fbpx
Log in

Login to your account

Username *
Password *
Remember Me

Create an account

Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.
Name *
Username *
Password *
Verify password *
Email *
Verify email *
Captcha *

The McCann case: opposing opinions

praiadaluzatnightIn the midst of the latest phase in the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, Sky News presenter Kay Burley entered the fray with an article in the Daily Mirror in which she castigated “conspiracy theorists” and “haters” of Madeleine’s parents.

Burley, a reporter and newsreader of long standing, wrote: “I am absolutely staggered by the number of people on social media who think they know exactly what happened to little Madeleine. Conspiracy theorists believe that it’s only a matter of time before the McCanns are held culpable for their daughter’s disappearance.”

Burley went on to dismiss criticisms of Kate McCann’s refusal to answer questions put to her by Portuguese police, and to belittle what many have read into the findings of cadaver dogs in the McCanns holiday apartment and a hire car they used.

“Easy to dismiss such claims as Looney Tunes, but even a national newspaper was guilty of claiming the McCanns know more than they have told the police,” wrote Burley.

“As a mother I am offended and appalled by such unfounded allegations.

“Every morning the McCann’s must wake up only to be smothered by a blanket of guilt. ‘ If only we’d done this…’

“They have always held on to the hope that Madeleine will be found alive.

“So as the search continues, please ignore the haters and think instead of two desperate parents hundreds of miles away sitting by the phone and hoping against hope that nothing is found this time.”

This heartfelt standpoint exemplifies one of the most contentious features of this extraordinary case. In the absence of indisputable evidence, two conflicting schools of thought have developed about what happened to Madeleine: one that she was abducted, the other that she died inadvertently in the apartment and her parents were somehow involved in a cover-up.

There was no proof either way in 2007 and there is none today, but it is human nature to adopt a preferred line of probability depending on one’s logical and emotional approach.

It is true that many people hiding in the safety of anonymity or pseudonyms make abhorrent, highly abusive comments on internet sites. In the absence of legal options, indeed they should be ignored.

The trouble with Kay Burley’s condemnation, however, is that in its broad sweep it fails to recognise that many of those who do not accept as a given fact that Madeleine was abducted are not “haters.”

Some of the McCann doubters and critics have probably studied this case in more depth and for longer than most mainstream media journalists in Britain.

They are aware, for example, that back in May 2007 no trace was found of a break-in or a burglary, let alone a kidnapping, at the apartment from which Madeleine went missing.

Well-informed sceptics want the truth to emerge so that justice can finally be done. Their reasoned arguments and conclusions are worthy of serious consideration.

Not everyone believes what they hear on television news channels or read in newspapers. ‘Churnalistic’ and seemingly servile coverage of this case gives rise to distrust.

While there is genuine compassion for Madeleine’s devastated parents, a great many Portuguese mothers are offended and appalled by the repercussions in this country of leaving Madeleine and her siblings alone that fateful night.

The reputations of the Portuguese judicial police, the original lead detective and a range of innocent ‘suspects’ have been blackened in the British media over the years.

To cap it all, the Algarve has been cast recently as a hotbed of paedophilia and the ordinary folk dependent on tourism for their livelihood in Praia da Luz have been subjected to the crass timing of the current search operations.

Obviously this case has been a very public and impassioned one, but simplistic rants in the mainstream or social media are not helpful.

One indisputable fact is that no matter how much anyone sympathises with or is critical of Kate and Gerry McCann, it is still far from clear exactly what happened to their daughter.

Sadly, it is looking increasing unlikely we shall know any time soon.

At the end of a TV interview at the weekend, former Chief Inspector Gonçalo Amaral, who believes Madeleine died in the apartment, was asked: “Will we ever find out what really happened that night?”

He replied:  “Yes, we will. When MI5 opens the case files we will find out. Don’t forget that the British secret services followed the case right from the beginning. On location.” 

Amaral did not predict how long it might be before that information becomes available. 

© Len Port 2014

_______

Algarve-based Len Port has been a journalist for 50 years, working as a staff reporter, broadcaster and freelance correspondent for many leading news organisations. He covered events in the Far east in the Sixties, and in Northern Ireland and South Africa in the Seventies. Since moving to Portugal in the early Eighties, he has edited regional magazines, contributed to national dailies in Britain and written several books, two of which are currently available as ebooks with Amazon.

Popular Posts on Portugal Newswatch

 

Pin It

Comments  

+2 #6 chiptheduck 2014-06-16 12:37
So they have dragged themselves away from the exhausting search for their daughter to screw a million out of Amaral and now the case has been postponed for 10 days.

I would like to be reassured that I, as a taxpayer, am not paying for them to stay in a fancy Lisbon hotel whilst they wait.
+3 #5 j bentley 2014-06-16 11:40
The best comment I have seen on the Mcanns is that they regularly left their three small children with the door unlocked and without employing an easily available babysitter in circumstances that they would not have left their wallet.
-1 #4 chez 2014-06-11 11:34
I think I'll have sausages for lunch :lol:
-2 #3 Miriam 2014-06-10 21:40
Brits should be aware that this retarded country has regularly caused the British Government concern.

The McCanns just bringing out the worst in them - none amongst the thousands with the courage to use their Iberian names with their shameful insults.

Fair Trials International should not be regarding a fellow western EU state as rogue ! Check out their website for examples.

Such as Serena Wylde ... the judge in the case when it was finally heard - refusing to judge it. Staying at home. Knowing it would yet again bring ridicule on Portugal and it 'system of law and order' to find her guilty. Yet it cost her years of stress and tens of thousands wasted on lawyers - for complaining about a lawyer to his disciplinary body !!!

http://www.fairtrials.org/press/british-woman-stands-trial-tomorrow-for-making-a-confidential-complaint-against-a-portuguese-lawyer/

With the McCanns there is no lower limit yet reached to their behaviour !!!
+4 #2 chiptheduck 2014-06-10 14:34
"desperate parents hundreds of miles away sitting by the phone.."

You mean they're not appearing on Oprah, visiting the Pope, attending court so they can screw €1m from Amaral, raising finds to pay their mortgage, attending photo calls, taking tea with Cameron...

As my old Mum used to say, "Well I never did!"
-4 #1 Miriam. 2014-06-10 12:17
but it is human nature to adopt a preferred line of probability depending on one’s logical and emotional approach.

It is absolutely the opposite and is why the British Government have kept focussed on it !!!

The McCann haters are driven by something kept hidden from us ordinary Brits and Ms Burley - events from Portuguese history teaching and the British Ultimatum 1890 !

Knowing this, and that beastly Britain, is taught as 'fact' .... then combined with the 'Magreb gene' so must be deviously kept hidden - it explains so much.

Brits in the know about this should be speaking out more ! Less well informed should be reading up as it distorts yours and all our experiences here.

We must not expect Portuguese (or Spanish) to have the moral fibre to admit to something so nonsensical as a historical feud when all are member states in todays EU !

And with their hands continually reaching out for British EU contributions !

You must be a registered user to make comments.
Please register here to post your comments.