There are many reasons that people may be afraid to come forward now, John's example being one of them. Extramarital affairs, people afraid because they know they should've come forward earlier etc. To be honest every new sighting or piece of info is rubbished automatically with the witness often being called a fantasist /liar etc. I personally would come forward but I would imagine there are people who are reluctant. If I did come forward I wouldn't fancy any armchair detectives googling my name/address, stalking my home etc. and my life dissected on forums.
Such reluctance is understandable when consideration is given to past events and makes the release of the highly confidential information contained in the PJ files into the public domain all the more bizarre and reprehensible.
The un-redacted files initially contained names and addresses, photographs of witnesses and witness statements made in confidence to the police.
Just another ‘unique’ in the Madeleine McCann case and another paradox in the ‘secrecy’ laws of Portugal.
Such a breach, would justifiably lead a potential witness to be very reluctant to come forward in the knowledge that his/her confidentiality might be compromised, and this is a situation which should never have been allowed to happen.
