Why not report the abduction at the Tapas Bar rather than Main Reception?

[icabodcrane]

I know it's off topic but looking at that picture I was struck by how unappealing that kids' club is

No outside play area even  ...  stuck up on the first floor overlooking a car park

[Angelo222]

What's your point DCI?   Waiter and barman Jeronimo Salcedas gave his statement to Leicestershire Police nearly a year after Madeleine was abducted, do you really believe he would remember every detail of who ate what and when??  Unreal the pure shite some people post.

It wasn't as if the restaurant was bursting at the seams was it??

[Angelo222]

No outside play area even  ...  stuck up on the first floor overlooking a car park

And there were two childrens clubs there too Ica.

[John]

I sent the link to the PJ photos showing where was the entrance to the creches. I did it only because I didn't want posters to be misled.
Now I observe that the main reception entrance is again red arrowed on rua direita. Was it like this in 2007 ? I don't know, but in 2011 the large reception hall was on the car park.

When the photo below was taken by Google in August 2009, Reception had moved around the corner.  In the photo below the old reception office (red arrowed) is empty with a 'For Rent' sign in the window.

[Harvey]

I have been trying to follow events on this thread and work out why there was so much delay in contacting the police force.  My own opinion is that this delay contributed to the ineffectiveness of the police operation since the people involved in the abduction had gotten clean away.

[John]

Bumped, for John. I Haven't posted all but they are all 8.30 bookings. Which you said was balderdash.

They ate at the same time every evening DCI   A booking on a form is neither here nor there.

[Benice]

I think it's unrealistic to suggest that any normal person desperately needing police assistance in that situation would think to run to a bar/restaurant rather than Reception - even if it was nearer.

To me -  this is like saying that if a police station was 100 yds up the road and you suddenly needed a policeman, you would stop off at the Chinese Takeaway 60 yds up the road and ask THEM to ring the police, because it was nearer - rather than run past it and go directly to the police station yourself.   It's the same principle IMO.

In the normal course of things - people do not regard  Bars/restaurants as a 'natural' means of contacting the police.   It wouldn't enter their heads.    The Reception may not have been the police station but it was the next best thing and the FIRST place anyone would automatically think of to go to in order to make contact with a police station.     Perfectly normal behaviour IMO.

It's not as if they were all sitting around calmly discussing which was the best place to go to and then made the wrong decision.  They were frantic and their minds would have been in turmoil.     

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

[AnneGuedes]

Post modern people used to cell phones running like headless chicken to contact unknown persons when familiar ones are at hand, when a child's life is at stake and any emergency essential is above imagination, if not sinisterly paradoxical.
I would have screamed until I lost my voice. And I think many would have too.
The issue is really not to blame anyone, but to reflect.

[John]

The bottom line appears to be that Matthew reported the event to Reception around 10.10pm asking that the police be called...they weren't.  This fatal error allowed the abductors a head start, the rest as they say is history.

[Benice]

Post modern people used to cell phones running like headless chicken to contact unknown persons when familiar ones are at hand, when a child's life is at stake and any emergency essential is above imagination, if not sinisterly paradoxical.
I would have screamed until I lost my voice. And I think many would have too.
The issue is really not to blame anyone, but to reflect.

Were they familiar enough to even know Jo's name - or the names of any of the staff at the Tapas?  I think that's doubtful.

The very fact that they were in a foreign country and KNEW for definite there would be English speaking people at Reception would be uppermost in their minds.  Apart from that it was the most natural place to go anyway IMO.

We all think we know how we would react in the event of being suddenly plunged into traumatic circumstances, but I can asure you from personal experience that we are not always right.

[Benice]

The bottom line appears to be that Matthew reported the event to Reception around 10.10pm asking that the police be called...they weren't.  This fatal error allowed the abductors a head start, the rest as they say is history.

I think you are right John.  And at least one oft quoted myth has been exploded during this debate IMO , and that is that ''the McCanns and their friends sat on their backsides and didn't even bother to call the police until 10.40.''

[AnneGuedes]

The bottom line appears to be that Matthew reported the event to Reception around 10.10pm asking that the police be called...they weren't.  This fatal error allowed the abductors a head start, the rest as they say is history.

John, the carrier didn't seem to be really in a hurry. At 10h he was only 450m far from the ADS/FGM T junction he crossed at 9h15.

[DCI]

What's your point DCI?   Waiter and barman Jeronimo Salcedas gave his statement to Leicestershire Police nearly a year after Madeleine was abducted, do you really believe he would remember every detail of who ate what and when??  Unreal the pure shite some people post.

It wasn't as if the restaurant was bursting at the seams was it??

Why shouldn't he remember? You seem to expect the McCann's and friends to remember.
Yes it is unreal what shite some people post, just like you have done.

So you say he didn't give a statement for nearly a year after Madeleine was abducted.

So what is this then?

Processos Volume II

Pages 233 to 238

Witness Statement

Jeronimo Tomas Rodrigues Salcedas

Date: 2007/05/06

Occupation: Barman / Waiter

Place of Work: Ocean Club

They would arrive for dinner according to daily bookings which they did themselves at the reception, he remembers the bookings were always made for 20.30 or 21.00. This booking could be made on the same day until 16.00, it was necessary to show proof of accommodation as well as the number of persons included in the booking. He says that the group arrived in phases but no long delays occurred.

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/J-T-R-Salcedas.htm


And his Rogatory, nearly a year later

I would normally see them during the day if I went to the complex for a swim, or when they were going to get their children for lunch in the zone next to the Tapas. Nothing in their behaviour called my attention. They dined in the restaurant every night from Sunday until Thursday when Madeleine disappeared. The table was booked then for 19H30 to 20H00. It was nine adults in total, four couples and an older woman who was also with them. I always found them educated, good clients. They appeared to get along well amongst each other and each time I served the table they would comment on the food. It was a happy group who would often laugh during dinner. There was a man who particularly stood out from the rest of the group as she spoke a lot and told many jokes. At this time, I did not know who he was, but later found out it was Madeleine McCanns father. Frequently, when I served the table I noticed that one or two elements of the group had left the restaurant. I could not imagine where they had gone to. After seeing the news stories, I figured that they had gone to check on their children. On some occasions, I also saw some infant monitors on the same table but never related this to the facts.

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/JERONIMO-SALCEDAS.htm

[DCI]

They ate at the same time every evening DCI   A booking on a form is neither here nor there.

So why was my post balderdash?

[AnneGuedes]

Jeronimo Tomas Rodrigues Salcedas

Date: 2007/05/06

They would arrive for dinner according to daily bookings which they did themselves at the reception, he remembers the bookings were always made for 20.30 or 21.00.

And his Rogatory, nearly a year later
The table was booked then for 19H30 to 20H00.

Mr Salcedas was likely not offered to read his first statement before being interviewed, as the Tapas group was.