Were the Gaspar statements nothing more than a red herring?

[faithlilly]

I believe the Euro Weekly News revealed the details of the Gaspar statement yet I don't remember ..... ....... or for that matter Gerry demanding a retraction. Does that mean it was true ?



[Editor comment...

Posts which breach the forum rules will be edited or removed]

171

[Alfred R Jones]

I believe the Euro Weekly News revealed the details of the Gaspar statement yet I don't remember ..... ...... or for that matter Gerry demanding a retraction. Does that mean it was true ?

Link?

[faithlilly]

Link?

http://joana-morais.blogspot.com/2010/01/euro-weekly-news-gaspars-on-david-payne.html

[Alfred R Jones]

http://joana-morais.blogspot.com/2010/01/euro-weekly-news-gaspars-on-david-payne.html

That article does not appear on the Euro Weekly News website.  But even if it did, then what grounds would ..... .......have to demand a retraction?  It is an accurate quote from a police statement, nothing he could do about it.  Whereas if one of his unnamed friends had told blatant lies to a reporter who then wrote them up into a long newspaper article (as you are alleging has occurred with Mr Sousa) then that would be a different matter.

[faithlilly]

That article does not appear on the Euro Weekly News website.  But even if it did, then what grounds would ..... ....... have to demand a retraction?  It is an accurate quote from a police statement, nothing he could do about it.  Whereas if one of his unnamed friends had told blatant lies to a reporter who then wrote them up into a long newspaper article (as you are alleging has occurred with Mr Sousa) then that would be a different matter.

So you believe the tabloids every time they say 'a friend of the McCanns' or 'someone close to the couple' says so and so do you ?

[Alfred R Jones]

So you believe the tabloids every time they say 'a friend of the McCanns' or 'someone close to the couple' says so and so do you ?

If the story has the ring of truth to it, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt, yes. I'm not one of those conspiracy theorists who believes that every word written in the MSM is lies designed to hoodwink the sheeple. 

[faithlilly]

If the story has the ring of truth to it, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt, yes. I'm not one of those conspiracy theorists who believes that every word written in the MSM is lies designed to hoodwink the sheeple.

So basically you think that if the 'friend's' comment fits your agenda then it's true. At least you're being honest I suppose.

[Alfred R Jones]

So basically you think that if the 'friend's' comment fits your agenda then it's true. At least you're being honest I suppose.

Perhaps you could give us some examples of a "friend of the McCanns" or "someone close to the McCanns" giving a completely false story to the press?

[ferryman]

That article does not appear on the Euro Weekly News website.  But even if it did, then what grounds would David Payne have to demand a retraction?  It is an accurate quote from a police statement, nothing he could do about it.  Whereas if one of his unnamed friends had told blatant lies to a reporter who then wrote them up into a long newspaper article (as you are alleging has occurred with Mr Sousa) then that would be a different matter.

Your interpretation of the legal position is not quite right, there, Alfred.  The Gaspar statements, confined to the files, are not actionable, because they form part of a police enquiry, and are therefore protected from action in libel.  Exactly the same would be true in England or Portugal.

As soon as those statements (and particularly Mrs G's) stray outside the confines of the process, they become actionable. 

[Alfred R Jones]

Your interpretation of the legal position is not quite right, there, Alfred.  The Gaspar statements, confined to the files, are not actionable, because they form part of a police enquiry, and are therefore protected from action in libel.  Exactly the same would be true in England or Portugal.

As soon as those statements (and particularly Mrs G's) stray outside the confines of the process, they become actionable.

I don't see how that particular excerpt would be actionable but If that is so then maybe it explains why the article no longer appears on the Euro Weekly website (as far as I can see).  Perhaps they were threatened with legal action?

[ferryman]

I don't see how that particular excerpt would be actionable but If that is so then maybe it explains why the article no longer appears on the Euro Weekly website (as far as I can see).  Perhaps they were threatened with legal action?

I don't know for sure, but that wouldn't surprise me in the least ...

[faithlilly]

I don't see how that particular excerpt would be actionable but If that is so then maybe it explains why the article no longer appears on the Euro Weekly website (as far as I can see).  Perhaps they were threatened with legal action?

If the report wasn't libellous what legal action could be threatened ?

[misty]

If the report wasn't libellous what legal action could be threatened ?

Maybe the Gaspars themselves asked for the report to be removed?

[faithlilly]

Maybe the Gaspars themselves asked for the report to be removed?

Why ?

[misty]

Why ?

Data protection act? Altered from original statements? Unhappy that their confidential statements had found their way into the media?