Gonçalo Amaral confirms he will appeal the damages decision to higher Court.

[Jean-Pierre]

It seems he has far more than enough already to launch his appeal, so what will the balance be used for?

There is probably enough to sort out accounts and launch an appeal but to go the distance will take all the money raised and more.  But it is right and proper that he should have his day(s) in court.

[Brietta]

That there are those who claim to have made numerous donations to Mr Amaral's appeal fund is indisputable ... that there are those who have pledged weekly or other interval timed small donations to Mr Amaral's appeal fund is indisputable also ... why you appear to take umbrage to the fact is incomprehensible

[Jean-Pierre]

That there are those who claim to have made numerous donations to Mr Amaral's appeal fund is indisputable ... that there are those who have pledged weekly or other interval timed small donations to Mr Amaral's appeal fund is indisputable also ... why you appear to take umbrage to the fact is incomprehensible

Probably because it means that instead of 1000 supporters, there are less but making repeat donations.  Some folk are sensitive about that sort of thing being pointed out.

I know of one who has donated three times if that helps draw a more precise picture.   

[Brietta]

Probably because it means that instead of 1000 supporters, there are less but making repeat donations.  Some folk are sensitive about that sort of thing being pointed out.

I know of one who has donated three times if that helps draw a more precise picture.

It seems to me to be a very strange thing to get hung up about ... I am sure they will hit their target but unsurprisingly not at the rate it took off at. If contributions to the Portuguese arm of the endeavour keep pace with the British side of things, money won't be a problem if the appeal is allowed ... but since we are not privy to that information ... it would be wise for the Brits to continue their endeavours if Mr Amaral is not to run the risk of ending up in an even worse financial stew than he is at present should his appeal fall on deaf ears.

[Brietta]

It matters not that people are collecting for him.  I'm not even sure that in the unlikely event his appeal is successful it really matters; for the simple reason that the times in Portugal are definitely changing and the spotlight shone by Madeleine McCann's case may have played a part in hastening that.

The important thing now is that Madeleine McCann is being actively looked for not by private investigators ~ but by the police forces of two countries.

[stephen25000]

It matters not that people are collecting for him.  I'm not even sure that in the unlikely event his appeal is successful it really matters; for the simple reason that the times in Portugal are definitely changing and the spotlight shone by Madeleine McCann's case may have played a part in hastening that.

The important thing now is that Madeleine McCann is being actively looked for not by private investigators ~ but by the police forces of two countries.

'Actively looked for'.

Where is that exactly ?

[John]

In the UK we have the Official Secrets Act which binds all police officers to secrecy, the Portuguese must have something similar?

[Carana]

In the UK we have the Official Secrets Act which binds all police officers to secrecy, the Portuguese must have something similar?

Apparently, but according to Amaral, it's just an administrative detail...

[Brietta]

Apparently, but according to Amaral, it's just an administrative detail...

I think that 'administrative detail' might be one of the stumbling blocks he may have as an appellant ... the other being his denial of the McCanns' right to the presumption of innocence.

Since these were the two areas for which the judge ruled in the favour of the Drs McCann I can't see what leeway there is to appeal the decision except to contest the amount of the award made against him ... which is actually a bit of an irrelevance.

[Carana]

I think that 'administrative detail' might be one of the stumbling blocks he may have as an appellant ... the other being his denial of the McCanns' right to the presumption of innocence.

Since these were the two areas for which the judge ruled in the favour of the Drs McCann I can't see what leeway there is to appeal the decision except to contest the amount of the award made against him ... which is actually a bit of an irrelevance.

I doubt that he could qualify as a legitimate "whistleblower", if ever that was one of his ideas...

You can't both be a whistleblower with no substantiated evidence other than your garbled understanding of facts and claim that your works are based on publicly accessible files... can you?

[Alice Purjorick]

I think that 'administrative detail' might be one of the stumbling blocks he may have as an appellant ... the other being his denial of the McCanns' right to the presumption of innocence.

Since these were the two areas for which the judge ruled in the favour of the Drs McCann I can't see what leeway there is to appeal the decision except to contest the amount of the award made against him ... which is actually a bit of an irrelevance.

There are appeals in this country based on the magistrates or judges having made a judgement for reasons  outwith their authority. It could conceivably be that.

[Mr Gray]

There are appeals in this country based on the magistrates or judges having made a judgement for reasons  outwith their authority. It could conceivably be that.

seems like he hasn't been able to come up with a reason just yet

[Brietta]

There are appeals in this country based on the magistrates or judges having made a judgement for reasons  outwith their authority. It could conceivably be that.

I truly don't think it will be that ... I think the judge has given no leeway at all to twist and turn ... the simplicity of the ruling has left no hostage to fortune.  She seems to be a pretty sharp lady, which is only to be expected.

[mercury]

That there are those who claim to have made numerous donations to Mr Amaral's appeal fund is indisputable ... that there are those who have pledged weekly or other interval timed small donations to Mr Amaral's appeal fund is indisputable also ... why you appear to take umbrage to the fact is incomprehensible

It may be indisputable now, (that a few people have made more than one donationand I have read all the posts today now)  it wasn't to me yesterday when I questioned, there is no need to get flummoxed and wonder about comprehensibility, I didn't take "umbrage" to any "facts"either as you put it, just to assertions, so unless you expect people to accept all postings as true, then expect to be questioned.

That's all dear.

[mercury]

In the UK we have the Official Secrets Act which binds all police officers to secrecy, the Portuguese must have something similar?

But if a case is shelved / closed does this law still pertain?
And if Mr Amaral broke it, why haven't  the authorities gone after him for it?
And how  does this all square with the fact that the authorities gave out the PJ Files to journalists? Straight after the case was shelved?

ETA: IIRC theMccanns lawyer took this to court and it was thrown out