So Scotland Yard don't want the McCanns in Portugal ?

[Carana]

Well,  if, as you suggest,   the claim that Scotland Yard advised them to stay away is untrue,  then I would think their presence in court would be likely

It was they who brought this legal action,  afterall,   and given that they attended the other court proceedings that were merely a prelude to this one,  then I cannot understand why they would stay away now

At the time of the injuction, this person had been stating all over the media that she was dead and that they were involved in hiding her body.

And, at the time, there was no active investigation.

Now there is one.

A physical presence may be felt as less important than it was back then (if indeed the joint team is actually active).

[icabodcrane]

The McCanns did not attend Tony Bennett's trial ...

I said that the McCanns attended court in Portugal and were present at the hearings which were a mere prelude to the  'main event'  next week   ...   Bennett has no bearing on that whatsoever

[AnneGuedes]

And more than a million pounds are at stake, not only a question of principles.

[icabodcrane]

At the time of the injuction, this person had been stating all over the media that she was dead and that they were involved in hiding her body.

And, at the time, there was no active investigation.

Now there is one.

A physical presence may be felt as less important than it was back then (if indeed the joint team is actually active).

So you don't believe that Scotland Yard advised them to stay away because the media circus that accompanies them would harm the investigation  ?   

[Carana]

So you don't believe that Scotland Yard advised them to stay away because the media circus that accompanies them would harm the investigation  ?

I don't know.

I can see both possibilities, but without confirmed information it seems to be speculation. 

[icabodcrane]

I don't know.

I can see both possibilities, but without confirmed information it seems to be speculation.

Yes,  which is rather odd in itself

The same newspaper report which  states  'a source close to the investigation'  confirmed that Scotland Yard had advised the McCanns to stay away  from the courtroom,  also carries a direct quote from Clarence Mitchell 

He was clearly contacted then,  and informed that the Express were running the story that the McCanns would not be at the libel trial on the advice of officers from Scotland Yard

He neither confirmed,  nor denied it  ...  and the story went ahead with his  (  and therefore the McCann's  )  knowledge

That's a fair assessment,  do you agree  ?

[ferryman]

I said that the McCanns attended court in Portugal and were present at the hearings which were a mere prelude to the  'main event'  next week   ...   Bennett has no bearing on that whatsoever

In the Bennett hearing it was the McCanns' prerogative to attend or not attend as they chose.

In the libel hearing in Portugal it will again be the McCanns' prerogative ...

[Carana]

Yes,  which is rather odd in itself

The same newspaper report which  states  'a source close to the investigation'  confirmed that Scotland Yard had advised the McCanns to stay away  from the courtroom,  also carries a direct quote from Clarence Mitchell 

He was clearly contacted then,  and informed that the Express were running the story that the McCanns would not be at the libel trial on the advice of officers from Scotland Yard

He neither confirmed,  nor denied it  ...  and the story went ahead with his  (  and therefore the McCann's  )  knowledge

That's a fair assessment,  do you agree  ?

The original article was on here somewhere. It now seems to have been moved. No idea where it went.

[icabodcrane]

In the Bennett hearing it was the McCanns' prerogative to attend or not attend as they chose.

In the libel hearing in Portugal it will again be the McCanns' prerogative ...

Well of course 

I have not suggested that the McCanns  'have'  to be present at a  legal proceeding they initiated 

I have  asked forum members whether they believe the claim that Scotland Yard advised the McCanns not to attend,  on the grounds that the media circus that accompanies them would harm the current investigation

So far,  no member has said that,  yes,  they believe that to be the reason the McCanns are not attending the libel trial

I therefore posed the question  ...   why then  ?  ...  if  not  on the advice of Scotland Yard,  why  are the McCanns staying away,  when,  in the past they have attended far less important court hearings in Portugal  ?

[DCI]

The original article was on here somewhere. It now seems to have been moved. No idea where it went.

icabodcrane, started a new thread, this was originally on Faith's thread.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/425994/Madeleine-Fresh-agony-for-Kate-and-Gerry-McCann

[icabodcrane]

icabodcrane, started a new thread, this was originally on Faith's thread.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/425994/Madeleine-Fresh-agony-for-Kate-and-Gerry-McCann

I started a new thread to specifically address the question of whether forum members  'believed'  the claim that  Scotland Yard officers advised the McCanns not to attend the libel trial

It would appear that they do not

[Carana]

Thanks.

So, nothing is sure based on that article.

Some unknown source said that they had been advised not to attend. Clarence didn't say that.

A source said: “Because of the sensitivity of the situation, police don’t want the McCanns anywhere near the country because they fear it could turn into a media circus. They have faith in the Yard investigation and will do what the police feel is best. It will be bad enough having all the old allegations dragged up again and repeated. No doubt Mr Amaral will want to say his bit outside the court and it will all flare up again. It will not be helpful for the Yard.”
(...)


Soooooo. At the end of the day, that unsourced quote could have been from someone close to the family, some police odd-bod or some journo's pet poodle.

Their spokesman Clarence Mitchell said yesterday: “The court process in Portugal is in the hands of Kate and Gerry’s lawyers and is purely a matter for them to proceed with.”

[stephen25000]

Thanks.

So, nothing is sure based on that article.

Some unknown source said that they had been advised not to attend. Clarence didn't say that.

A source said: “Because of the sensitivity of the situation, police don’t want the McCanns anywhere near the country because they fear it could turn into a media circus. They have faith in the Yard investigation and will do what the police feel is best. It will be bad enough having all the old allegations dragged up again and repeated. No doubt Mr Amaral will want to say his bit outside the court and it will all flare up again. It will not be helpful for the Yard.”
(...)


Soooooo. At the end of the day, that unsourced quote could have been from someone close to the family, some police odd-bod or some journo's pet poodle.

Their spokesman Clarence Mitchell said yesterday: “The court process in Portugal is in the hands of Kate and Gerry’s lawyers and is purely a matter for them to proceed with.”

It has been quite amazing how many 'sources' have been passing information on behalf of the Mccanns.

Invariably 'brown sources'.

[icabodcrane]

Thanks.

So, nothing is sure based on that article.

Some unknown source said that they had been advised not to attend. Clarence didn't say that.

A source said: “Because of the sensitivity of the situation, police don’t want the McCanns anywhere near the country because they fear it could turn into a media circus. They have faith in the Yard investigation and will do what the police feel is best. It will be bad enough having all the old allegations dragged up again and repeated. No doubt Mr Amaral will want to say his bit outside the court and it will all flare up again. It will not be helpful for the Yard.”
(...)


Soooooo. At the end of the day, that unsourced quote could have been from someone close to the family, some police odd-bod or some journo's pet poodle.

Their spokesman Clarence Mitchell said yesterday: “The court process in Portugal is in the hands of Kate and Gerry’s lawyers and is purely a matter for them to proceed with.”

But when the Express contacted Mitchell for his input,  at which point they will certainly have informed him of the main thrust of the story they were running,   why didn't he take the opportunity to either confirm,  or deny,  that Scotland Yard had advised the McCanns to stay out of Portugal  ? 

[stephen25000]

But when the Express contacted Mitchell for his input,  at which point they will certainly have informed him of the main thrust of the story they were running,   why didn't he take the opportunity to either confirm,  or deny,  that Scotland Yard had advised the McCanns to stay out of Portugal  ?

Indeed, why didn't he ?
 
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