Author Topic: News and current affairs from the Portuguese Algarve.  (Read 219895 times)

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Offline ShiningInLuz

Re: News and current affairs from the Portuguese Algarve.
« Reply #165 on: April 27, 2017, 03:39:43 PM »
Is it a good idea to give this criminal policeman (who kidnapped his own child whilst her mother had no idea of her whereabouts for TWO YEARS) his job back?  Does this pass as a good example of Portuguese justice in your book then?

On a scale of 0 to 10 re relevance to Madeleine's disappearance, I would rate it as a zero.  If I wrote about corruption in the LP or the Met, it would have exactly the same relevance - none.
« Last Edit: April 27, 2017, 08:01:33 PM by John »
What's up, old man?

Alfie

  • Guest
Re: News and current affairs from the Portuguese Algarve.
« Reply #166 on: April 27, 2017, 04:49:41 PM »

On a scale of 0 to 10 re relevance to Madeleine's disappearance, I would rate it as a zero.  If I wrote about corruption in the LP or the Met, it would have exactly the same relevance - none.
I beg your pardon.  This thread is entitled "News and current affairs from the Portuguese Algarve" - there have been other news stories posted on here that have "zero relevance" to Madeleine's disappearance yet I don't see you complaining about those. 
« Last Edit: April 27, 2017, 08:02:56 PM by John »

Offline ShiningInLuz

Re: News and current affairs from the Portuguese Algarve.
« Reply #167 on: April 27, 2017, 05:27:46 PM »
I beg your pardon.  This thread is entitled "News and current affairs from the Portuguese Algarve" - there have been other news stories posted on here that have "zero relevance" to Madeleine's disappearance yet I don't see you complaining about those. 
I think you are being disingenuous, Alfie.

I consider that at the time the human bones story was reported it just might have had some relevance to Madeleine, albeit it turned out it had none.

If the moderators decide to give you licence to produce unrelated, salacious information about Portugal, who am I to complain?  It is not reflecting on me, is it?

You asked for an opinion.  I gave you my opinion.  That you do not like my opinion is not my problem.

 8((()*/

« Last Edit: April 27, 2017, 08:03:21 PM by John »
What's up, old man?

Offline Mr Gray

Re: News and current affairs from the Portuguese Algarve.
« Reply #168 on: April 27, 2017, 05:32:57 PM »

On a scale of 0 to 10 re relevance to Madeleine's disappearance, I would rate it as a zero.  If I wrote about corruption in the LP or the Met, it would have exactly the same relevance - none.

it has relavence in as much as some of the PJ involved in maddies case have criminal records
« Last Edit: April 27, 2017, 08:03:43 PM by John »

Offline John

Re: News and current affairs from the Portuguese Algarve.
« Reply #169 on: April 27, 2017, 08:10:21 PM »
Is it a good idea to give this criminal policeman (who kidnapped his own child whilst her mother had no idea of her whereabouts for TWO YEARS) his job back?  Does this pass as a good example of Portuguese justice in your book then?

I so agree Alfie, this sort of thing does no favours whatsoever for a police force which has already received so much criticism.  Returning this cop to duty after kidnapping his own child sends out a very poor message.
A malicious prosecution for a crime which never existed. An exposé of egregious malfeasance by public officials.
Indeed, the truth never changes with the passage of time.

Offline Robittybob1

Re: News and current affairs from the Portuguese Algarve.
« Reply #170 on: April 28, 2017, 12:57:18 PM »
http://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/world/comment-the-mccanns-have-been-punished-for-their-biggest-mistake-theres-nothing-to-be-gained-by-reminding-them-of-it/ar-BBAsBQg?li=BBqdg4K&ocid=UP97DHP

"We have two choices. We can grab the popcorn and watch the decade-long disaster movie play out, hoping for the most exciting possible ending.

Or we can write off the keyboard warriors as cranks and ghouls, and keep our fingers crossed for a miracle for Madeleine."
Moderation
John has instructed all moderators to take a very strong line with posters who constantly breach the rules of this forum.  This sniping, goading, name calling and other various forms of disruption will cease.

Alfie

  • Guest
Re: News and current affairs from the Portuguese Algarve.
« Reply #171 on: April 28, 2017, 06:11:48 PM »
http://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/world/comment-the-mccanns-have-been-punished-for-their-biggest-mistake-theres-nothing-to-be-gained-by-reminding-them-of-it/ar-BBAsBQg?li=BBqdg4K&ocid=UP97DHP

"We have two choices. We can grab the popcorn and watch the decade-long disaster movie play out, hoping for the most exciting possible ending.

Or we can write off the keyboard warriors as cranks and ghouls, and keep our fingers crossed for a miracle for Madeleine."
8((()*/  Agree with every word.

Offline Robittybob1

Re: News and current affairs from the Portuguese Algarve.
« Reply #172 on: May 30, 2017, 09:20:54 AM »
Have we had this one before "Mystery phone call reporting burglary could hold key to solving Madeleine McCann case"
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mystery-phone-call-reporting-burglary-10278677
Moderation
John has instructed all moderators to take a very strong line with posters who constantly breach the rules of this forum.  This sniping, goading, name calling and other various forms of disruption will cease.

Offline Robittybob1

Re: News and current affairs from the Portuguese Algarve.
« Reply #173 on: May 30, 2017, 09:27:58 AM »
http://www.brainstain.co.uk/2017/05/03/10-years-madeleine-mccann-disappearance/
"ASSESSING THE THEORIES OF MADELEINE MCCANN’S DISAPPEARANCE 10 YEARS ON"
Today is May 3rd, 2017, which marks the ten year anniversary of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance and sadly the Police and the Investigations have brought zero credible solutions, as to the mystery of her vanishing. All that’s left are theories and no solid evidence.

The Portuguese Police have been blamed, then the Leicestershire Police blamed the Portuguese Police, then later the parents, Kate and Gerry McCann were under investigation and were even blamed by the Portuguese Police, at one point in time.  The Metropolitan Police have also naturally been involved, but ten years on, still to no avail, Gerry and Kate have still not given up hope and they have said that they will continue to engage in further investigations in the hope that one day their child will come home.

Madeleine Beth McCann, 3-years-old at the time, went missing from a rented basement apartment in Praia Da Luz, in the Algarve region of Portugal on May 3rd 2007, when her parents Kate and Gerry McCann had left her in the lower ground apartment, whilst they attended a dinner. They also left their two twins in there for the evening. Kate McCann had put the kids to bed at 20:30pm and was said to have gone back to check on them, every thirty minutes, whilst they ate dinner at a nearby restaurant. But, when Kate went back to check on them at 22:00pm, Madeleine was gone, she had vanished.

Since then, there have been some official theories in the case, so let’s bring you the common theories as to what some people believed to have happened to Madeleine McCann, and then we will leave a probability rating for each published theory, as at this stage it might even help to eliminate some of these theories from being investigated.


Credit: News.com
Some say it was a Burglary Gone Wrong, some people really want to run with the theory that a thief entered the basement apartment to steal things, but then discovered that there were children inside and Madeleine McCann was awoken by the noise and came face to face with the burglar who in a moment of panic, picked up the child and ran off with her. Probability Rating: 2/10

Abduction by a Lone Paedophile is a broad and loose theory that Madeleine McCann was selected for abduction by a paedophile and abducted into obscurity somewhere, but where? And, how exactly? You mean to tell us there would be no trail or sightings of her, with just one person trying to abduct her? Yet, this theory was apparently bolstered when it was discovered that two years before Madeleine’s disappearance, a 10-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a paedophile in Praia Da Luz, along with reports of other young children being assaulted by intruders in holiday homes in the Algarve, previously. But, all known sex offenders and paedophiles in the area, had already been investigated extensively, with no results and with no connection to Madeleine McCann’s disappearance ever being found. Probability Rating: 3/10

Human Trafficking is another theory which presumes that Madeleine McCann was spotted by human traffickers on the beach and was selected for being trafficked. In 2007, private detectives claimed they had evidence for human trafficking spotters being active in the area, prior to Madeleine’s disappearance. The theory is that Madeleine was abducted then held for two days in the Algarve before being shipped to nearby Morocco, “hidden and handed over to a child trafficker two days after she went missing and taken to Morocco”, said the Daily Mirror. Some people believe that with a human trafficking ring, this was the most logical reason as to why Madeleine would disappear without a trace. Probability Rating: 4/10

The Parents were investigated and blamed by senior detective Goncalo Amaral, who believed that Madeleine died in the holiday apartment and her parents covered up her death and disposed of her body. However, after being investigated for 15 months, which included a time where a sniffer dog was set upon a trail of blood that the dog reacted to in a rental car, which was hired by the McCann’s three weeks before her disappearance, as investigations came to be closed months later without any concrete evidence, and the parents have always maintained their innocence. But, was the whole going to dinner thing, apart of the scam as the Portuguese police initially thought as a perfect cover for their child to ultimately go missing? It seems unlikely that two doctors would rather let their child die, than raise the alarm to save her. Probability Rating: 1/10

By Accident which definitely sounds like the most ridiculous theory yet, which states that Madeleine McCann woke up to find her parents not at home, so she went looking for her parents and opened and unlocked the patio doors of the apartment, then fell into a roadworks pit, where she later dies and was knocked out. Later, she wasn’t spotted the next day in the hole and the hole was covered up, the next morning. So, according to that theory Madeleine’s body would be under the road, near the flat in Praia Del Luz still. The other scenario, suggests she woke up and went searching for her parents but was hit by a car on the way, and the driver picked up her body and put it in the car and disposed of it. As if nobody would hear the bang of this accident? Probability Rating: 0/10

Abducted by Childless Couple is another theory that states that a couple unable to have children saw an opportunity in abducting Madeleine and then took it. This is the preferred theory of the McCann’s because it would signal that she is still alive today and at 3-years-old she might have been manageable to raise as their own. Probability Rating: 3/10

Now, that we’ve covered some of the theories that are out there, we will cover another theory that’s out there, that we believe to be the most credible theory out there with a touch of our own beliefs on the subject. Everyone else is investigating it, so why can’t we?


The chilling E-Sketches of two suspects of interest, yet, never found. Look like anyone, that somebody knows? Credit: MetPolice
She was Abducted by an Elite Pedophile Ring on holiday in the Algarve at the time, around May 3rd in 2007, and we are talking more or less about the types of people who are seemingly considered “above the law”. We are talking about people that have a thirst for children with presumable Satanic ties. So above the law in fact, that not even Police or Private investigators would ever be able to challenge them if pointed out as suspects, because of their elite and high up connections in the world, including in the media, press and in the political realm. We presume that it was at least three people present when they set out to snatch Madeleine McCann from the apartment in an opportunistic abduction, with one driver waiting outside, another man on standby and on look out outside the basement apartment, whilst the third suspect went inside the basement flat through the window or an unlocked door, and then grabbed her, covering her mouth and meeting the two suspects, and then carrying her into the awaiting car and driving off to another holiday home in the area. What happened next, only god knows? However, some might find this to be unrealistic, but this theory would align with the current reality of no clues, no evidence and a full ten years of no real leads and no evidence of her current existence. Vanished without a trace.  Some even believe that when investigations have led them to these known suspects, Police and Investigators will have had to deviate from being on the correct trail of finally finding Madeleine or at least the right suspects in the case. Now, if she was taken to another holiday home in the area, where there are several hundreds of apartments and villas to comfortably hide her in, with at least three people being involved and present, they could take their time and decide what was best to do in the circumstances. Probability Rating: 9/10

Additionally, there were reports on the beach of Praia Da Luz, that British locals were approached days before Madeleine’s disappearance by  men asking for donations for an orphanage, that did not even exist after research of its existence (orphanage in a nearby town) was conducted. So, who were these men and why would they be asking for donations for an orphanage that did not exist? Were they simply making a cover for themselves as part of a sick game in their heads, before abducting Madeleine McCann, playing up to the locals as “do-gooders” for orphaned children? This could be probable and yet it sounds very bizarre, but whoever did this, are very sick people indeed and it was probably seen as a fun game for them, in effect playing with the locals ahead of their planned abduction.

So, what have we learned? Not much, but those are some of the theories and we very much believe in the last one provided, but tonight you can watch Searching for Madeleine McCann on Sky News at 20:00pm (GMT) and see whether we all become any wiser, as to what happened in the Madeleine McCann mystery, that seemingly never ends. it is unlikely that she is alive, however, if she was abducted by an elite paedophile ring, some believe that she may still be alive today, but has been living under a new identity. Who knows? Will we ever know? All this remains to be solved after ten years on the anniversary of her disappearance.

 

Brainstain, over and out!

<Story by The Narrator>

Featured Photo Credit: The Bolton News
Moderation
John has instructed all moderators to take a very strong line with posters who constantly breach the rules of this forum.  This sniping, goading, name calling and other various forms of disruption will cease.

Offline misty

Re: News and current affairs from the Portuguese Algarve.
« Reply #174 on: June 21, 2017, 01:24:21 AM »
http://portugalresident.com/%E2%80%9Cnightmare-over%E2%80%9D-case-against-british-father-and-son-who-fatally-tackled-burglar-finally-archived

The nightmare scenario of prosecution hanging over a British father and son who tackled a burglar in their Vilamoura home, accidentally killing him in a chokehold, has at last been settled.

The Public Ministry has concluded that Trevor and Scott Taylor acted in legitimate self-defence, and even if there was “an excess of means” used in restraining burglar Paulo Brito, this came from the duo’s “fear and fright” and should not be punished.

The Public Ministry’s conclusions will now be passed to a judge in Loulé, but for all intents and purposes, the inquiry has been closed.

The case hit national and international headlines in September 2015. The media spotlight led the Taylor family to go into hiding, and they have never spoken publicly about their ordeal.

For the full story, click here.

natasha.donn@algarveresident.com

==================================================================

A sensible decision for once.

stephen25000

  • Guest
Re: News and current affairs from the Portuguese Algarve.
« Reply #175 on: July 11, 2017, 10:19:03 PM »
New story in the Sun tonight by T. Kandohla, 6.45 pm.

According to ''pals'', The Mccann's have come to the end of the legal road and will not be going to the European Court.

They no longer have the '' time, energy or funding '' to take Amaral to the highest court.

Well they couldn't anyway.

It would have been the State of Portugal.

Offline ShiningInLuz

Re: News and current affairs from the Portuguese Algarve.
« Reply #176 on: July 12, 2017, 06:16:25 PM »
http://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/taxista-assassinado-por-engano-em-monchique?ref=HP_Grupo1

A taxi driver was killed in Monchique around 22.30pm last night.

The driver, aged 74, had not finished his shift, but was having a coffee with the proprietor of a café/bar, when the attack happened.  It seems to be a case of mistaken identity.

The attacker, aged 48, was under the influence of alcohol, and the motive is thought to be jealousy.

The taxi driver suffered heart failure.  The emergency services tried to restart his heart, but without success.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monchique is an extinct volcano in the Algarve.  One of its lava flows is what is seen in Luz as Rocha Negra.

We have been up Monchique many years back for a night at a farmhouse.  I had a local speciality, goat stew, and we shared a bottle of rosé.  Then we fell into convivial conversation with a German couple, who were intending to get married.  We later got an invitation to their wedding, but we never made it to Germany.

The news story above looks like it was in the village of Monchique, not up the volcano.
What's up, old man?

Offline sadie

Re: News and current affairs from the Portuguese Algarve.
« Reply #177 on: July 12, 2017, 07:07:38 PM »
http://www.cmjornal.pt/portugal/detalhe/taxista-assassinado-por-engano-em-monchique?ref=HP_Grupo1

A taxi driver was killed in Monchique around 22.30pm last night.

The driver, aged 74, had not finished his shift, but was having a coffee with the proprietor of a café/bar, when the attack happened.  It seems to be a case of mistaken identity.

The attacker, aged 48, was under the influence of alcohol, and the motive is thought to be jealousy.

The taxi driver suffered heart failure.  The emergency services tried to restart his heart, but without success.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monchique is an extinct volcano in the Algarve.  One of its lava flows is what is seen in Luz as Rocha Negra.

We have been up Monchique many years back for a night at a farmhouse.  I had a local speciality, goat stew, and we shared a bottle of rosé.  Then we fell into convivial conversation with a German couple, who were intending to get married.  We later got an invitation to their wedding, but we never made it to Germany.

The news story above looks like it was in the village of Monchique, not up the volcano.

And, of course that lava flow will have produced lava tubes (or lava tunnels) all over that area of the Algarve.  Lava tubes(tunnels) can be mighty in diameter.  One in Lanzarote even has a theatre with rows of terraced seating within it.

Could these tunnels have been used to whisk abducted children away?

Offline misty

Re: News and current affairs from the Portuguese Algarve.
« Reply #178 on: July 23, 2017, 12:56:37 AM »
http://portugalresident.com/devastated-brits-told-bulldozers-can-demolish-%E2%80%98dream-algarve-home%E2%80%99-from-august-1

Posted by PORTUGALPRESS on July 22, 2017

“Theatrical power couple” Paul Roseby and James Tod have been given the news they were dreading: the demolition order imposed on their dream Algarve home is legal.

The news, coming from Loulé’s fiscal and administrative court, means bulldozers can move in on the seaside property from August 1.

But the men refuse to go quietly.

They claim the demolition order is a “disproportionate act of aggression”, and they are now considering “suing the State for prejudicial discrimination”.

At the same time, they have thrown down a challenge to Olhão mayor António Pina to turn round his executive’s “ineptitude” and “resolve this insane and critical situation” before time runs out.

The Resident covered this story in March (click here), explaining that National Youth Theatre CEO Paul Roseby and his Broadway producer partner James Tod received all the necessary building permissions for their eco-friendly rebuild on the Ria Formosa island of Armona from Pina’s council.

Throughout the process they have been paying council taxes and utility charges.

In February however the pair received a letter from Portuguese environment agency APA saying their home had in fact been built on State (Public Maritime) land - over which Olhão council has no jurisdiction - and must therefore be demolished.

The letter was signed by APA director Sebastião Teixeira - locally reviled for his zeal in demolishing island properties along Ria Formosa.

As Roseby and Tod have repeatedly explained, theirs is not the only home that has crossed what they call the ‘invisible, out-of-date line’ that cuts through Armona island. But it is the only home that APA has slapped with a demolition order.

Back in March, the men said the stance smacked of discrimination because they are gay.

This week Roseby reiterated: “We remain the ONLY owners with such aggressive action taken against us” even though there are “roughly 140 properties” on the wrong side of the invisible line.

“We of course recognise the Loulé judge has acted within the interpretation of the law”, he said. But it opens a Pandora’s Box less than three months before fiercely-contested municipal elections.

For a start, it suggests Olhão council had no right to issue licences and permissions for that stretch of Armona - and that in doing so, it could well be liable to hefty claims for compensation.

Worse, Roseby says, is “the message the whole mess projects: that what is deemed legal by one administration can be thrown out by another in 21st century Portugal”.

“This story will inevitably prevent other European investment in the Eastern Algarve, and other parts of the country”, Roseby told us.

“What a shameful message to Europe and beyond as Portugal parades itself as an advanced modern democracy.

“Sadly we now know to our emotional and financial cost that this is simply not the case”.

Very well-connected with international media - it was The London Magazine that described the pair as “something of a theatrical power couple. Paul is a writer, director and broadcaster as well as being artistic director of the National Youth Theatre; while James is a Broadway and West End producer, who’s latest show, Flashdance – The Musical, played to packed houses in 2010” - Roseby and his partner are also planning some targeted ‘revenge’.

“We have no choice now but to go to UK and European press highlighting our injustice and the prejudicial action taken against us resulting in an attack on our human rights”, he said, adding “I do not want this to happen to any other foreign investor or home maker in the future, so all our endeavours will, I’m afraid, be focused outside of Portugal to prevent innocent victims like us being caught in an unjust (but supposedly legal) nightmare.

The pair will also be approaching the British Foreign Office, with a view to getting it too to spread the word.

“It is our strong and considered opinion that Pina and his local government must start acting seriously NOW on our behalf and to prevent the inevitable loss of 140 homes on Armona”, Roseby concluded in an email.

“Pina has until August 1st to appeal to APA and all central Government departments and members of his own political party to resolve this insane and critical situation”.

The clock is ticking. August 1 a little over a week away.

natasha.donn@algarveresident.com
====================================================================

This insane situation rumbles on in the very municipality Amaral once sought to be elected Mayor - although clearly this is nothing to do with him personally.

The same news story is here & some of the comments are interesting.

https://www.algarvedailynews.com/cases/ria-formosa/11606-ministry-ruling-means-british-couple-s-island-home-must-be-demolished

Evidence of possible corruption:-

http://www.lisbontaxitours.com/en/inspirations/feed-olhao-council-heirarchy-to-/

I read recently that the Camara had authorised plans for new luxury developments in the same areas where the demolitions are due to take place (can't find the link right now) so it's unsurprising the locals, both Portuguese & ex-pats who are affected, bear much anger & resentment at the Environment Secretary & the local politicians.





Offline John

Re: News and current affairs from the Portuguese Algarve.
« Reply #179 on: July 25, 2017, 11:54:14 AM »
Echoes of the Valencian land trap debacle in neighbouring Spain which still rumbles on.  As in Portugal of course it is all to do with money and greed and the inappropriate use of political power.

http://worldwidelawyers.co.uk/2014/06/01/land-grabs-in-spain-what-are-the-risks/
« Last Edit: July 25, 2017, 11:56:17 AM by John »
A malicious prosecution for a crime which never existed. An exposé of egregious malfeasance by public officials.
Indeed, the truth never changes with the passage of time.