool. Both Savio and I went to the wedding, since Savio was an old friend of Kate, we were invited to the event.
From what I know, Savio did not know Gerry before the said wedding. After this time, we met as friends, probably around three times a year, and we would go out together for the weekend. I would say that we become intimate friends of Gerry and Kate.
I remember that in 2002 or 2003, Savio and I spent a weekend with Gerry and Kate in Devon. We maintained contact with each other via telephone.
In 2002/2003 Savio and I were living in Birmingham and the McCANN’S in Leicester.
In September of 2005 Savio, myself and Exxxx, who at the time was 1 and a half years old, spent our holidays abroad, in Mallorca. We went (page 2) on holidays with Kate, Gerry, and Madeleine, who should have been around 2 and a half years old, and the twins, Sean and Amelie, who were only months old. I remember that I was pregnant with Ixxxx.
On those holidays we also met Gerry and Kate’s friends.
There was a couple, whose names were Dave and Fiona, and whose surname was PAYNE, I think. I believe that they were married and had one daughter, 1 year old, named Lxxx. I remember that on these holidays, Fiona was pregnant.
There was another couple, whose names were Txxxx and Sxxxx, and whose family name I cannot remember who were also on holiday with us. They had two boys, of 1 and 3 years old, whose names I do not remember. I did not know these two families until we went on holidays together. As I recall, I think that David organised the holidays and we all stayed together in a big house while we stayed in Mallorca.
We spend a week on holidays, however, the McCANN family, and the PAYNE family stayed for two weeks. I believe that Txxxx and Sxxxx, and their two children, also stayed for one week.
Two or three days passed in Mallorca where we had fun (Page 3) with our children. Possibly around the fourth or fifth day abroad, I remember an incident that stayed recorded in my head. I say this in this way, because I have thought many times about the incident that I am about to describe.
One night, on holidays, the adults, that is, the couples aforementioned, were in a patio outside of the house where we were staying. We had been eating and drinking.
I was seated between Dave and Gerry who I believe were both speaking about Madeleine. I don’t remember the conversation in its entirety, but it seemed they were discussing a possible scenario. I remember David telling Gerry something like “she”, referring to Madeleine, “would do this”.
When he mentioned “this”, Dave was sucking on one of his fingers, pushing it inside and outside his mouth, while with the other hand he made a circle around his nipple, with a circulatory movement over his clothes. This was done in a provocative manner and carried an explicit insinuation in relation to what he was doing and making.
I remember that I was shocked at this, and looked at Gerry, and also at Dave, to gauge their reactions. I looked around (page 4) as if saying “did someone else hear that, or was it just me”. There was a nervous silence registered in all the conversations and afterwards, everyone began talking again.
I never spoke to anyone about this, but I always felt that it was very strange and it wasn’t something that someone should do or say.
Besides this [incident], I remember that Dave did the same thing once again. When I refer to this, I want to clarify that it was during a conversation in which he was talking about an imaginary situation, though I could not say exactly what about.
I believe that he was talking about his own daughter, Lxxx, although I cannot be certain. He put one of his fingers in his mouth and slide it in and out, and with the other hand, drew a circle around his nipple in a sexually and provocative way. I believe that he was referring to the way that Lxxx, would behave or do it.
I believe that he did this later on, during the holidays, but I cannot be sure. The last time, besides this one, when I was with Dave and Fiona was several weeks after the holidays, when Savio and I met Gerry, Kate, Dave and Fiona at a restaurant in Leicester.
I am absolute certain that he said what he said and that he repeated the same gestures that I referred, however that could have occurred in a restaurant in Leicester, though (page five) I believe that it was later on, in Mallorca. When I heard Dave doing and making this a second time, I took it more seriously.
I remember thinking whether he looked at the girls in a manner different from me or from the others. I imagined that maybe he had visited Internet sites related to small children. In short, I thought he was interested in internet child porn.
During our holidays I was more attentive at bath time after hearing Dave saying that.
During our vacation in Mallorca, it was the fathers who took care of the children baths. I had the tendency to walk close to the bathroom, if Dave was bathing his children. I remember telling Savio to be careful and to be there, in case it was Dave helping to bathe the children and, in particular, to my daughter Exxxx. I was very clear about this, as having heard him disturbed me, and did not trust him to give a bath to Exxxx alone.
When I heard Dave say that a second time, it reinforced what I already though in relation to his thoughts about little girls. During our stay in Mallorca, Dave and his wife, Fiona, accompanied by this daughter Lxxx, took Madeleine (page 6) with them to spend the day together, and to give Kate and Gerry a bit of rest and time to be with the twins. When I say this, it is not that I was worried with Madeleine’s safety, since she was also with Fiona and Lxxx, and also with Dave, as far as I know.
As I already referred, I was only with Dave and Fiona on one occasion, after Mallorca, and I have not spoken to them since that time. In the last two years, we have met, as a family, with the McCANNS, once in a while. That happens mainly at the children’s birthday, a time when we get together.
The first time I had knowledge of the terrible news about Madeleine’s disappearance trough the radio, my thoughts went immediately to Dave. I asked Savio if Dave was also on holidays with the McCANNS in Portugal but he did not know.
I watched TV meticulously, and seeing the coverage of the news, I understood that Dave was there, because I saw him, in the background, on the television images during the first days after the Madeleine’s disappearance. Based on that, I believed that he was on holidays with the McCANNS in Portugal.
Today, Wednesday, the 16th of May of 2007, at 17:40, I gave DC Brewer an A4 page containing 2 photographic images. I am going to reference these images as (ref KZG/1) (probatory element) that may (page seven) be presented as mean of proof, if necessary.
These photographs were taken during the holidays in Mallorca. In the photographs, Dave is wearing a white t-shirt and the woman in the photograph corresponds to his wife Fiona. The man who is holding the cup of wine in the photograph is Sxxxx. These photographs were taken whilst we were in Mallorca.
Add to this the strange police statements from Kate and David Payne…the evening of the 3rd 6.30 pm…. Payne called at the apartment while Mccann was playing tennis…Payne said he was there around 30 minutes….Kate says he was only there for about 30 seconds…
Dear Bev
A few days ago, three members of The Madeleine Foundation distributed leaflets in Rothley Leicestershire.
BRITISH PRESS reported wrongly that ten people were delivering leaflets through the night, one was on a motorcycle. For good measure these lies were added to by saying leaflets had been pinned to trees and notice boards
No MF members pinned leaflets to trees and notice boards, as this is UNLAWFUL and the culprits can be prosecuted.
BRITISH press, BRITISH government and the LEICESTER police have a lot to answer for, and some of them are in need of urgent removal from their jobs.
Best Wishes to you and your readers
Grenville Green
Sorry,
I should have mentioned the leaflets were INFORMATION leaflets giving 10 key reasons which suggest Madeleine McCann was not abducted.
Grenville
http://themccanngallery.blogspot.com/2009/08/stuart-prior-fss-kate-mccanns.html
Mr.Green, your leaflets get a mention here.
The British government asked that immediate consular assistance be given to the Tapas gang.
Within hours, the British Embassy in Portugal warned their government that there were severe inconsistencies in the parents versions of how their daughter had gone missing and that the government should not get involved. Repeat – not to get involved.
The Embassy was told to go ahead. Key players at the Embassy during that time were moved on.
Why are the Tapas gang being protected? Why is there a press ban on all information and evidences published by the Portuguese police and all statements, including the Gaspars?
If Geraghty had the connections to get the keys to the Church, could he have had connections to get keys for the Boavista golf club not far from his home?
Eddie and Keela should have searched Geraghty’s home I think this would have rattled a few cages.What looks like Dianne Webster is on Facebook looking rather garish if it is her…There is also now a Katherine Gaspar on Facebook…not sure if it is the Katherine.
Dianne has since removed her delightful face from facebook and now gone undercover..
http://www.scribd.com/doc/15402420/The-Madeleine-McCann-affair-first-impressions
A must read ,,,for those who doubt the Mccanns story.
Ironside ………… You are a Saint. I have always respected your posts enormously from the beginning.
Have often wondered why we haven’t seen statements from Geraghty. If he had the clout to get keys for the Church, he could easily have got the keys for the golf club.
Handy place to hide a bag or get hold of lime and fertisers etc. Not that I am even suggesting anything untoward you understand …………
Never leave a baby or very young child alone at home, whether asleep or awake, even for a few minutes. It doesn’t take long for unsupervised young children or babies to injure themselves.
Good advice from BUPA…
Even better advice for the Doctors Mccann
Never seen two innocent people trying so hard not to look guilty….
September 09, 2009
Gonçalo Amaral’s book prohibited from sale
by Ana Paula Azevedo
The 13th Section of the Civil Court of Lisbon has today conceded the injunction that had been presented by the McCann couple, the parents of Maddie – who disappeared in Praia da Luz in May 2007 – in the sense of prohibiting the sale of the book by Gonçalo Amaral, the former Polícia Judiciária inspector who defends the thesis that the parents were responsible over the disappearance and death of the child.
The book, Maddie – The Truth about the Lie – cannot be sold as of today, and all copies that are in shops or in storage must be collected.
The court has further decided to sustain the McCann couple’s request to prohibit the distribution of the movie that is based on the same book, and was broadcast by TVI.
The court demands Valentim de Carvalho and Guerra e Paz to collect all of the books that are still on sale in bookshops, forbidding them of ceding the rights of exhibition of the video and of sale of the book into other countries.
According to the same decision, the editors are not allowed to publish this or other books or videos that defend the same thesis.
Finally, it forbids Gonçalo Amaral to make any statements about the contents of the book or the video.
source: SOL, 09.09.2009
(developing)
+/-
+/-
by Joana Morais
Read more: http://joana-morais.blogspot.com/#ixzz0QcehD7EC
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives
However, this doesn’t prevent his wife from talking about it!
Dear Bev,
Further news for you and your readers:
Carter Ruck Send Letters to the Madeleine Foundation
Released 6.00pm. Thursday 17 September 2009
On 1 and 2 September in the post Debbie Butler and Tony Bennett received legal letters from Carter-Ruck, sent by staff working under the direction of Adam Tudor, Partner. As most of you will know, Carter-Ruck is universally acknowledged as the leading and most expensive firm of libel lawyers in the country and successfully obtained nearly £1 million in libel damages against various British media and newspapers on behalf of the McCanns and their ‘Tapas 7’ friends during the early part of 2008.
Both of us have received letters making the following six key demands:
1. To permanently take down our website at http://www.madeleinefoundation.org
2. To deliver up to Carter-Ruck all outstanding copies of the booklet “What Really Happened to Madeleine McCann? 60 Reasons which suggest that she was not abducted”
3. To deliver up to Carter-Ruck all outstanding copies of the leaflet: “What Really Happened to Madeleine McCann? – 10 Key Reasons which suggest that she was not abducted”
4. To erase all electronic copies of both the booklet and the leaflet
5. To use our best endeavours to remove all allegedly defamatory postings by either of us on any website, forum or blog, and
6. To permanently cease from making any further allegedly defamatory statements about the McCanns.
The nature of the alleged defamation is that we have publicly suggested that Madeleine McCann died in the McCanns’ holiday apartment in Praia da Luz and that the parents bear at least a degree of responsibility for her death. In this respect we adopt the conclusions of Goncalo Amaral in his best-selling book published last year, ‘The Truth About The Lie”.
In addition, Tony Bennett received a separate legal letter in relation to postings he made about Brian and Patrick Kennedy on the now-defunct 3Arguidos website in July this year.
We cannot hide the fact that these letters and how to react to them have created some uncertainty and pressure as we decide how to reply. We are taking legal advice on what are clearly highly complex legal issues.
This pressure was increased when on Tuesday 15 September we received further legal letters from Carter-Ruck informing us for the first time that under something called the ‘Pre-action Protocol for Defamation’ we were expected to reply in full to their demands within 14 days. They have now insisted that unless we reply in full to all letters by tomorrow (Friday 18 September 2009) they will immediately instruct a barrister to draw up a libel writ.
It may be recalled that on 27 October 2008, Debbie Butler as Chairman of The Madeleine Foundation wrote to the McCanns themselves, Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns Chief Public Relations Officer, Carter-Ruck themselves and two of the McCanns’ many other lawyers, offering to withdraw or amend any statement we had made on our website in our ‘30 Reasons’ article or that was in our forthcoming book, ‘60 Reasons’ (which we published on 7 December 2008) that they could demonstrate to be untrue. No reply has ever been received to any of those five letters, until the letters we received on 1 and 2 September.
We regard it as wholly disproportionate to demand replies from us within 14 days when these letters did not arrive until 310 days after we wrote to them on 27 October 2008 – and we have said so in no uncertain terms.
We are consulting with lawyers and until we have received their advice which could include having to seek a barrister’s opinion, we cannot yet say how we will respond.
It is against this background that Debbie and Tony jointly admit to a misunderstanding between them during the course of 15 September which led to Debbie posting a notice on a Madeleine forum that she would not be working with The Madeleine Foundation ‘until further notice’. That misunderstanding has now been fully cleared up and we remain united in our commitment to the work of The Madeleine Foundation. Debbie will remain as Chairman and Tony as Secretary. We both wish to say sorry to our members and supporters who were troubled at the news that Debbie might be leaving and at the same time thank all of you who have been kind enough over the past two days to send us messages of goodwill and encouragement.
At the same time, Tony Bennett, having received appropriate legal advice, has already replied, earlier today, to the legal letter received by Carter-Ruck on behalf of Brian and Patrick Kennedy. Accompanying this statement is Tony’s on-the-record reply to that letter.
We should just like to add this. Any fees incurred for legal advice will be met personally by ourselves and the funds in The Madeleine Foundation’s bank account will not be used.
Our plans continue with our meetings in Cardiff on 3 October, south Manchester on 14 November, and of course our 2nd International Conference in the East Midlands on 27 & 28 February 2010.
Debbie Butler and Tony Bennett
With the movement of Tony and Debbie delivering leaflets in Rothley I would imagine a few have woken up from their sedated state.
A little gossip over morning coffee maybe, a sly look when kate is buying her lamb chops in the Butchers.A few mums at the school gate, glancing at kate with doubt in their eyes. All of this the Mccanns can probably live with, they are arrogant and superior to others.Fine for the moment, but let the people of Rothley stir a little more and start thinking if the Mccanns had anything to do with the disappearance of madeleine . What about the fund and the mortgage payments? Their visit to the Pope.Money they have given with good hearts to help the Dear Doctors…It is one regret I have that Tony did not print on his leaflet the statement from Mrs Fenn. The fine people of Rothley knew Madeleine, how would they feel if they had known madeleine was left sobbing screaming Daddy daddy for more than one and a half hours. How would they feel when seeing the Mccanns on Sky denying that the children ever woke, except for a small moment. When will the people of Rothley realise that the Mccanns are a double act, they are a couple of con masters and have taken the world for a ride.
IRON:
IRONSIDE, on September 19th, 2009 at Saturday,September,19,2009 Said:
“With the movement of Tony and Debbie delivering leaflets in Rothley I would imagine a few have woken up from their sedated state”.
Correction IRONSIDE–Three people delivered leaflets in Rothley – Debbie Butler, my wife Helene and myself.
Thanks for the correction Mr.Green. Either way it was a very good move. A very good morning to you.
Mr Grenville . Just a simple yes or No. Are you OK have you been threatened in any way. Also Debbie and Tony. Stevo are they all OK?
We are fine, and thank you for asking.
Kind regards
Grenville and Helene
I am glad if you wish me to post onything on any forums just let me know..
Gonçalo Amaral presented opposition to the Lisbon Civil Court’s decision that prohibited the ongoing sale of the book “Maddie: The truth about the lie”.
The former Polícia Judiciária inspector’s defence considers that the book does not reveal anything beyond what is included in the judicial process, which is public.
Lawyer António Cabrita says that the book “does not offend the McCann couple’s good name, consideration and reputation in any manner and does not harm the continuation of the searches for Madeleine in any form”.
Following an injunction by the McCann couple, the Lisbon Civil Court determined, earlier this month, to prohibit the sale of the book and any comments by Gonçalo Amaral about the English girl’s disappearance.
The former inspector has presented opposition to the dispatch today, and delivered a list of seven witnesses, including British policemen, who may be heard by the judge.
Read more: http://joana-morais.blogspot.com/#ixzz0S6bRSCi9
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives
September 24, 2009
‘The English Gag’: Amaral Defies the McCanns
Gonçalo Amaral pledged that he would not be silenced by the injunction ruled by the Lisbon Civil Court, prohibiting the circulation of the book ‘A Verdade da Mentira’ and the video, which defend the theory of Madeleine McCann’s death and the cadaver concealment by her parents.
He fulfilled his promise. The former PJ Inspector appears now with the book ‘A Mordaça Inglesa’ [The English Gag], to be presented on the 3rd of October in the Algarve.
Gerry and Kate seek compensation of 1.2 million. The court’s decision also prohibits Gonçalo Amaral to make any statements. Doing so he will have to pay a thousand euros to the English family, for each comment.
However, Amaral is not intimidated and challenges the McCanns by starting his book with a quote from Mário Soares after the 25th of April 1974 on freedom of expression.
Yesterday, Kate and Gerry were in Lisbon to “explore strategies” with their lawyers and advisers. The objective, according to Gerry, is to “get back on course and continue to search” for Maddie, who disappeared in Praia da Luz, Lagos, in 2007. To represent them in the Portuguese media, the couple hired the Public Relations company ‘Lift Consulting’.
Visibly nervous with the first return to Portugal [since they run away returned to the UK], Kate said she believes that her daughter is alive. “Madeleine deserves that we believe in her”, she said.
With a choking voice, Kate also admitted to return to Praia da Luz: “I want to return to the place where I embraced my daughter for the last time”. Gerry on the other hand said: “Although it is painful, we are learning to live without Maddie”.
in Correio da Manhã
Meanwhile from the Jornal de Noticias we can read the following:
Legal battle on the way
7 thousand books seized
The lawyer Isabel Duarte said that she was only authorized by the couple to speak about two cases against Gonçalo Amaral. “This does not mean that there aren’t more claims”. She also said that until now seven thousand books have been seized.
Conferences in Europe
In the Civil Court of Lisbon entered today the “counterclaim” of Gonçalo Amaral to the injunction that ordered him to be silent. Pending the decision, he is considering accepting various invitations to participate in conferences all around Europe.
Read more: http://joana-morais.blogspot.com/#ixzz0S6cOYGGG
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives
Maddie’s parents are getting ready to act judicially against internet sites that question their behaviour through comments and texts that they consider to be defaming
by André Carapeto
After the injunction that hit former Polícia Judiciária coordinator Gonçalo Amaral, preventing the book from being sold in Portugal and in England, Gerry and Kate McCann are now committed to making all the uncomfortable internet pages that concern the disappearance of their daughter, Madeleine McCann, disappear.
Through their lawyers, Adam Tudor and Stephen Loughrey, from the offices of Carter Ruck, one of the most influential (and expensive) in England, Maddie’s parents want to discipline those who doubt their behaviour or suggest that they were somehow involved in their daughter’s destiny.
The famous law office that some months ago obtained hundreds of thousands of euro in compensation payments from some British media, for the McCanns and their friends who dined at the ‘Tapas Bar’ on the night that Maddie disappeared, has already taken a few measures in order to attack with the couple’s new legal offensive.
As far as everything indicates, those responsible for internet pages and blogs that are openly unfavourable towards the McCanns have already received intimations from Carter Ruck, ordering them to cease their activity, under threat of lawsuits for defamation and calumny.
Test card…
One of the main (if not even “the” main) targets for Maddie’s parents is the website that is owned by the Madeleine Foundation, headed by Anthony Bennett and Debbie Butler, who received, early this month, the letters from Tudor and Loughney, where they were asked to stop the foundation’s online page’s activity, as well as other demands made by Gerry and Kate.
But there is more: the heads of the foundation that was created with the purpose of combating child neglect, were demanded to hand over all existing copies of the book “What really happened to Madeleine McCann – 60 reasons that show that she was not abducted”, which was published in late 2008.
Apart from this ‘order’, the former English member of parliament who leads the foundation also received notices to shut down the activity of the website that was created in November last year, as well as the order to deliver to Justice the remaining leaflets that contain a summary of the book, which volunteers at Bennett’s service delivered into various English locations, including Rothley, the neighbourhood where the McCanns reside.
The former English member of parliament who heads the foundation also received intimations to delete all computer records, both of the book and of said leaflets, and to delete all allegedly offensive comments that exist on the webpage, and on interconnected forums or blogs, many of which are signed by Bennett himself.
But there is more…
Nevertheless, it is not only the Madeleine Foundation that is targeted by the McCanns’ offensive. The crosshairs also focus on blogs, including the “Three arguidos”, which is a forum that has been used for strong criticism of the behaviour of the English couple of doctors, since the night of the 3rd of May 2007.
Since they decided to stop giving interviews to the media, and discredited the action of the Portuguese police forces, the McCanns seem to have turned the search for their daughter into a struggle of their own, threatening to confront anyone who tries to contradict their position.
Over the last two years, since their daughter disappeared from apartment 5A at the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz, Lagos, Gerry and Kate have received unconditional support of some and severe criticism from others. After last year they secured a compensation payment of 700 thousand euro, which was obtained after they accused several newspapers in their country of defamation, and after six of the seven friends that accompanied them on their Portuguese holidays, under representation of the same law firm, also received compensation payments that neared 450 thousand euro, Gerry and Kate now threaten to go down the same route, with the internet as their target.
source: O Crime, paper edition, 24.09.2009
satirical image an H. original creation
Read more: http://joana-morais.blogspot.com/#ixzz0S6dDKhgQ
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives
IRONSIDE, on September 25th, 2009 at Friday,September,25,2009 Said:
Maddie’s parents are getting ready to act judicially against internet sites that question their behaviour through comments and texts that they consider to be defaming
Dear Bev,
In the light of what is written here by André Carapeto
Quote:
“After the injunction that hit former Polícia Judiciária coordinator Gonçalo Amaral, preventing the book from being sold in Portugal and in England, Gerry and Kate McCann are now committed to making all the uncomfortable internet pages that concern the disappearance of their daughter, Madeleine McCann, disappear.
Through their lawyers, Adam Tudor and Stephen Loughrey, from the offices of Carter Ruck, one of the most influential (and expensive) in England, Maddie’s parents want to discipline those who doubt their behaviour or suggest that they were somehow involved in their daughter’s destiny”.
Do you think one of the most feared expensive influential law firms in the UK could have an influence in the USA ?
Could your site be closed and posters be disciplined because some opinions expressed, differ from those expressed by Gerry and Kate Mccann?
I personally do not think so, as the USA is the land of the FREE
Good morning Mr.Green , I am posting on American sites and they are shocked by what is happening..I live in Spain and the same applies the Mccanns cannot shut every blog up, our laws here are different. as you know Mr Amaral was here this week and has been interviewed this will be shown in 70 countries….Do not forget Spain lived under a dictatorship with Franco. The Spaniards have no intention of returning there with the help of a couple of child neglectors. We shall blog on.
Dear Bev,
I have asked this question of an American Legal Advice Internet Service:-
“Although there is a lot of activity presently on the internet by Gerry and Kate McCanns’ lawyers, I cannot believe Free Speech and opinion can be controlled.
As we cannot believe everything reported in the media, it follows that if the internet is controlled then free speech and personal opinion will be stopped. The free world, as we know it, will cease. What is next–concentration camps and gassing?”
This is the answer I received:-
“Absolutely not because free speech and free opinions are protected by the US Constitution in the United states but in other countries free speech may not involve the same protections that we do here. Their attorneys cannot ban any US based internet sites just because they dont like the content.”
IRONSIDE, on September 26th, 2009 at Saturday,September,26,2009 Said:
Good morning Mr.Green , I am posting on American sites and they are shocked by what is happening..I live in Spain and the same applies the Mccanns cannot shut every blog up, our laws here are different. as you know Mr Amaral was here this week and has been interviewed this will be shown in 70 countries….
Do not forget Spain lived under a dictatorship with Franco. The Spaniards have no intention of returning there with the help of a couple of child neglectors. We shall blog on.
IRONSIDE, on September 25th, 2009 at Friday,September,25,2009 Said:
I am glad if you wish me to post anything on any forums just let me know.
Good morning IRONSIDE Please keep doing what you are doing as you are an encouragement.
Good morning MrGrenville, I hope you and your good lady enjoy what is left of the weekend…
27 September 2009
Sunday Express Exclusive Interview with Sofia Leal
Sofia and Gonçalo Amaral
THE wife of Portuguese detective Gonçalo Amaral has denied they are locked in a personal battle with Kate and Gerry McCann and has spoken of their pity for the distraught couple.
By James Murray
“Everyone thinks we are fighting the McCanns but this is not true,” said 38-year-old Sofia Leal in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Express.
“I tell people all the time that they are having to endure the hardest pain in the world, which is losing a child.
“As a mother I cannot imagine what kind of pain that is. It is so hard.
“Like Kate McCann, I am a Catholic. The image of pain in the Catholic church is not Christ on the Cross but Mary holding her child in her arms. It is the pain of the loss of a child and there is no worse pain in the world. We are sorry for that.”
That pain was etched on the face of Kate McCann when she made a fleeting visit to Lisbon last week to meet her lawyers and to appeal for help in finding her daughter, snatched in May 2007 from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on the Algarve.
Close to tears, Kate said: ‘‘She’s six now but we’ve just got to keep going. It has been very harrowing and draining. But there is no choice, she needs us to find her and bring her home.”
In Portimão, 20 miles up the coast from Praia da Luz, Sofia spoke of the anguish suffered by her husband, who coordinated the McCann investigation. The McCanns are suing him for £1million they believe he has made with his book about the case, The Truth Of The Lie, and a documentary.
They are particularly angered over his claims that Madeleine is not alive. Civil servant Sofia says her 49-year-old husband suffered post traumatic stress after he was removed as head of the Madeleine investigation in September 2007. He took early retirement the following month, even though he lost two-thirds of his pension.
“It was a bad time for Gonçalo,” said Sofia. Even in his sleep he was going over in his mind what had happened to him and how his career was brought to a premature end.
“I heard him talking in the night because of nightmares. Everything he did, every action he took was going through his head.
“I was worried because he is such a calm, tender man but luckily over the past few months the nightmares have stopped.” Sofia, who works in the Portimão mayor’s office and is responsible for three major projects, including a new Algarve airport, speaks English fluently and is both amused and angered by comments aimed at her husband from some people in Britain. “We know how Gonçalo is portrayed in Britain, the caricature of a foreign detective missing the clues, but the reality is that you will not find a better detective in Portugal.
“There were many times in the investigation when his bosses said, ‘You have done enough’ but he kept working and working, chasing all the leads.
“There are satellites which probably have close-up pictures of what was happening on the ground that day. He tried to get the images but he couldn’t. The US said the satellites were trained on Morocco at the time and that was it. That is what annoys him because he says the inquiry was not completed to his satisfaction.
“Goncalo loves me and our three girls very much but he lives for his job. For him an investigation is like a mathematical equation.
“One and one has to make two. Until the answer is found he will not give up.” From the proceeds of the book her husband has bought a Jaguar car but she insists he has not made a lot of money and that he will defend the legal action.
“We are now living on one-third of our budget for the month but that is OK for us because he made the right decision,” she said.
“If he was financially motivated, he would have stayed in his job for the full pension but that is not his way.”
His 25-year-old daughter from his first marriage, also called Sofia, has just passed a law degree. His wife has a daughter Rita, 11, from her first marriage and she has a daughter, Agnes, with Gonçalo who will soon be six.
This week there is a double birthday celebration, Sofia’s today and her husband’s 50th on Friday.
“We will see all our family and friends and enjoy ourselves,” she said. “We are so lucky to have three beautiful girls in the family.
“Gonçalo is very proud of them all. He is very good with them at home but my only complaint is that he is not strict enough with them. He lets them do what they want where I have to be a little stricter.
“He never yells at them but he can also be a little overprotective. He is always worrying about them having accidents in the playground or wherever. I could not wish for a better father.”
The couple met 10 years ago through a friend and married in June 2000. They spent their honeymoon in the Azores, where her husband dreams of spending his retirement.
in Sunday Express
Read more: http://joana-morais.blogspot.com/#ixzz0SIfiaw7f
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rQazjM-bCo
Kate explains the abduction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix6bKUnmOCM&feature=related
Mccann talks about sedation…
Mccann has always denied the twins were sedated. Yet he himself states he believes the “abductor may have given them something because they did not wake.
What made Mccann change his mind? Could it be that their friend Fionan Payne became suspicious when she saw Kate keep putting her hand in front of the twins noses to check on their breathing. Fionas’ statement in the DVD Files..told police she thought kates actions were odd.
xxxx
two points from the mccanns pressconference in Lisbon that stood out.
Kate
“I want people to keep thinking madeleine is alive”
Mccann
“There is nothing to incriminate us in her death”
xxxxxxxxxxx
Slips of the tongue…maybe…but Oh so telling..
Mr Green There is a rumour that the Madeleine Foundation is back up…If so do you have the link. I cannot find it on the internet. Thank you.
http://madeleinefoundation.org/main/2009/09/carter-ruck-send-letters-to-the-madeleine-foundation/comment-page-2/
http://themaddiecasefiles.com/
All Translations to be found of the DVD Police Files…many thanks to Joana and Astro who work night and day to bring us the truth.
Good Morning IRONSIDE
I have just this minute been on the internet
The Madeleine Foundation
Combating Child Neglect
Is up and running again.
Good Afternoon, Mr.Green, I was highly amused to see the reason behind the closing of the site…have copied the letter and brought it over. Is that really the best they can do. Nothing about the 30 Reasons then? Silence is Golden and Oh so telling.
A good point scored for you Sir and those that believe in the truth.
xxxxxxx
By admin • Sep 27th, 2009 • Category: Headline
As you are aware, Carter Ruck has been trying for a long time to have this website shut down. With no real grounds for doing so, they claimed a copyright infringement which, due to hosting company rules, it forced the hosting company to temporarily suspend the website until either the disputed material was removed or a counter notification was filed.
Unfortunately the copyright department do not seem to work 24/7 as do the technical support dept. at the hosting company and efforts to have this resolved yesterday (Saturday) were unsuccessful. It would appear this will be sorted out tomorrow (Monday).
The images under dispute are:
The splash screen montage of Madeleine from the “Snow White” video overlaid on the bedroom in apartment 5A
A drop down box advertising the book in a semi-circle and;
The photo of the books in a semi-circle on the “our book” page
Clearly the latter two images cannot be a copyright violation because Tony Bennett took the photo himself. The McCanns never owned that image at any time.
The first image of Madeleine in the video is being given away freely on a poster on the Official Find Madeleine website. Therefore, the McCanns are giving it out freely on the one hand and then claiming they don’t want someone to use it on the other. This is as obvious a case of bullying from the lawyers as one will see.
Anyway, it will be sorted properly tomorrow.
For now, feel free to post comments in this thread. Carter Ruck’s action is a temporary “blip”.
http://thecouncilchamber.blogspot.com/2009/09/mccanns-silence-book.html
Another site that is willing to let you print the truth…
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/please-re-open-madeleine-mccanns-case
Please sign and help find this little girl. We need many more signatures.
http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Suppressed_Madeleine_Foundation_book_by_Tony_Bennett%2C_2008
Carter Ruck helping the Mccanns keep the truth from the British Public.
Problem with link…
Suppressed Madeleine Foundation book by Tony Bennett, 2008
From Wikileaks
Jump to: navigation, search
Unless otherwise specified the document described here:
Was first publicly revealed by Wikileaks working with our source.
At that time was classified, confidential, censored or otherwise withheld from the public.
Is of political, diplomatic, ethical or historical significance.
Any questions about this document’s veracity are noted.
The summary is approved by the editorial board.
Follow updates:
Email address:
RSS feed
Twitter
Secure talk join our chat.
To sponsor reportage of this document by mainstream journalists submit a targeted donation.
For press inquiries, see our media kit.
If you have similar or updated material ACT NOW.
For an explanation of the page you are looking at please look here.
Released October 13, 2009
Summary
British libel lawyers Carter Ruck, acting on behalf of Kate and Gerry McCann, have issued a demand to Madeleine Foundation co-founder Tony Bennett to have this book and all electronic copies to be destroyed. The file has never been released and was used to create the book “What Really Happened to Madeleine McCann: 60 Reasons which suggest she was not abducted”.
The book sold thousands after its launch at the end of 2008 and continues to sell, albeit at a peppercorn rate or sent free by Mr. Bennet to journalists and politicians. Due to the prospective financial implications of facing a libel case against arguably Britain’s top libel firm, Mr. Bennett has been forced to capitulate even though his supports say he stands by each and every allegation in the book.
The methods used by Carter Ruck while acting for Kate and Gerry McCann have been to silence anyone who challenges the abduction story that they told the police and which forms their alibi in the Madeleine McCann disappearance in Portugal in May 2007.
This file is easily verifiable against the many copies of the book in circulation – including a copy sent to every British MP in the spring of 2009.
If this file is suppressed and the book is destroyed, the public will not be able to read an alternative history of the case case as the McCanns have sought an injunction in Portugal against the chief inspector on the case who has recently had his own book injuncted pending appeal.
It should be noted that WikiLeaks does not have an opinion on Mr. Bennet’s arguments or the McCann case. Our interest here is to protect the integrity of the historical record.
DOWNLOAD/VIEW FULL FILE FROM
fastest (Sweden), current site, slow (US), Finland, Netherlands, Poland, Tonga, Europe, SSL, Tor
Context
United Kingdom
Non-governmental organization
The Madeleine Foundation
Primary language
English
File size in bytes
282112
File type information
Microsoft Office Document
Cryptographic identity
SHA256 e96829fb47680a8d96ef3da2e823e8610026b669b81916a138e31eb5b2152c2b
PRIVATE EYE-AUTUMN SPECIAL EDITION 2009 ( Page 5 )
Legal News:-Eye readers will need no reminding of the super-injunction obtained by Messrs Carter-Fuck, on behalf of former Law Society president Michael Napier, to stop us reporting that he’d been officially censured for breaching conflict of interest rules,
“Freedom to report the truth is a precious thing both for the liberty of the individual and for the sake of the wider society,” the court of appeal said when it found in our favour after a five-month legal tussle.
These noble sentiments clearly failed to impress some high court judges who have carried on injuncting like billy-o
NHS:Drs Gerry and Kate McCann:Abuse of Power
3.10.09
Judge is bringing in privacy law by the back door
(originally posted on this blog on 10/11/08, but worth a re-read)
A High Court judge with a “hatred of free speech and the popular press” is bringing in a privacy law to the UK “by the back door”, a national newspaper editor has claimed.
Paul Dacre, editor-in-chief of the Daily Mail, cited rulings by Mr Justice Eady in favour of the Formula One boss, Max Mosley, against the News of the World and an unnamed celebrity who had an affair with a married woman as examples of the erosion of freedom of expression. He claimed the judge had “a virtual monopoly of all cases against the media” and was therefore able to use the privacy clause of the Human Rights Act to thwart attempts to defend public decency by shaming those in high places found to have committed immoral acts.
Mr Dacre, who was speaking at the Society of Editors’ annual conference in Bristol last night, argued that without the ability to report scandal popular newspapers would lose a mass readership with “obvious worrying implications” for democracy.
“If Gordon Brown wanted to force a privacy law, he would have to set out a Bill, arguing his case in both Houses of Parliament, withstand public scrutiny and win a series of votes,” he said. “Now, thanks to the wretched Human Rights Act, one judge with a subjective and highly relativist moral sense can do the same with a stroke of his pen.”
Mr Dacre added: “I personally would rather have never heard of Max Mosley … It is the others I care about: the crooks, the liars, the cheats, the rich and the corrupt sheltering behind a law of privacy being created by an unaccountable judge.” He said: “Since time immemorial public shaming has been a vital element in defending the parameters of what are considered acceptable standards of social behaviour, helping ensure that citizens – rich and poor – adhere to them for the good of the greater community.”
Source: Independent
Censorship is not the answer
I am greatly concerned that eight parents including many NHS doctors have not been investigated or prosecuted by the British Government for leaving their babies and children alone each night of their holidays in Portugal. The fact that a three years old child has allegedly disappeared leaving few traces is surely enough proof that this was a disgraceful and shocking act on their part.
I am disgusted that Dr. Amaral was thwarted in his duties to carry out a thorough investigation of all the parents and that he was dismissed just before interviewing a family who are certain that they saw a child being carried away by a man they are almost sure is the father of Madeleine McCann on May 3rd 2007. It is inconceivable that some very important statements were withheld from the Portuguese police by the British police for more than five months.
It is essential that the British public is allowed to have all the information about this case and not just the information that the family’s spokespersons and lawyers permit. This is a national disgrace and has caused irreparable damage between Portugal and Britain.
The media must be allowed to report both sides of the story without delay. If there are injunctions in place with regard to the reporting of this case, the public needs to be told immediately so that we can ask why.
We have seen immeasurable coverage of an alleged abduction and yet there is not one shred of credible evidence to support this.
The police and public need to find out what really happened to Madeleine McCann.
Freedom of expression is a human right and not a privilege to be granted to the few.
16.10.09
McCann’s lawyers, Carter-Ruck, give up bid to keep Trafigura study secret
David Leigh, The Guardian
Lawyers for oil traders Trafigura finally abandoned attempts to keep secret a scientific report about toxic waste dumping in west Africa, that was shown to the Guardian.
Just after 7.30pm Carter-Ruck, libel lawyers for Trafigura, wrote a letter to the Guardian which said the newspaper should regard itself as “released forthwith” from any reporting restrictions.
An MP revealed the report’s existence to parliament this week, after the Guardian was hit with a “super-injunction” banning all mention of it and other UK media were then subsequently notified of, and therefore bound by it.
The Minton report, commissioned in 2006 from the London-based firm’s scientific consultants, said that based on the “limited” information they had been given Trafigura’s oil waste, dumped cheaply the month before in a city in Ivory Coast , was potentially highly toxic, and “capable of causing severe human health effects”.
The study said early reports of large scale medical problems among the inhabitants of Abidjan, including respiratory and eye problems, discomfort, and nausea, were consistent with a release of a cloud of potentially lethal hydrogen sulphide gas over the city.
The author of this initial draft study, John Minton, of consultants Minton, Treharne & Davies, said dumping the waste would have been illegal in Europe and the proper method of disposal should have been a specialist chemical treatment called wet air oxidation.
Although the report was cautious in tone, pointing out that unreliable press reports and “mass hysteria” might have led to exaggeration of alleged ill effects, its contents were unwelcome.
Trafigura subsequently did not use the report in the personal injury report in the claim against them and did not dislcose the report’s existence.
It issued a series of public statements over the next three years saying the waste had been routinely disposed of and was harmless. Trafigura based this decision on other reports produced from an analysis of the slops obtained from the Probo Koala ship. Trafigura dismissed complaints of illness in a lawsuit brought by 30,000 inhabitants of Abidjan, before being eventually forced last month to pay them £30m in compensation and legal costs in a confidential out of court settlement.
The oil firm then conceded in a public statement that the toxic fumes could have caused “flu-like symptoms” to the inhabitants. But it was accepted in an agreed statement by both sides that expert evidence did not back the graver claims of deaths, miscarriages or serious injuries, made in previous official statements by the Ivory Coast and UK governments and in a UN report.
Before the settlement announcement, Trafigura’s lawyers Carter-Ruck obtained a super-injunction from a judge, banning the Guardian not only from revealing the existence of the Minton report, but also from telling anyone about the existence of the injunction.
They said the Minton report was confidential because it had been obtained for possible use in litigation.
Trafigura said the report was only preliminary and had proved to be inaccurate. They said hydrogen sulphide in the waste could not have broken down into a dangerous gas after the dumping and that other experts had concluded: “no other chemicals were released in concentrations capable of causing significant harm to human health”.
Carter-Ruck was unable to prevent the publication of internal company emails by the Guardian, which confirmed that Trafigura executives had been aware in advance that their waste was hazardous, and knew that it ought to have received expensive specialist treatment.
Company traders talked about making “serious dollars” from paying someone to take away their “shit”.
Attempts by Carter-Ruck to suppress the Minton report led to a controversy about parliamentary privilege this week, when the law firm initially tried to prevent reporting of parliamentary questions tabled by the Labour MP Paul Farrelly. They later abandoned this attempt.
Carter-Ruck was accused by angry MPs of potential contempt of parliament, and one Tory, Peter Bottomley, said he would report the firm to their disciplinary body, the Law Society.
Tonight Alan Rusbridger, the Guardian’s editor said: “I welcome the climb-down by Trafigura and Carter-Ruck. Now people can read the Minton report they will realise why it was in the public interest for it to be published. It has taken a five-week legal battle – involving journalists, lawyers, bloggers and parliament itself – to force this information into the open. Never again should a newspaper be threatened with contempt of court for reporting parliament. And judges should think again about the use of super-injunctions which are themselves secret. This is a good day for parliament, open justice and free reporting.”
TonightPierre Lorinet, Trafigura’s chief financial officer, told the Daily Telegraph: “Effectively that report was a draft report, a work in progress, very much when the event was happening and that report was effectively an analysis of possibles.
“We decided that our best course of action at the time was to get the injunction, because we didn’t want more inaccurate reporting on things which are very clearly wrong effectively.
It is a heavy-handed approach, absolutely. With hindsight, could it have been done differently? Possibly.
The injunction was never intended to gag parliament or attack free speech.”
The significance of my last two postings, regarding bully boy tactics by those who want to suppress free speech, and control all aspects of our lives including the INTERNET.
BRITISH PARLIAMENT ON TRIAL
Saturday, 31st October 2009, Friend’s House, 177 Euston Road, LONDON
The British Constitution Group will make the case
a) That TREASON has been committed by successive governments since the 1970s
b) That our Constitution, our institutions and the very fabric of our nation have been deliberately dismantled.
c) That the collective political establishment is not working in the interests of the British people.
d) That these acts have been unconstitutional unlawful, and represent crimes of treason and sedition
e) That greed and corruption have been the driving force behind this betrayed and we will name names.
We invite you as ordinary, decent people to bear witness to the evidence we present, and invite you to act as jury to decide whether or not our case is made, and if it is, join us in instigating a police investigation into those responsible
Tickets £15 (£13 for members) book on line at;-
http://www.thebegroup.org.uk/conference
Enough is Enough- LAWFUL REBELLION or live life in an EU dictatorship
———————————————————————————————————
European Union Constitution
French and Dutch people said NO to the European Union Constitution. People celebrated, and that should have been the end of the EU Constitution.
Lisbon Treaty ( re-packaged EU Constitution.)
Irish people said NO to the Lisbon Treaty and that should have been the end of the EU Lisbon Treaty
2009 the Irish people were asked to vote again on the Lisbon Treaty. After much pressure and bribery this time the Irish people said YES!
The Lisbon Treaty is a self amending treaty.
Sorry!
Typo-
e) Should read
That greed and corruption have been the driving force behind this BETRAYAL, and we will name names
Seems Martin Brunt has started thinking for himself and not what the Mccanns tell him. It won’t last though.
xxxxxxx
Madeleine McCann – Who Cares?
by Martin Brunt
I don’t know why, but I’m still finding it impossible to get a straight answer about Madeleine McCann from Leicestershire police.
I called to ask about Madeleine and almost before I’d asked the question was being given the old brush off: “It’s a Portuguese investigation, not ours.”
The Portuguese authorities closed their investigation in July last year. The press officer said she hadn’t heard or read about that.
Apparently, the Leicestershire force still passes on any potential leads to the dynamic Portuguese police who established precisely nothing about Madeleine’s disappearance during their 15-month inquiry.
I gave it 24 hours and called back. This time I was told that all the Leicestershire cops involved in the Madeleine case were on half-term holiday. So push off.
She didn’t actually say that, but it felt like she had.
Still, onwards and upwards. The last time I asked a Leicestershire press officer about Madeleine she got hysterical.
I hope that privately, at least, Madeleine’s home force shows a bit more care and thought towards her family.
in Life of Crime
Read more: http://joana-morais.blogspot.com/#ixzz0UUMhvRBl
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives
The Mccanns prove yet again that Madeleine is all about filling their pockets…Poor little Madeleine..
Frozen Assets
The quota of Gonçalo Amaral in his unipersonal company, a third of his salary as the manager and the values delivered to that company by way of author rights or via commercial trademarking of works made by the former Judiciary Police Inspector were seized obliging the order of the process for defamation brought by the McCanns.
“This is a siege, they are trying to asphyxiate me at the desk”, said the former Policeman to the CM.
The claim for damages follows the injunction that banned the book ‘Maddie – The Truth of the Lie’, written by Gonçalo Amaral, who led the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine in the Algarve. The English family – Kate, Gerry and their children, including Maddie – ask for 1.2 million euros to the former coordinator. The attachment is a precautionary measure until the decision of that judicial proceeding.
António Cabrita, Gonçalo Amaral’s lawyer, has already added the contestation to the the claim for damages. “What is in question here is an unconstitutional decision, to the extent that the book reflects the right of expression and freedom of opinion,” said the lawyer to the CM. António Cabrita alleges in the contestation that the book “has nothing offensive to the McCann family, nor accuses them of killing their daughter.” And he stresses that Amaral’s conclusions in the book are the same of the archived process, of which the final report leaves open several possibilities, including murder.
Gonçalo Amaral suspects of the intention of financial asphyxiation , given the high cost of court fees in order to contest and for which legal aid was sought (see support). “I do not have a fund, a fund to finance my defense,” said Gonçalo Amaral. And concludes: “Not only I am deprived of my basic right to freedom of expression but I also face constraints related to my defense.”
Details
Support
The Justice fee to contest a claim for damages of 1.2 million euros is worth more than two thousand euros. Amaral asked for legal aid, so that the contestation could be made, although there is still no decision regarding the support.
Publisher
The Publisher Guerra & Paz was also notified to hold back the royalties payable to Gonçalo Amaral. Valentim de Carvalho was also notified, because of a video based on the book, however it was not possible to confirm this information until the closure of this edition
Values
The McCann arrived at a figure of 1.2 million claiming that Amaral received 25% of author rights and that he charged for interviews. “Not true,” says Amaral.
The book is being sold in 5 countries and was to be published in England when the legal action took place.
in Correio da Manhã
Many thanks to Joana Morais..
21.10.09
Press Release by Gonçalo Amaral – 21.10.09
PRESS RELEASE
It may be written in every law that a citizen is free to think and to express his thoughts, but that will become completely worthless if it can be targeted by censorship in the case it expresses an opinion that is contrary to the status quo, to the interests of the dominant caste or to who simply has money.
The confrontation of responsible theses about objective facts should take place in the open field of democratic debate and not through recourse to courts and to juridical coercion. And yet, as is publicly known, a Portuguese court has immortalised the book “The Truth about the Lie” by deciding what cannot be opinionated and expressed in Portugal about the disappearance of Madeleine Beth McCann, by censoring a thesis that is based on logical reasoning about concrete facts and material evidence that are part of a criminal process and that never intended to diffuse, to the public, in a gratuitous and irresponsible manner, the notion that a third party holds any kind of responsibility in the disappearance of little Madeleine.
Even more serious. Having already been notified about the preventive arrest of his credits, the signatory fears that he may be prevented from defending his reasons in court, due to the very high monetary cost that the judicial action that has been filed against him by Gerry and Kate McCann impose to him, in terms of lawyers’ expenses and millionaire judicial costs, of which apparently only the indigent are exempt.
Whereupon follows that, at the moment, the signatory is not only deprived of his elementary right to freedom of expression, as he also faces constraints relating to his own defence, which cannot be designed but under the shadow of the expression of forbidden ideas and convictions, and in exchange for absolutely insufferable pecuniary amounts.
Thus the truth about the disappearance of Madeleine is at risk of being decided in the office. This is how we live in Portugal, as far as freedom and democracy are concerned.
GONÇALO AMARAL
Portimão, the 21st of October 2009.
Posted by Jill Havern at 21:29 Labels: Gonçalo Amaral
Mr Grenville, there are some conflicting stories going around can you confirm any of these…or is it the Mccanns trying to break the Foundation…
Target … the Madeleine Foundation blames parents Gerry and Kate McCann for their daughter’s disappearance
By NEIL SYSON
FRAUD cops are probing the bank account of a campaign group which says Maddie McCann is dead – and aims to blame her parents.
Controversial lawyer Tony Bennett helped set up the Madeleine Foundation, but its account is now frozen.
Detectives want assurances over tens of thousands of pounds sent in by people supporting his warped aims.
Bennett, 62, ran the account from his home in Harlow, Essex.
Much of the cash came from the sale of £4 books blaming the McCanns after the three-year-old vanished in Portugal in 2007.
The couple think many people may have mistakenly donated believing they were funding the hunt for Maddie.
The account holds £2,700 but Mr Bennett is thought to have £90,000 in private accounts.
A rift had developed between Bennett and foundation chairwoman Debbie Butler. Police stressed the case was still only an investigation and no arrests had been made.
A source close to Gerry and Kate McCann said: “This foundation is now in meltdown. They can’t wait to see the end of it.”
in the Scum
Ironside.
It is said a lie is half way around the world before the truth has got its boots on. Below is a statement by Tony Bennett which answers your questions.
———————————————————————————————————-
Statement by Tony Bennett, Secretary of The Madeleine Foundation, in response to an article in today’s (7 November) ‘Sun’
I woke up this morning to read an article in today’s ‘Sun’ newspaper notifying its five million or so readers that there is a ‘fraud probe’ in relation to the finances of The Madeleine Foundation.
‘The Sun’ did not contact me before printing the article.
The recent background to this article, for those not so far aware of events of the last fortnight, is as follows.
On 26 October, for reasons best known to herself, Debbie Butler, Chairman of The Madeleine Foundation, decided to launch a strong personal attack on a public internet forum, ‘Missing Madeleine’, which included many false allegations against me.
Due to this and many other related issues, the Committee of The Madeleine Foundation was left with no alternative by Monday 2 November but to expel her from membership under Paragraph 6 of our Constitution. On the same day, our bank was notified of a dispute, notified that one of the signatories to the account had been expelled, and informed that a members’ meeting would be held on 14 November when new signatories would be appointed.
The allegations by Debbie Butler of ‘fraud’ and financial impropriety followed these events. There is no truth in any of her claims.
I deal now with specific issues on ‘The Sun’ report.
Dealing with the false claim that I ‘ran the account from my home in Harlow’, the brief facts are these: 1. The branch of the bank in which the account is held is in Debbie Butler’s home town of Maidstone 2. The account was jointly operated in that not one penny could be taken out of the account without both Debbie Butler and I signing cheques.
‘The Sun’ article refers to the possibility that people might have mistakenly donated to The Madeleine Foundation thinking it was to support the fund to help find Madeleine. No-one donated on that basis. Incidentally Debbie Butler has publicly called for people who donated to the Foundation to ask for their money back. No-one has yet done so.
Yes, the account has just over £2,700 in it.
As for claims that people sent in ‘tens of thousands of pounds’, the actual total income to the Foundation between its establishment and the end of September 2009 was £8,104.05, made up a follows:
Income £ p
Loan from T Bennett 20 00
Loans from D Butler 350 00
Donations 590 00
Cash subscriptions 10 00
All Net PayPal Income
(payments for books,
subscriptions and
donations) 5580 00
Cash sales of the booklet 1464 90
Retail booksellers 19 15
TOTAL: 8104 05
Madeleine Foundation members were recently sent a set of income and expenditure accounts in our newsletter.
I now deal with ‘The Sun’ statement that ‘Mr Bennett is thought to have £90,000 in private accounts’. This is how that statement arose.
At the meeting with Kirwans, Solicitors, Liverpool, on 2 October 2009, the lawyers asked about our personal financial circumstances. I told them honestly that my current annual income was £14,000 (I have just filed my tax return) and that I had ‘a few tens of thousands’ saved up for my old age. This is where the ‘£90,000’ comes from.
I take this opportunity to say that I have not made one penny either from the sale of ’60 Reasons’ nor in any way from The Madeleine Foundation; indeed it was my declared intent at the outset to make not a penny in any way connected with Madeleine’s disappearance. Our accounts will shortly be audited and that will I trust make it still plainer that there is no fraud or financial impropriety or irregularity in the conduct of The Madeleine Foundation’s affairs.
Contrary to the hopes of Gerry and Kate McCann as expressed in ‘The Sun’ article that ‘The Foundation is now in meltdown’, we have new blood on our Committee, we have a members’ meeting shortly, and we have plans.
Finally I wish to take this opportunity to clear up a few false rumours that appear to have been put about on the internet by Debbie Butler and including statements made by ‘Stevo’, Debbie Butler’s friend, on what was our website, http://www.madeleinefiudnation.org
I have seen claims that Debbie Butler put large amounts of money into The Madeleine Foundation. That is wholly untrue. As the above record of income shows, she made a loan of £350 in the initial stages to help get ’60 Reasons’ printed and published. On 7 October 2009 she asked for the return of that loan and I sent her a cheque the very same day. However, in addition, as the bank records will prove, I sent her more than £350. I sent her a cheque for £500 which included a further £150 which was my best estimate of the amount she had underclaimed in postage and stationery to date. There is email correspondence on this issue which I am happy to disclose if asked.
Second, I have seen references made to a ‘mysterious amount’ paid out of The Foundation’s accounts. This was a sum of £800.00 expenses paid to me on 30 September on a cheque signed by Debbie Butler and which she knows about. The £800, which is fully backed by receipts, consists of a back claim for postage and stationery etc. and also a payment of £245.00 I made to Vera Steinke to finance a print run of 250 copies of the German translation of ’60 Reasons’ (income from those sales is pending). The large claim for postage etc. arose for two reasons.
First, Debbie Butler had become increasingly erratic in sending out ’60 Reasons’ to those who had paid for it via PayPal, and I was getting increasing numbers of complaints from people whose orders had not been fulfilled. I simply had to take over the sending out of the booklets to ensure that that side of our work was run efficiently.
Second, the press articles about the distribution of the ’10 Reasons’ leaflet in Leicestershire in August caused a huge upsurge of interest in our work and many new orders for booklets and other enquiries. Thus postage costs rose rapidly for the weeks after that.
I had planned to leave early to see my mother on the south coast this weekend, today 7 November is my late father’s birthday. When I’ve sent this off, we shall be away for the weekend, but if anyone has any queries I’ll be happy, as always, to answer them, after then.
Needless to say, when I have a moment, there will be a complaint from me to The Press Complaints Commission about the article, which appears to have been printed based on ‘information’ supplied by Debbie Butler and hs not in any way been checked with me.
I’m downcast but not defeated.
Tony Bennett
Thanks Mr.Green for the info…I no longer post on Stevos site but I have obviously today read what has been going on. I am concerned that Debbie has admitted herself that she has been in contact with Mitchel and Carter Ruck…What I do not understand if Debbie felt there was any ‘Fraud’ involved why has she gone to them. Anna esse also has every right to be angry with the fact that it appears Stevo has copied her translation of the book ‘Truth of the Lie’ stevo also claims to have been in contact with Amaral. Amaral denies any knowledge of this ‘contact’…it is very sad that this has come down once more to money. The root of all Evil…
I think it was only a question of time before the Mccanns got their claws into Tony. they have been waiting for the right moment. Lets not forget that Tony tried to have the Mccanns charged with neglect and rightly so. The Mccanns are a very arrogant self serving pair. I have also been reading up on Jim Gamble …a man not to be trusted it would seem. Well. what a surprise, when have the Mccanns ever been involved with anyone decent. it is not their style. Mafia types are what they look for. Of course I do not know Debbie or Tony and both are saying different things. For an outsider such as myself it is hard what to believe.i do however have a very bad feeling about Debbies involvement with >Mitchel and Carter Ruck. I will just stand back and see what develops. The whole episode has made me very sad and today has been a victory for the Evil mccanns. It has not gone unoticed by me that this was leaked to a Murdoch newspaper a great protector of the Mccanns. once again thank you Mr.Green.
Ironside
It is very sad Debbie has done what she has done with the encouragement of Stevo. In my opinion Stevo is behaving badly because he wants to control and keep The Madeleine Foundation web site as it is.
As you know from the Carter-Ruck papers and Tony’s response conditions applied and it is those conditions Stevo appears to want Debbie to breach.
I am of the strong opinion Stevo is using Debbie’s emotional state for his own ends.and it has backfired on both of them.
Tony is a man of Integrity, there is no fraud. and a British child is still missing..
We have a meeting on the 14th of this month, a new committee and all is not doom and gloom.
KBO (Keep Buggering On)
Sir Winston Churchill
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
I could not sleep and it is 6-23 am. I along with millions all around the World will be remembering today the sacrifice of civilians and military in present and old conflicts for our FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY.
IRONSIDE, on September 25th, you asked if you wish me to post anything on any forums just let me know.
I have been blocked from using Stevo’s site and in any event I do not want to waste my time there. As I said further up this thread—-A LIE is half way around the World before the TRUTH has got its boots on
Please copy and paste # the following on these two sites – -Joana Morais Blog and Abuse of Power, and any other with a proven track record of telling it as it is—-
IRONSIDE, on November 7th, 2009 at Saturday,November,7,2009 Said:
Thanks Mr.Green for the info…I no longer post on Stevos site but I have obviously today read what has been going on. I am concerned that Debbie has admitted herself that she has been in contact with Mitchel and Carter Ruck…What I do not understand if Debbie felt there was any ‘Fraud’ involved why has she gone to them. Anna esse also has every right to be angry with the fact that it appears Stevo has copied her translation of the book ‘Truth of the Lie’ stevo also claims to have been in contact with Amaral. Amaral denies any knowledge of this ‘contact’…it is very sad that this has come down once more to money. The root of all Evil…
I think it was only a question of time before the Mccanns got their claws into Tony. they have been waiting for the right moment. Lets not forget that Tony tried to have the Mccanns charged with neglect and rightly so. The Mccanns are a very arrogant self serving pair. I have also been reading up on Jim Gamble …a man not to be trusted it would seem. Well. what a surprise, when have the Mccanns ever been involved with anyone decent. it is not their style. Mafia types are what they look for. Of course I do not know Debbie or Tony and both are saying different things. For an outsider such as myself it is hard what to believe.i do however have a very bad feeling about Debbies involvement with >Mitchel and Carter Ruck. I will just stand back and see what develops. The whole episode has made me very sad and today has been a victory for the Evil mccanns. It has not gone unoticed by me that this was leaked to a Murdoch newspaper a great protector of the Mccanns. once again thank you Mr.Green.
Reply
#
Grenville Green, on November 7th, 2009 at Saturday,November,7,2009 Said:
Ironside
It is very sad Debbie has done what she has done with the encouragement of Stevo. In my opinion Stevo is behaving badly because he wants to control and keep The Madeleine Foundation web site as it is.
As you know from the Carter-Ruck papers and Tony’s response conditions applied and it is those conditions Stevo appears to want Debbie to breach.
I am of the strong opinion Stevo is using Debbie’s emotional state for his own ends.and it has backfired on both of them.
Tony is a man of Integrity, there is no fraud. and a British child is still missing..
We have a meeting on the 14th of this month, a new committee and all is not doom and gloom.
KBO (Keep Buggering On)
Sir Winston Churchill
Mr Green, Consider it done…
http://joana-morais.blogspot.com/2009/11/citizens-in-defence-of-rights-and.html
Anyone who believes in the right to free speech ..please sign..
Transcript of interview with…’ASK THE DOGS SANDRA’ gerry Mccann
Sandra: Hello Kate, Hi Gerry. You have called us here, or invited us here to show these two new pictures of how Madeleine might look like now at the age of six and also to watch a video, a new appeal video, but you have been recently together in Lisbon. Have you truely felt that the portuguese public opinion is still with you?
Gerry: I think obviously there has been a lot written that is very negative, and ehm it is inevitable that given so much…, so much was written negative about us, that some people felt that we were involved, that we do feel now, that legal action has been taken and the judicial process has seen that there is no evidence to support what has been written.
Sandra: You are talking about Goncalo Amaral’s book?
Gerry: Yeah, but also with the publication of the file in the first place erm an initial process of the criminal erm file and regarding Madeleine’s disappearance. You know there is no evidence that we were involved and subsequently the action we have taken recently I think that people are now prepared to continue the search for Madeleine and that is why we are here today asking people to help us trying to get this very important message…
Sandra: But how can you explain that Goncalo Amaral has sold over 175.000 copies defending that you played the keyrole in Madeleine’s disappearance?
Kate: I mean I think it’s important to remember Sandra, the only victim in all of this is Madeleine erm and that is obviously why we are here today really, we are trying to, we are trying to (sigh) reach that person who knows something, and there is somebody who knows something, not the person who has taken Madeleine, but the person on the periphery, and that might just be erm a colleague of the person, a neighbour, a fami…, you know this person, the abductor, has got a mother, a brother, a cousin, a part of family, so that…
Sandra: Do you believe that the public opinion in Portugal right now after reading the book of Goncalo Amaral erm still can support you? Still can answer to that appeal?
Gerry: Now that’s the key point why we are taking action Sandra and that is part of the legal process as you know. There is already an injunction out against the book He is banned from repeating his thesis that Madeleine is dead and we were involved. Now that has been two separate judges plus the original judgemental file have said that thats what we will do with discussing the facts. Thats the correct place to discuss.Goncalo Amaral. And the Book…
Sandra: Are you saying that Goncalo Amaral doesn’t have the right to share his opinion, his conviction under the evidence he gathered into a book? He doesn’t have freedom of expression to say that and to publish it?
Gerry: There is a difference between freedom of expression and evidence to support a theory. What the judges have said there isn’t evidence to support this theory, so he shouldn’t be saying it. And is about as much as we want to say about him. You know that’s a legal process and we have challenged it, it’s been through the judicial process and thats….
Sandra: The files were closed and no thesis won. How can you explain that after Goncalo Amaral, Paulo Rebelo, the next investigator, also pursued this thesis? He also investigated the possibility of you both play the keyrole in Madeleine’s disappearance?
Gerry: It was investigated, the evidence was presented to the judiciary, and the judiciary concluded there was no evidence to support that thesis, that’s very…
Sandra: No DNA, but how do you explain…
Gerry: No no…
Sandra: …the coincidence…
Gerry: The DNA is only one aspect of it, there was no evidence to support our involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance, that is the key thing. Madeleine is still missing, we are here as her family to continue the search. Now I can’t speak for people who have read the book but obviously it doesn’t stand up to critical appraisal (?).
Sandra: But this is the first time that you give us a big interview not being arguidos, not being arguidos. Since then. erm. So now I feel free to ask you this directly. How can you explain the coincidence of the scent of cadaver found by british and not portuguese dogs?
Kate: Sandra, maybe you should ask the judiciary because they have examined all evidence. I mean we are also Madeleine’s mum and dad and we are desperate for people to help us find Madeleine which is why we are here today. The majority of people are inherently good and I believe the majority of people in Portugal are inherently good people and I am asking them if they will help us spread this message to that person or people…
Sandra: So you don’t have an explanation for that?
Gerry: Ask the dogs (smirk) Sandra.
Sandra: Ask the dogs? No Gerry. Now I feel free to ask you, don’t you feel free to answer me?
Gerry: I can tell you that we have also looked at evidence about (haha) cadaver dogs and they are incredibly unreliable.
Sandra: Unreliable?
Gerry: Cadaver dogs, yes. That’s what the evidence shows, if they are tested scientifically.
Sandra: You read the files, Kate?
Kate: Yes I have read the files.
Sandra: What did shock you most? Any part of the… any detail that…you weren’t… aware of? Something that has really surprised you or you didn’t find anything?
Kate: Oh I have been through them and I have made notes and I passed that on to our investigation team obviously.
Sandra: And you found any evidence? Of anything?
Kate: Well obviously the only evidence I wanna find is who has taken Madeleine and where she is. They are the key things and until we actually get that bit of information you know we are always gonna feel like we are a long way away. But basically what we are doing is trying to get as much information as we can and trying to put the jig-shaw, jigsaw together, so finally we have the complete picture.
Sandra: And what about your friends? Did you have a pact of silence with your friends?
Kate: (laughing) You know the judicial secrecy?
Sandra: I know it but we don’t have it anymore.
Gerry: You have to put it into context of the situation that we were in…
Sandra: But now is the time to explain it…
Gerry: That, ar.. ar… article that was written in June was directly as a result of the journalist phoning all of us, and saying what can you tell us about it and we were under explicit instructions that we were not to talk about the details of the case, under judicial secrecy. So that is all that people did. And I don’t think that should be considered a pact of silence.We were told, that’s what we were to do. And you wouldn’t expect witnesses in other cases in any country to begin divulging information that may be useful to the perpetrator of the crime.
Sandra: Are you still friends? Do you plan another trips together or did it damage…?
Kate and Gerry: No No
Kate: We are still friends. We haven’t got any holidays planned but we are still friends. We are in touch with each other, we still meet up and see each other.
Sandra: Don’t you agree that there were a lot of details that in a certain way contribute to people to doubt of you, for example, when you went to the Vatican so quickly, all the contacts that you have made. Can I ask you Gerry, if you personally know Mr. Gordon Brown the Primeminister?
Gerry: (moving on his chair uncomfortably) No, and we still, we have never met Gordon Brown. We have spoken to him once on the phone several weeks after Madeleine was abducted. People have got to remember that, and what today is about… good ordinary people wanted to help find an innocent missing child. And that’s what happened. Clearly there was a huge amount of media coverage and people wanted to look at ways to help. Our government wanted to assist the investigation to find the missing child.
Sandra: Are they still supporting you, Mr. Gordon Brown still talks to you directly?
Gerry: We have had continued meetings with both the Home Office and also with the Foreign Office to discuss ways in which the search can continue. Obviously today is a prime example of law enforcement-LED initiative with CEOP with… in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, Interpol, Europol, and you know, the key thing is, that law enforcement believe we can get information from those who may know.
Sandra: How could you explain that Clarence Mitchell left the British Government where he was a press speaker to be your press speaker?
Gerry: Obviously, when Clarence came first out to Portugal working for the Government at that time he came out and spent I think almost three, two to three weeks with us, and he got to know us very very well, and he felt very very passionate about the search for Madeleine and when the opportunity arose, erm, you know, we asked him if he would come back and shield us from the intense media interest and that is what Clarence has done superbly well, and he has become an extremely good friend during this.
Sandra: But he must be paid.?
Gerry: He was paid, that’s right
Sandra: And now he must be paid?
Gerry: yeah, but you know…
Sandra: Isn’t it difficult for you to pay him?
Gerry: You know, in the first period Brian Kennedy paid his salary and then he was subsequently paid by the fund and now, you know, he works part-time on this, and he is a consultant for Freud Agency, so, you know, as the media interest dropped down, we haven’t needed a full-time spokesperson. He still works with us, we are working very closely with him and he has done a brilliant job protecting us and allowing us to have some degree of normality as a family considering the very very intense media interest.
Sandra: You have also hired a new communication agency back in Portugal. Why do you think you need it and is it easy for you to afford it?
Gerry: Well again, it is an agreement that it is funded out of Madeleine’s fund. It’s a decision that was made by the directors of the fund, because we felt… Kate and I are both directors of the fund, there are nine directors in total, that to really make the search successful we had to present information to the portuguese public, given how much had been written in a negative way about us, and obviously we want to work with someone who understands the portuguese culture and the portuguese media and how we could persuade people that Madeleine is still out there and still can be found….
Sandra: Until when do you think that you will afford all this? Two lawyers in Portugal, a news agency, Clarence Mitchell… I don’t know if you still have the two lawyers that you have hired here in London?
Kate: It’s not ideal, you know, Sandra. We wouldn’t have any lawyers, we wouldn’t need any appeal if we weren’t in the situation….
Sandra: But don’t you feel strangled? Don’t you feel that some day you feel it will be finished the money?
Kate: We have to do whatever we can to find Madeleine and obviously we have to look at sort of , you know, if the fund starts to run out we have to try and get more money in, we can’t stop…
Sandra: And how do you do it?
Gerry: Well, you know, people have been extremely kind. You have to remember that the fund was set up initially because so many people offered money to try and help and wanted to help and were prepared to donate. We would love nothing better for Madeleine to be found and for the remaining moneys in the fund to go to helping other families of missing children both in the UK and in Portugal, and that is one of our objectives when we have found Madeleine… AND her abductor, then the moneys will be used for that. Obviously if the money runs out… is running out, then we have to look at alternative ways of fundraising erm we have done small events, community events, which have been very good for team building. We have had a small auction in Madeleine’s school and the school where the twins are.
Sandra: Do you still have the support of Mr. Richard Branson, JK Rowling, this multimillionaire that initially gave you a lot of money?
Gerry: (burblegurgle) ..an independent investigation that has been funded completely out of Madeleine’s fund… I mean an event like today, there is no specific cost for it, and this is obviously the internet, people already have subscriptions, they can do this. There is the willingness of the population to help and I think we will find hundreds of thousands if not millions of people today will forward this link to their contacts in countries all over the world. That is cheap.
Sandra: Do you still have money in the fund?
Gerry: There is some money still in the fund and it continues to be used and we will use every single penny in that fund in the search for Madeleine.
Sandra: You have asked Goncalo Amaral to pay you 1 million euros for damage erm for the defamation for example. Do you need that money to finance the campaign?
Kate: The reason why we have taken action against Goncalo Amaral is the damage that he has done for Madeleine. That’s our main focus.
Sandra: Which motives could he have to make up all this story?
Gerry: We can’t speak for Goncalo Amaral.
Sandra: But I presume that you think something? Why should an investigator make it up, a story without evidence
Kate: It has to be financial gain, hasn’t it?
Sandra: You think that he made this with the commercial perspective?
Kate: You would have to ask him to get the answer to this.
Sandra: So this is your idea?
Kate: It’s a possibility, isn’t it. I mean I have….
Sandra: You think Goncalo Amaral is trying to win money playing with your, erm your child’s life?
Kate: We have to wonder why an ex-inspector of the PJ would want to convince the population that Madeleine is dead, with absolutely no evidence whatsoever. And that question should be asked.
Sandra: Do you feel that there is a difference of treatment between the portuguese authorities and the british authorities? In any moment did you feel, or do you feel still, that you were victims of the portuguese investigation?
Gerry: The key victim is Madeleine. I mean, that’s what the crime is about. We know we had to be investigated. And we have been investigated.
Sandra: Sorry Gerry, but you Kate said once, that you were feeling bad with what they asked you inside the PJ, trying to get a confession from you…
Kate: I know the truth Sandra, you know what I mean, and all I want to do is find Madeleine and I was upset…
Sandra: So have you forgotten everything that already passed? It’s passed for you both?
Kate: The only thing we can do now is look forward, you know, you know. There is lessons to be learned by everyone ourselves included, from what’s happened. But, all we want to do is find Madeleine and the only way of doing that is by looking forwards and trying to be proactive and see what we can do now, which is why this message has gone out today.
Sandra: Did you go back to work? Are you working already?
Kate: I am working full time in the campaign to find Madeleine. I am looking after Sean and Amelie.
Sandra: You don’t have any plans to go back to the clinic?
Kate: No I don’t, no I don’t
Sandra: You don’t. And talking about the twins. Now the time is passing. Two years and a half since Madeleine disappeared. They are growing up. How will you be able to explain them what happened one day they have the age to really understand it?
Gerry: It’s like filling in a picture for them with the information we have available and we will give them as their minds inquire, and as they are able to handle that information, then we will answer all of their questions openly and honestly.
Sandra: But what will you tell them
Gerry: Well, we will answer the questions. So what they ask us we will tell them. And we tell them exactly what happened and what information we know. And what we do know, is that we are continuing to look for their sister. They want people to look for their sister.
Sandra: But will you go into details about what happened?
Kate: We will be led by them. We have had avice from a child psychologist and they said Sean and Amelie would lead the way. If they ask a question answer them honestly. We are not gonna rush them, but if they ask something, then obviously we will answer them.
Sandra: They are in the same school where Madeleine was?
Gerry: Well she didn’t get a chance to start yet so, she was there, her place is there, and the twins are there now.
Sandra: The room, Madeleine’s room is still the same?
Kate: The bedroom? Yeah, it’s quite a few more presents in it now, but yeah, it’s still the same.
Sandra: And what do you keep telling the twins whenever they ask for her? I presume that they ask about her a lot of times?
Kate: Well they know she is missing, you know, and they know we are looking for her, and they also say things to me like, if they see things like a Madeleine sticker or a poster, they say “look Mummy they are helping to find Madeleine with us”, and they might point at other people saying “Mummy are they helping us to find Madeleine?” and you know, so *shrugs*
Sandra: Is it still very hard for you or are you getting used to this reality? Are you trying to live with it?
Kate: You have to, I think, you have to adapt and you have to function. And if we want to look after Sean and Amelie, and if you want to search for Madeleine, then you have to function. Erm. I am obviously stronger than I was say a year ago, and, obviously the emotion is still there…but…*sigh*
Gerry: Well we do as much as we possibly can to ensure that the twins see us happy, and see us happy with them, and they give us a tremendous amount of joy, and our life, you know, on a day-to-day basis superficially would look like any other family with two young children. Obviously one of our children is missing. And they know that and they know that that’s not good and they want her back and they understand why on occasion, you know, that we are particularly upset and… we all want Madeleine back to be a complete family again, but the twins are coping fantastic…
Sandra: You told me once that you are both living a nightmare. In your more optimistical perspective, what do you imagine, what do you think, it could be the best way to recover Madeleine.
Gerry: I think, the first thing today is that this message, it can be downloaded and distributed, be heard and seen by someone who knows, and it well tweak their conscience and get them to give information to bring Madeleine back.
Sandra: The last lead that you have shared with us was about a women in Barcelona. Has this anything to do with this appeal? (Kate shakes head?) Is it for that, that you are asking the relatives of people that can be involved in her disappearance, to call you?
Gerry: I think the first thing to say is that the investigation is to be dealt with by professionals and obviously we have got David Edgar working for us or law enforcement as a project (?). Today is about this appeal. It is completely separate. It is going out in seven different languages, we want it to be spread as far and as wide as possible because we don’t know where Madeleine is and we don’t know who took her and that’s why we need the public’s help to spread the email, an email to all your contacts. I know you have already done it, Sandra.
Sandra: Thank you very much to you both.
This is of course the David Payne statement that was presented by Dr Katherine Gaspar…have the Express got the guts to print it???
UK police chief hits back at Portuguese detective’s claims
8 November 2009 | Posted by astro Leave a Comment
The head of Leicestershire Police has rejected claims from a former Portuguese detective that his officers withheld a witness statement from the Madeleine McCann inquiry.
Chris Eyre, the Temporary Chief Constable, said “I can assure you that at no time were statements withheld and not passed on.”
Goncalo Amaral, the Algarve detective who was removed the inquiry early on, made his claim in a book, which is now banned.
Mr Eyre responded after Freedom of Information requests were submitted by the Sunday Express.
A team of Leicestershire family officers went to Portugal on 5 May 2007 to support the McCanns.
It has also emerged that the Foreign Office has withheld details about the investigation so as not to damage relations between Britain and Portugal.
An individual submitted Freedom of Information requests to get details of negotiations by John Buck, Britain’s former ambassador to Portugal.
The then Information Commissioner Richard Thomas refused in case it caused Portugal to lose trust in Britain’s discretion.
in: Sunday Express, 08.11.2009, paper edition only